Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06
CLOSING INDIAN INTERVIEW.


toNER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS took place at the Office
the latter
Col LEA told his red friends that he had sent for them
tcome and meet him before they set out for
tr distant homes lie was sorry they had been de-
tined in Washington SO long Could he have controlled
r affairs they should have been this near their
hnes When Indians to Washington, invited by
tr Great Father, he has every thing arranged before
had, and then every thing goes we'll But when they
here without his previous notice he is not prepared
an then matters do not go SO well. In their case
tie Omahas) the best had been done that the crcum-
saces permitted; had been glad to see them, and
ha treated them kindly
low, that they going home he wished them to re-
mmber few things he had to say. and to communicate
ito their brethren when they got back COL LEA said he
Ia listened attentivey to all their complaints, and his
hert greved at the recital Of their suerng They
ha by their visit enjoyed good opportunity to this
vas country the number and strength of the people, and
ho great their Great Father is Their Great Father
hal many chielRpder him to attend to the different
.airs q his it was his (Col Lea's) business to
loo after the 4Nf4s Is Of his red children.
AXE Hea) deep interest in all that con-
cea9 Indian fars, and always sorry to hear that
am fmy red children unhappy, dissatisfied, not
doi well am always sorry for their misorunes, and
haa heart feel for them and do them all the good in
my over have, therefore, felt deeply interested in
the nhappiness of your people. told you would con-
side your Case reflect upon it, and see what could be
don.
Ihaye done so since saw you and talked with you be-
fors have been thinking much about the Omaha In
dsns consider what best for them and to put
end their suferings; and will tell you what is
the result to which my mind has after studying so
Bng about your You cannot much longer live
haen living for the past three four years you
must hange your manner of living.
1t been many years since you have been able to sup
port yourselves and families by the chase game pen
ty, il is not 80 now, and never will be again.
New, your condition must continue to get and
unless you devote yourselves, like white men,
cultivate and depend upon the fruits of the earth for sub
stence rather than the results of the chase This
happy to learn is your wish and that of your people
generally; you willing to till the soil of mother earth
Ind depend upon that for your support But whilst
commend you to cultivate the soil, satisfied you
lure the kind and assistance of the Government of
he United States in order to do advantageously to
yourselves have therefore, determined to apply Con-
5ress the great National Council to give the money
% buy ploughs and hoes and other implements of agr
culture, when you set about your manner of living
ind to cultivate the soil.
One thing you ought know and that is that it is not
my power that Of your Great Father to take
he white mems money without the consent of the Ma
ional Council have doubt that Congress- like your
Treat Father and myself feel deep interest in the well
ARE of the red man. and that Congress- when ask will
give the to afford you this help by which, if
yu be Industrious and enterprsng, you will be able to
boone prosperous and happy in the way with the
white all over this great and fourshng country If
tie Great Council shall agree to what have asked
fragments will be made by which the Omaha Indians
will be furnished from year to year with all the imple-
nrnts and things which might be necessary to advance
their happiness But you ought to know as men of sense
fr men of sense take to behat all this cannot be
dele in day, month"; even in year; great things
qure much time to carry them into effect
When you at home, and get into council, and some
Question of great weight and moment up you take
tine, you reflect you don't act like a child
yu smoke and sleep upon it, and take time to know what
t do in the matter 1t takes many years to grow
finn child to maturity; and it will take the Omaha
milton considerable time to grow up from condition of
poverty and desttution in which they shall be
Iappy and prosperous people.
therefore ask you not to be inpatient but to rely on
kindness and of your Great Father and the Gov
of the United States, doubling that you
viii in time reap rich reward for thus conducting your
What particularly wish you to do is to tell your
people and make them understand that your Great Father
Ind your father the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and
Great Council their friends and disposed to do
whatever ought to be done to assist them.
have been made sorry to hear that of you, with
the last few days. have been making threats to what
you would do if you to go home dissatisfied Now
you 20 home for the purpose of stirring up strife and
making war upon the whites it would be better that you
90 home at ALL If you pursue this course, it win
certainly bring trouble upon you and your people.
ask you then your father and your friend anxious
for your welfare that if you have any such feelings in
your bosoms you win expe Them and when you get home
that you will advise your people to be peaceful and
friendly with the whites War is dstasteful to your
Great Father and especially hateful to the Great Spirit
have learned that some of you have expressed wish to
be furnished with clothes like the white men, In order
to show you how kindly feel towards you will order my
young to purchase you clothes but have this
thing ask of you and it is this that when you
dressed in the clothes of white you will behave like
white men, and not like savages If you feel that
you want to go to like savage, you must pull off
these clothes of the white and put skins and look
whilst you act like savage beasts When you look upon
these clothes you win remember what have said and
show them to your people proofs of your Great Fathers
friendship towards you. Your friends who conducted
you to Washington will doubt you safely back ;
they under obligation to do, and will, without
doubt carry out wish you an early and safe return
home and trust that your visit Washington will prove
Of great service you and your people, for If your peo
pie be good and peaceable and friendly and vrtuous
their condition win be improved and your nation become
prosperous and happy.
YeUoO-Smoke addressed few words to the Commits
soner in reply acknowledging how greatly his feelings
had been changed for the better and saying that he
had got all he asked for and all he to Washington
to get.
The Commissioner then distributed medals accompany
ing the act with explanations Of the figures the medals
and admonons to what behavior would be expected
of Indians on whom these gifts were conferred.
The Interpreter Louis Sans Souc embraced the oppor
tunity to make queries respecting the rights and
property of hafbreeds in certain land reservations
which the Commissioner answered that due attention
should be paid to their rights in the premises.
Orders then given that the Indians be forthwith
furnished with suitable apparel which ORDER suppose
was Immediately complied with.
The Indians appear quite reconced and satisfied and
have been relieved from the anxiety which of late
to have pressed upon them.
IL is but justice say, in conclusion that the judy
ment patience Kindness and humanity displayed by the
Commissioners in the disposition and management Of these
Indians and their affairs do equal honor to the head and
heart of COL LEA, and to the Government and nation
whose able and faithful agent he is in difficult and deli
"a hroo NJ he n,bIi