The daily union., 1846-10-02


tor of the delegation, responded. He said the Win
nebagoes had heard the voice of their Great Father
long distance of--hat their Father, the governor
of Iowa and their agent, had informed them that
their great Father wished to delegation of their
people on busness--that the chiefs aud braves now
here, were chosen 10 represent the Winnebago ma
tOn-thst the principal chief, "Wen-ne-shick," was
now very old and infrm, and could not accompany
the delegation, but his brother was here in his place.
He said, they wished their Great Father to have
their business transacted without deay-that they
were very anxious to return home, as many Of
7 their families were sick.
The President then informed them that he would
appoint commissioners to meet them on the next
day, (Tuesday,) and on Wednesday morning they
would be ready to proceed to business and that they
might rely that full justice should be done them in
any negotiations they might make. With some
salutary advice, the President then told them he
would be glad to shake them by the hand again, al.
ter all their business was transacted, and they were
ready to 60 home. The agent Gen. Fletcher)
then announced that the brother Of Wen-ne-shick,
had brought pipe from the old chief for the Pres-
dent, which he desired now TO present. Ah-hoo-
zhib-kaw, young chief, possessing much natural
grace and elegance in form and manner, then rose,
and afler making pertinent little speech, in which
he called the FIFE the "emblem Of peace and friend
ship, sent by the Great Spirit to the red man, he
presented it to the President. He had previously
charged the pipe with their favorite kinne-kiniek,
and lighting it, desired the President To smoke. The
pipe was then passed to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, and to all the Indians, and to the circle
around the room, each taking : ,0hiG as mark Of
good will.
The pipe il Of the fashion used among the tribes
of the Upper Mississippi-the cup is made out Of
the celebrated pipe-stone found on the prairies
bordering on the waters Of st. Peters river; and
the long, broad, fiat stem is beautifully decorated
with porcupine quilts, dyed Of various colors by the
Indians themselves, with wampum and other orna-
ments Of Indian fancy. On silver plate, embedded
in the stem, is the following inscription: "Wsn-
ns,shiek, head chief Of the WinnsbdgOes, to James X
Polk President cfths Uasd States" The President,
in acknowledging the estimation in which he held
this appropriate offering from the red chief inform
ed the brother that he would send by him a proper
keepsake to Wen-ne-shick, the chief of the Whine.
mansion we'll pleased with their visit, and returned
to their quarters (the old Globe Hotel) where they
placed under the Of that kndes and best OF
hostesses, Mrs. Maher.
On Tuesday, according to promise, the President
appointed the commissioners. The board consists
Of the Hon. A. X. Paris, Second Comptroller of
the Treasury, Col. Albert, and Major Andrews Of
the army. ~ c. Mullay, Of the Indian Office is ap-
pointed secretary The board met on Wednesday, but
only preliminary movement was made; the COM
missioners spoke to the delegation concerning the
object of their VISIT and Of the kind intentions Of the
government towards their people, They also refer
red to Of the stipuations of former treaties,
and informed the delegation that il only intend
ed that the Winnebagoes should have temporary
home on the land they now occupy. They closed
the council by informing the delegation that they
would meet them next day Thursday at 10 o'clock,
to hear what they had to propose.
Thursday the couHcil again met. The commits
sioners announced that they now ready TO hear
any proposition the delegation had to make. After
| some talk among themselves, "Lttle Hill" rose,
and assuming attitude of the most accomplished
and graceful orator, addressed the commissioners.
He spoke with that fuency and energy of gesture
and action, for which the Indians Of the northwest
are celebrated. He told the commissioners that they
had heard the voice Of their Great Father through
the governor of Iowa, beyond the Mississippi tell
| ing them to come here. They had como at his in
vitation, and they desired to hear from him what he
wanted with them. Their old chiefs and warriors
at home, he said, did not authorize them to make
any propositions for the sale Of their country; they
were satisfied with it, and did not wish to leave it.
But if their Great Father had any propositions to
make, they we're ready to listen.
| Judge Paris, on behalf of the board, then made
talk to them After adverting to their critical sit
uaon on the lands they now occupied, he said that
the commissioners were authorized to offer them a
country south Of the Missouri river, large enough
to supply all their wants. country possessing fer
tlity of soil, plenty of excellent wood and water,
and abounding in game. In addition to this the
| United States would pay them just consideration
for any advantages they might lose by leaving their
present location.
Little Hiir' replied. He said that his broihers-
the mssoners-promised what the President
could not perform. There was great scarcity of
wood and water, on the country offered on the Mis-
souri,, and it was entirely inadequate to supply the
wants Of the Winnebagoes. Besides, he said, their
Great Father here had sent his officers already four
times to make treaty with the Winnebagoes for
an exchange of their country, and every time this
Missouri country was offered in exchange Gov.
Doty, Major Harvey, Gov. Chambers, and Gen.
Dodge, had all made this offer, and his chiefs and
warriors in grand council refused to listen to such
propositions. He thought it strange that they were
now brought this long distance from home to have
them repeated, and that he would now tell the COM
missoners plainly, that it was waste Of time to talk
upon this subject.
After some consultation, Judge Paris, on behalf
of the commissioners, again spoke. He said he
thought the chiefs and warriors did not understand
the propositions they had submitted. The country
now offered on the waters Of the Missouri, was not
the country heretofore offered. This tract of
fine land purchased from the Kansas Indians, in