, 1858-10-08


In May last, Col NJ. 7. snmoSs, Indiah A gent for
the District Of Puget Sound visited all The local
vstions and agencies within his district with guam
iy Of goods for presents TO the old aud nrm Of the
tribes living along the waters Of the Sound. His pur
pose was 10 assemble the Indians together listen TO
their grievances and remedy them IL pos>ible to give
them good advice, and present the goods to them as
reward for their quiet aud peaceful eoudact tJwnris
the citizens. Having chartered small vessel for the
excarsion, on Invitation OF Col. SIMMONS, we became
one OF the party that accompanied him throughout.
and kept a careful memorandum Of the different
" talks that took place between the agent and the
chief men Of the different tribes. Our object in trans
crhng the speeches the Indians for publication, is
only to show that they are really anxious to have
their treaties ntfed-yet, to do this fully, find it
better to give their exact language other subjects
in that connection in order that their views
ing their treaties may be The better understood.
On leaving Olympia, May 18th, our first visit was
made TO Fort Kitsap location, the station of local
agent G. A. PAGE, where were coDgregated about
400 Of the natives including their principal chiefs.
Col. S. addressed them In ChenOok, in a short but
very appropriate speech telling them that be had not
forgotten them; that they must not be discouraged
become melancholy because their treaties had not
been concluded; that our delegate in Congress had
written to him that he hoped and believed they would
be ratified ere long. Having admonished them about
drinking liquor, and various other matters he sisni-
aed that he ready to hear anything they had to
say, when Seattle > a venerable Chief and fast friend
ofthe whites, arose and spoke as follows:
"l want you to understand what say do not
drink rum, neither does Now.eehes (another Chief)
and we constantly advise our people not to do So
. | havo n
friend Of the whites. listen to what Mr Page says
10 me, and do not steal--nor do or any of my pe0-
pie kill the whites Oh Mr.. Simmons! why don't
our papers come back to usl You always say you
hope they will soon come back-but they do not
fear forgotten that to be cheated out
Of our lands have been very poor and hungry all
die. should like TO be paid for my land before die.
Many Of my people died during the cold scarce win
ter, without getting their pay. When die, my peO-
pie will be- very poor-they will have no property, no
Chief and no one to talk for them You must not
forget them, Mr.. Simmons, when am gone. We are
ashamed when we think that the Puyallups ia party
u the treaty Of Medicine eek ~ have their papers.
I They fought against the whites whilst we, who have
never been angry with them, got nothing. When we
get our pay we want il in money. The Indians are
not bad, II Is the mean white people that are bad 10
US. II any person writes that we do not want our
papers concluded, they lie. Oh I Mr.. Simmons! You
see am very sick. want you to write quickly 20
your great Chief what say. have DONE
"a Seattle" and the Indians here assembled were Of
the Duwamh and other tribes parties to the treaty Of
'' Point Elliott" Upon the evening of the same day
(day l6tl) we arrived at Skaget Head, location
under the supervision Of Capt r. c. FAY and an as
sstant Here some 500 Indians were assembled, Of
the Skagets, SnohOmishes Snoqualmies, etc. parties
also 10 The treaty Of Point Elliott In few words
Col Simmons told them the object Of his yisit-the
nature Of the presents he had brought them-for
whom they were designed &c. After giving them
some healthy admcniton about their excesses in the
use OF liquor, he expressed wish 10 hear from them
in answer to which, Hetty Kanim," a sub-Chief Of
the snoqualmies, spoke as follows: u
am hut a subIChief, but am chosen by my peo-I
pie 70 speak for them to-day. l will speak what
think, and want any Of the drinking Indians that
hear me today contradict me II they can. Liquor is
killing our people of fast. Our young men spend
their money that they work for for liquor; then they
get crazy and kill each other, and sometimes kl
their wives and children. We old men do not drink,
aud we beg our boys not to trade with the enltus
Boston that sell 1t. We have all agreed TO tell our
agent when any liquor boats about, and TO help
him arrest the men that sell it. will talk about
Our treaties: When is the great father that lives
the far mountains going TO send us our papers
hacki -Four SINNERS have now passed since you and
Gov. Stevens tod US we would get pay for lands
We remember well what you said to US then over
there (polnting to Point Elliott y, aud our hearts
very sick because you do not do you promised.
We The Nisqualys and Puyallups get their annu-
y paid them last year, and our hearts were sick be-
csuse we could get nothing. We never fought the
fight you, Il must be good 10 fight. We consider II
good 10 have good white people amongst us; our
young women can gather berries and clans, and our
young men can fish and hunt and sell what they get
TO the whites. Weare willing that the whites shall
take the timber but want the game and fsh--and
We want our reserves where there k plenty Of deer aud
fish, and good land for potatoes. We want our great
father to know what our hearts are aud we want you
!, 10 send our talk TO him at once. l have DONE
Hiram, Snoqualmie, then spoke;
ave want our treaty to be concluded as soon as
possible; we are tired OF waiiing. Our reasons are
that old people, and there ace many Of thea are
dying. Look at those two old men and women, they
have only little while to live, and they want 10 get
their pay for their lands. The white people have Ia
ken it-and you Mr.. Simmons promised us that we
should be paid-you and Gov. Stevens. Suspense i
river BOTTOMS. lest some bad white man should come
and make US leave the place. YOn know what We
are, Nj. Simmons. You were the first American we
ever knew and children remember you as long a.
they remember any thing | was but a boy when
first knew you. You know we do not want TO drink
liquor but we cannot help it when the bad ''DostOns'
bring II 10 us When our treaty was made, we told
our hearts TO you and Coy. Stevens They have not
:. changed since. have done"
+" Bonaparte,' snOhomish Chief, then spoke as
follows. n
"What have to say is not Of much consequence
Ny children have all been killed by rum, and anl
very poor. ! believe what Mr., Simmons tells about
our treaty but most Of the Indians think he lies Nv
heart Is not asleep. ] have known Mr.. simmons q
long time, and he never lied to me, and think he will
tell the great father how much we want our pay.
, have done"
4 The Lummies, Claims Makahs, etc, parties to The
treaties Of Z" PointnoPont" aud Neah Bay were
then visited, at Bellingham Bay New Dunginess and
Neah Bay, or Waddah" but as the speeches Of all
the Indians at those different places were the same in
substance as those already given-that ia, they al
urged the ratification Of their treaties in the most ear
nest terns-we do not consider it necessary to fur
ther extend this article by giving place to them. We
would observe. however, for the information Of thos,
not accustomed 10 deal with Indian character, thai
these same Indians that depore drinking much ia
their speeches, and lay all the blame the white.
: (Who undoubtedly deserve all they gtt), will gel
drunk, aud lay all kinds Of plans to get liquor. The
0 old man g. Seattle " is an exception.
After reading the foregoing, we think that all well
dieDO-ed and thinking paon1a aor.s