The republic., 1852-01-07


Some of you have expressed a desrc to return by
| way Of Arkansas, and one OF you expressed a de-
sire to have horse which he may return. I
don't know that it will be possible to crafty you in
| either respect. You must necessarily accompany
| your father. the Indian agent, who brought you
here; it will not be sale for you to separate from
him, and therefore 1t ID necessary that you should
| all go in direction. You say you have come a
| great way to see me at the city Of Washington.
am greatly obliged for this kindness on your part
But, ha' ing come far, it ID impossible that you
can return on horseback. You have probably very
little idea OF the distance you have travelled it is
80 great, that if you were compelled to travel on
| horseback or on foot, many weeks would be re-
quired to accomplish the journey. We have iron
horses that draw the cars, and that go much faster
| than any horse you can ride-as much faster than
the buffalo as the wind. We intend, therefore, to
let you return in the cars that you may reach your
| families and friends, who anxiously waiting
| for you. in the shortest possible time.
| Your good father, the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs, will provide money for the agent to pay
all your expenses here and on your journey home,
| SO that you will not want any thing until you
| again reach your own country.
| AS token of the friendship which the Great Fa-
| ther bears to his children, and an assurance
| which you give to your friends when you re-
turn home of having actually your Great Fa-
ther, shall present to you my likeness this
medal, and hope that you will carry it with you
and preserve it.
The medals were here distributed by Colo
mel FIrzPArRIcE to the chiefs. They were Of
silver, and Of the size OF an ordinary daguerre-
| otype, having on the diverse bust of Mr..
| FILLMORE, surrounded with the inscription,
Millard Fillmore, President of the United
States, 1885," on the reverse an American
agriculture, and with the other bearing the ma
tional flag, the folds of which partially enve-
| lope the body of an Indan-surmounted with
the motto, 'Labor, virtue, and honor.H When
the medals had been distributed, an American
| flag was exhibited to the Indians, and the Pre-
sIpENT then resumed his remarks. He said
| My red children, this is the flag Of the United
States. shall present this, with several others, to
| you; and, when you raise them on the prairies OF
the great west, you will recoliect that you belong
| to the same nation oursclvcs-that you are our
| friends-that this flag ia raised by any others
| than our friends--and that if any wicked persons
should hereafter advise you to become enemies,
! and you should become such, you must destroy
this flag. II is only for the American people and
the friends Of the American people. Now, my red
| children, have done speaking. have said all ]
have to say to you except this-that hope that the
Great Spirit will watch over and preserve you and
that on your returs to the Far West you will find
your families all well, and your nations glad to sec
| you.
II is proper should add, that the fiags now pre-
sented to you intended for the nations you re-
present, and not for you as individuals. have SO
| much confidence in your friendship for me, IN
| your honesty, and in your devotion to your own
| nations, that cntrust you with these beautiful
flags, to be carried to your nations, and presented
to them in behalf of the Government Of the United
| States. If you want any thing else, Mr. Lea, your
father the Commissioner, will furnish it, on being
applied to by you or by the agents in your behalf
The interview then terminated.
Colonel FITZPATRICK proceeded TO distri-
| butte packages containing flags Of the Republic
| to the principal chiefs of the different tribes,
while many Of the guests entered into conver-
sation with others, Madame kossUTH being
amongst those most attentive to the squaws.