Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24

4
But Harrison was soon undeceived, an,
in the summer of 1910 he demanded tina
the prophet visit him again at Vincennes
Instead, Tecumseh went there with 10
warriors. In the council that was hell
Harrison and Tecumseh each distrustet
the others good faith at first. The gov
ernor had intended the meeting should
be on the portco of his house, but Te-
cumseh refused to go there. He suggested
a nearby grove. THE earth is my
mother. and on her bosom will l repose.
he said.
that the Great Spirit had given this great
island fAmerica) to his red children and
had put the whites on the other side of
the water. The whites, not contented with
their own. had taken that of the red
men. They had driven the Indians from
the sea to the lakes, and the Indians
could go no further. The whites had
taken upon themselves to say this land
belongs to the Miamis, this to the Della
wares. and SO on. The Great Spirit in
of all.
Since the peace was made he con-
tinued. you have killed some Shawnees.
Winnebagoes, Delawares and Miamis, and
you have taken our land from us, and 1
do not see how we can remain at peace
If you continue to do You try to force
the red people to do some injury. It is you
that are pushing them on to do mischief:
You endeavor to make distinctions. You
wish to prevent the Indians doing as they
wish to do-unite and to consider their
lands as the common property of the
whole. You take tribes aside and cor
rupt them. BY your distinction OF Indian
tribes in allotting to each particular
tract of land you want them to make
war with one another.
Brother. this land that was sold to
you was sold only by a few If you
continue to purchase our lands this
different tribes. Brother you' should
take pity on the red people and return
to them a little of the land of which
they have been plundered The Indian
has been honest in his dealings with
you. but how can we have confidence
in the white people? When Jesus Christ
came on earth you killed Him and
nailed Him on cross. You thought
He was dead, but you were mistaken.
You have many religions. and you
persecute and ridicule those who do
not agree with you. The Shakers are
good people. You have Shakers among
you, but you laugh and make light of
their worship. You are counseled by
bad birds I speak nothing but the
truth to you"
Gen. HarriSon's answer was that the
lands recently bought belonged to the
Miamis 1t was absurd to say the In
dams were one nation or the lands were,
owned in common. If the Great Spirit
had meant the Indians to be one nation
He would not have put different
tongues into their heads. The Shawnees
had no right to come from a distant
country and control the Miamis In the
disposal of their property.
This angered Tecumseh and he spoke
so vehemently in reply and aroused
his followers to. such a pitch of eX-
citement that 1t was feared for few
moments there would be bloOdshed. The
governors guard was called out and
the council closed in confusion.
Next day Tecumseh and Harrison
had a tan with only a few persons
present. Harrison promised to submit
Tecumsehs argument to the Great
>nief of the Seventeen Fires the Presi-
dent of the seventeen United States).
well" said Tecumseh II hope the
Great Spirit will put sense enough into
his head to direct you to give UP this
land. He is so far off he will not be in
tured by the war He may sit in his