The republic., 1851-09-08
Local Matters.

dents House, in accordance with previous ar
| rangement. The Indians in their wild, native
costume, appeared with extra trimmings, includ-
ing profuson of gay -colored ribands, having
procured them for this occasion, as they were now
be admitted into the presence of their great fa
ther, of whom they had heard much, but had
never
The Indians having been conducted to an upper
chamber and seated, the President OF the United
States shortly afterwards entered, when MIR. Lea
introduced to him John Johnson, the interpreter,
who introduced each of the delegation by name;
Crossing Sky, Safe Guide, Stand Before, Spirit Seen,
| (the head warrior,) and Breast. They severaIly
shook hands with their great father, and resumed
their seats, and seemed to be highly pleased.
The COMMISSIONER remarked to the President
that thosc Indians were Chippewas and that they
| had called to pay their respects to him.
The President made inquiries to their coun-
try and condition. In the course of the conversa-
tion il stated that their band is what is called
the Mississippi band, and that over forty different
bands constitute the Chippewa tribe IN the Uni
| ted States. There is principal chief having au-
| thority over all the bands, but the chiefs in each
band bind the whole nation. Although jealousies and
disturbances may exist among themselves, they
are all united against 'outsiders."
CRossING SKY arose, and, after shaking hands
dian Affairs, spoke as follows, the address being
| interpreted by John Johnson:
! My GREAT FATHER / want TO say few words
| to you, and ask you to listen to me. have trav.
elled in strange country to get good, and to form
| an idea Of how the whites live. | mentioned my
special business to our father, (the commissioner
| and wish to say little more.
| My great father, you see me how i am; how
many men are here. We poor, poor indeed.
You are strong; your nation is strong. | have
10 f.tha
| We want a saw mill; want to improve. We
like the ways Of the whies-what we have
feel confident that our father and great father
will have mercy US, and give our request. |
know, my great father, that there no way we can
get along in the world Game is getting scarce;
we must go to the ground and till the ground.
Let me be permitted to ask you, my great father,
what makes you great and powerful nation 1t
is that white book on the stand, (the Bibe.) We
want schools that we may learn to read that book
and do good, and be WISE
] am very much pleased that have been per-
mitted to see and talk to great father. am
happy that our father will send US back home.
| have one request moro to make-that when we
land in our territory, we wish our great father to
aid Us that we may get home safely Our children
are anxious, and wait for our return from
great father They expect that will carry
them something that will satisfy them.
As have said before, very glad and we
shall long remember our interview with our great
father.
Another request, my great father wish you
| to give me white paper, to show to my friends
when / get home.
The orator then presented the President with
wampum; and, after further proceedings,
The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES respond
ed to the Address:
1t gives your father great pleasure to meet his
red children this occasion He is much gratified
TO learn that you have taken long journey among
strangers for the purpose of seeing how white
people live. [The Indians listened with marked
Loft ntipn md pdp1 hu rtu na- t,nh
which they repeated at the conclusion of every
succeeding sentence it was interpreted TO them
Many years ago the red children of this country
covered the whole face of it. The whites then
came among them, a very weak band, depending
in some measure their red brethren for support.
But the whites have grown great and strong, as
you say, while our red brethren have grown weak
and few. One cause of this difference between the
white man and the red man is, that the whites cul-
tivate the ground, while the red men seek living
+ by the chase. | hope, therefore, when you return
to your people in the wilderness, you will tell them
of the improvements of the white men, their num-
ber and strength, and encourage them to pursue
, the same occupations and cultivate the soil.
Though the white man be strong and the red
man be weak, the white man feels bound to pro-
tect the red man and do justice by him. And this
is the chief desire of your great father.
In regard to your request for means to build q
mill it will give your great father pleasure te
aid you in the laudabe undertaking.
Your great father is much gratiied to learn from
you that you desire education, and to be taught tc
|
the Bible. This education is another means o
happiness and strength to my red children
In conclusion, hope that you will have a safe
return to your friends, the Chippewas, and that
you will meet with no distractions on the journey.
doubt not that all the whites will treat you with
all consideration and respect. 1t is the desire OF
your great father, the President, that they shall
do SO.
Your father, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
will do what he to aid you to return; and will
furnish you that white paper which you desire.
| thank the Great Spirit for the opportunity
2 have had to confer with my red children
hope to hear of the safe return to your friends
and prosperity hereafter
Be good and faithful citizens; maintain peace
: among yourselves and white brethren, and you
may rely the protection of your great father.
! have nothing more to say.
Spirit SEEN (after the usual preliminaries) adj
dressed tie President:
My Great Father and my Father: want to say a
few words. The Great Spirit hears what have to
say. Here is the wampum | am about to present
and leave here, that all may see we have
truly visited you. This is all 1 have to say, my
great father, and my father.
The PREsrDENT.-I receive the wampum
token of friendship. and, together with the wam-
pun presented by Crossing Sky, il will be placed
in the Indian Department that my red children
and white brethren may always recollect that it il
a token of friendship.
The Indians then rose to depart, when
Commissioner LEA pointed out to them the Sec
retary of the Navy, who was among the few pale
faces present.
The President informed them that Secretary
Graham had control of all the great vessels which
sail on the ocean.
The Indiana shook hands first with the President
of the United States, and then With all who were
present on the occasion, and took their leave,
bowing and scraping in their best style; and two
of them carried their politeness to such extent
to take off their head dresses for few moments
On Saturday evening the delegation left the city
for their homes in Minnesota.
i WAsHINoToN CRY CANAL.-The matters in con.
troversy between the Corporation and the contrac-
tors (Messrs. Hardness and Lcwis) for restoring
the canal TO the depth required by law, were, we
learn, settled by the Board of Control at their meet
ing on Saturday Messrs. J. e. Hardness and Samuel
Stott were the assignees of the contractors. The
subject having been submitted, by joint resolution
| of he (itv Councia In he of he