The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-12
0I eech OF H0le-iD-s he. Day. on the Wronaa
or tho Chr ppsvv indians.

The Presbyterian Church was crowded to xccso
to listen 10 the promised exposition by youog Hole
in the-Day, OF the wrongs and suffcrings of the
Chppewas. The interest manifested was very great.
and the ape ech, and It's tation, was listened
20 with deep attention and lively sympathy
Hole-in-the Day arose, and said in substance
My friends, We pale faces: You see before You q
man who desires to say few words to you. Had
my father lived the full term OF natural life allotted
by the Great Spirit, / should not be here. MY
father would have come in person, and would have
spoken for his people. You see me often here 1t
is my practice to visit you often, but do always
with the purpose of reminding you of the poverty
and the suffering OF the Chippewas. This poverty
and these sufierings have driven me here. | have
come here for the purpose OF speaking on this
poverty and suffering of my people. You have
probably heard that many ChipPe was have re-
Gently lost their lives by disease. We have many
new graves We have sold large extent OF coun-
tage Of that sale, while we live in poverty and in
great distress. l have come to bring that suffer-
ing to your ears, and before your eyes. request
you to look back on the past history of our tribe.
You will find that we have always been friendly
to the American people. That we have always
been willing to do their will The consequence
OF this is misery to US We have received nothing
but suffering as our portion, and that has induced
me to bring before your eyes, and the eyes of the
people of the United States.
You tell us that the Great Spirit made US from
the same day-that there Is no differ ence before
Him. II this is so, why are you not more friendly
why not take more pity on your red brethren!
You tell us that the Great Spirit placed US ON the
not be tied by the bonds Of fellowship! Your red
brethren yielded much to the whites, when thew
landed on the great island which the Great Spirit
Suffering. A great number Of our tribe do not ex-
pect to see the budding of the leaves OF another
spring.
their lands, it was with the belief that you would
better their condton-make the ties of friendship
stronger-would pity them, and lift them from
their low condition. But we have seen the con-
trary. The more treaties we have made, the more
miserable we have become. As one instan &c of
the suffering accruing from the sale of our lands,
would mention, that in the treaties with our
Great Father we were to receive supply Of pro.
visions The provisions received and distributed
at the time of the payment of the last annuities
| were bad, and soon after we had accepted them,
| sickness began to appear among u.s. On our way
to the playground we were III good health and
spirits. AS soon a. we had accepted that portion
Of the provisions first given out, sickness appeared.
Our children died. But we were obliged to tako
the bad provisions, or go without anything to eat.
We are aware-we have full belief-tha At our Graf
Father wishes to treat kndly--that he means to
do right, and does not know the fatal come.
quences OF the bad management in the paymenOf
our annutes
We have not received the full amount of ro-
visions due us under the treaties with our Graf
Father. There was an amount of goods ordeHd
to be sent forward by our father, but they werea
a distant place, and could not reach US. We wer
compelled to have provisions; and large amour
of money was paid for them, for which we receive
but a small quantity Of food in return.
That portion of the tribe in the northern part
the territory, is miserable. Our Great Father doe
not know-he is not aware of the great misery, tie
unjust suffering, of large number Of his red CHI
dren. Numbers of my people come to me, and &
pect me to be able TO feed them, and cannt.
They go from me TO the door of my fried,
standing beside me, (Mr. Warren,) 10 a STAY.
ing condition. saying they are very poor; md
are compelled TO go away empty handd.
IL pains my heart 10 remain IN my own CON-
try, and flee from it, that may not witness he
sufierings OF Ey people. Those who have herd
tell what is true. The time has come when s0ne-
thing must be done to ameorate our condiaon, sy
our white friends, and to prevent our being pushed
TO extremes. We want the promises of our Great
Father, made in the treaties, fulfilled TO the letter.
We have never been made aware, before the pay
ment OF the annuities, OF the amount sent to US.
When they were brought to the spot for payment,
we were never made aware whether they were
the full amount due US, under the treaty with our
Great Father. We have white friends among as,
who can read: and il the papers were shown TO as,
these friends would read them TO US. But this is
not done. We do not know what is our due. Oar
eyes are kept shut.
felt it my duty, as one of the chiefs of the nation
TO present my elf before you, and to you thar
crisis has come, and that il the present state Of
affairs continues, the existing friendship betweea
US will, fear, turn to hatred say this now, that
no one may blame me hereafter for the conse-
quences OF any step that may be taken to retrieve
the wrongs the nation has suffered. You all know
that very small things tend TO break up long stand
ing friendships ] am afraid this is happening nsw.
Why does not this come 10 the ears Of our Geat
Fa'herl Why net send acspable person to manage
our affairs 7 A great many sit about HIM and
could inform him. Why not send some one here
who will Truly report the suiferngs and wrong, Of
his red children!
My frieads-ye lawmakers, who have been
sent here TO make laws for the whole country-I
have few words TO say 10 YOU. IL understand
your laws Alright, il is my belief you are sent here
TO make laws for the good OF the whole country.
have said few words to your people concerning
the misery oil my own. IL was my intention first
TO have spoken to you only, but have resolved to
eFeak TO any and all who willing TO hear me.
! speak not only OF my own tribe, but Of nv red
brethren, the Winnebagoes and Sioux. They
have wrongs which they wish to bring to your
ears. have got many reasons why the whites
should take their red brethren by the hand and
treat them kindly. IL Is not necessary now to
mention the rehsons,-we mus, look great many
years back to find them.
The recital Of the miseries and poverty OF your
red brethren In this country, would, II they could
reach our Great Father, warm his heart He IS
rich, and can help us. Did the wrongs of his red
children come 10 his ears, through the mouths of
his white children, he would take pity, and add to
the bonds Of friendship which unite us | wish to
be understood by every one present, or in this
place, IN Say ing that which think il my duty to
myself. and duty owe TO you. The hearts OF
my people are aching; they are starving. Many
OF them come TO me and propose TO 70 to war with
the whites. IL is very difficult 10 keep my young
men within bounds; and am afraid Of the COM
mission Of some foolish act by which the existence
OF our friendsh may be threatened.
They are driven to exfremities. Death ia on
every side, and in the minds of our young men,
one death is as good as another. They wish 10
throw themselves away. They are like some
poor animal driven into hole, ind condemned to
die. To them one death is as good as another.
arrived at the pay ground, al the recent payment,
among the last, and during the time remained
there, there we're T. 8, and deaths every day and
night. The reason that have for this, IS IN at the
greater portion Of the sickness was occasioned by
bad provisions. arrived there when the bal pro.
visions were eaten up l arrived there when the
good were gwen out, and my people suffered very
little from ESTABLISHMENT Tess than the other
bands.
My people, also, suffered from hunger You all
know that when the crumbs thrown to chick ems,
are few, those who come last, suffer. 50 II was
sxrlfl ftnI l.x..