The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-10-01
WAsHINeroN, Sept. ., 1919.

WAShlNoToN, sept -, Aoeus
The Winnebagoss-Thsir Conference with the Pre-
sident, aAd the Talk, and the Pipe Of Psace-AS
Indian Hop at their Hotel, and all that .ort of
thing - rse
Yesterday, pursuant to invitation, the Winnie
bago delegation Of Indians, twenty. three in NUM-
Der, under the care of General Fletcher, and Mr.
Lowery, interpreter, and company, waited upon
the President. The red men had occupied large
portion OF the morning at their toilet painting their
faces, greasing their hair, and arranging their
feather, beads, bells, bear claws, and trinkets.-
Some were decorated with medals, some with
bracelets, and one or two with swords, and every
man of them had his costume completed with a
flaming scarlet blanket thrown over his shout
ders.
After calling upon the Secretary of War and
Col. Medill, the Commissioners Of Indian Affairs,
they were accompanied by the latter 10 the White
House, and introduced to their Great Father, in
his audience chamber. Officials and citizens,
large company, were present.
Upon shaking hands with the President, the
delegation were seated in scm.circe round the
room, and after short pause, his Excellency said
to his red children, that he was glad to see the M
He hoped they were pleased with their visit he
would do every thing in his power to send thom
home satisfied. He would appoint commission.
ers tomorrow, who would meet with them upon
the business they had come to settle (the sale Of
they returned to their tribe, 1t wo uld be with glad
and cheerful hearts.
An exclamation of"A.yhu'' in a low quick gut
tural voice, with significant nod OF the head OK
presslve OF their appreciation, passed around tho
line OF the red men in their red blankets
Little Hill stepped forward from the line, walk
ed up, shook hands with the President, stepped
back, threw of his blanket, and in rapid and
eloquent manner expressed his satisfaction at tho
words Of the Great Father; and after some gene
raj characteristic remarks, he gave way TO
Short Wing, tall fine looking fellow, with his
face painted in a most imperial style, came for.
ward, with a long pipe in his hand, adorned with
eagle feathers, and ornamented in a tasteful man
ner. Taking from pouch at his side, a small
parcel of kinny-keeniek, IAN herb which is gener-
ally smoked BY the Western Indians) and loading
the pipe with it, said he came to give to his Great
Father, sthis present from his brother Wlnoo-
sheek, as the emblem of the peaceful relations
subsisting between the tribe and their white breth
rem Then lighting the pipe, he took whit, and
passed it TO the President, who whitfield it, and TO-
each Of the cabinet present, and the Indian COM
missioner, and others who whitfield it, and then In
succession to the delegation, who whitfield it.
Short Wing further said that he wished a silver
plate put on the pipe, with the name of the chief
presenting It, the tribe, &C., and that their Great
Father should keep it as pledge of peace, and
that the Great Spirit he hoped, would never DO
The President, in . happy manner, replied, ak
pressing his earnest desire that the pipe or pooo4
might continue to be smoked between his red I'D
Whlte cnlidren, Wnlle the SHOWS Tell IN tne Wln-
ter or the prairies blossomed in the spring; and
that the Ratchet of war was buried between them
forever.
After shaking hands again with the President,
the delegation retired, delighted with the parental
This afternoon Mr.. Maher, who has them in his
hospitable keeping, at his hotel opposite the Unio.
office on the Avenue, gave them the privilege OF
stairs, of their pipe and war dances. Stripped to
their breech clouts, and painted and feathered in
a most fantastic style, they went into the sport.
The house shook with their measured and rapid
ly repeated circumgyratons; and their screams
and fearful yells soon attracted crowd of many
hundreds in the broad area in front of the cham
Der where these barbaric orgies were progressing.
room, with hundred wild cats, they could have
scarcely raised wilder uproar than did some
twelve or fifteen of these delighted Winnebagoes.
They promise to repeat the pastime, in which
event we shall perhaps give you more extended
dissertation.