USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 19
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The Little Turtle, a Miami chief, spoke as follows :-
All you present must know that every kind of business, especially such as we are at present engaged in, exhibits difficulties which require patience to remove, and consider- ation to adjust. Your younger brothers, the Miamies, again light the calumet of peace, and present it to the Shawanees who have not yet smoked out of it.
Elder brother! Your younger brothers, the Miamies, now thank you for the sentiments you have expressed, and for burying the hatchet; they offer at the same time, their acknowledgments to their elder brother of the fifteen fires for throwing his tomahawk with so strong an arm into the great ocean. We are convinced of the sincerity with which these actions were performed. I do not believe the hatchet was ever before buried so deep. I fancy it has always heretofore been cast into shallow running water, which has washed it up on dry land, where some of our foolish young men have always found it, and used it to involve their people in trouble.
Elder brother! I wish we could all unite and give our elder brother at once a final answer to his propositions. I am surprised that you, my uncles, the Wyandots, and you, my grandfathers, the Delawares, and you, Shawanees, should say you were not ready. Your younger brothers expect that you will call them all together and make them acquainted with your sentiments first, as elder brothers ought to do, and afterwards to listen to the opinion of your younger brothers.
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, chief of the Chippeways, arose and said :-
Elder brother, listen to me! My mind has long been made up; it is not necessary for me to consider upon what I am already resolved upon : we have been here & long time, and ought without further delay, to finish this good work. We, the three nations, have been long united in opinion ; we fully agree to your proposition ; we want no fur- ther private counsel. We should lay aside trifling; our tardy brothers have got their wives with them ; they are content and easy ; ours are at home, and we are anxious to be with them.
Council adjourned.
Wednesday, 29th July. Council present as before. Tarkee, chief of the Wyandots, spoke as follows :-
Elder brother of the fifteen fires, listen to us! All you that are assembled here, bro- ther Indians, listen also. We are now come forward to give you an answer to what you proposed to us the other day, as my nephews, the Delawares, and my younger brothers, the Shawanees, have agreed upon what they will say to you. We request you, brother, to relate this answer to our brother Indians, after I have delivered it to you.
The following written address was then presented :
GREENVILLE, HEADQUARTERS, 29th July, 1795. Brothers of the fifteen united fires, listen to the voice of the Wyandots, and their confederates of Sandusky ! We take the Delawares, our nephews, and our younger brothers, the Shawanees, by the hand, as their sentiments agree with ours, and have one
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heart and voice to speak. I now speak, brothers, in the name of the before-mentioned tribes in answer to your proposals made to us two days ago. As we have said before that you had done the greatest justice to us, we do now again acknowledge it a second time.
Brothers, listen well! We have only the following objections to make; you mentioned in one of the articles that you would not protect us from the mischief that might take place amongst ourselves. Remember well, brothers, the speech you sent us, dated the 1st January, 1795. We shall only give part of the contents, and these are the words :
"Your father, General Washington, the President of the Fifteen Great Fires of Ame- rica, will take you under his protection, and has ordered me to defend his dutiful children from any injury that may be attempted against them on account of their peaceable dis- position towards the United States; for which purpose he will order a fort or fortification to be built at the foot of the Rapids of the Sandusky, on the reserved lands, as soon as the season and circumstances will permit."
Brothers! We never expected that you would change your sentiments regarding our safety on which depends our future happiness.
Brothers ! Reconsider this beneficial part of the articles-don't change your senti- ments-hold fast to General Washington's orders, as we do. We shall never be happy or contented if you do not take us under your powerful wings; we are sensible that no one dare pluck a feather from your body; if they do, the fifteen speared arrows in your claws will display in every direction.
Brothers, listen ! You have requested of us all, to give you an account of the nation or nations, the true owners of the soil northwest of the Ohio, of the boundaries you have laid off two days ago. We will ask you a few questions. Did you not in the last war between you and the British, divide the country ? He gave one part to you, the other he reserved for himself. We are well acquainted that you are master of the lands, and you have now thought proper to return a large tract of the country to us again.
Brothers! We leave the disposal of the country wholly in your breast. Make out the boundaries that shall divide the land between our nations, as we, the Wyandots, Dela- wares, and Shawanees, wish to know if we are entitled to any part of it. We wish to inform you of the impropriety of not fixing the bounds of every nation's rights, for the manner it now lies in would bring on disputes forever between the different tribes of Indians; and we wish to be by ourselves, that we may be acquainted how far we might extend our claims, that no one may intrude on us, nor we on them.
Brothers! This speech we deliver you is the unanimous opinion of the chiefs, the Wyandots, Ottawas, Delawares, and Six Nations of Sandusky, and the Delawares and Shawanees from the waters of the Miami River.
My nephews the Delawares, and my younger brothers the Shawanees, have further added to this speech; it is their wish from their hearts that the present proposed plan should be left to your consideration, as you had pity on us in settling the present busi- ness in such a manner as you thought proper. You may rest assured, brothers, that these are our sentiments.
J. WILLIAMS, Agent and Commissioner for the Chiefs and Warriors of Sandusky.
The Little Turtle, a Miami chief, arose and spoke as follows :-
Elder brother! and all you present! I am going to say a few words in the name of the Pottawattamies, Weas, and Kickapoos. It is well known to you all, that people are appointed on these occasions to speak the sentiments of others; therefore am I appointed for those three nations.
Elder brother! You told your younger brothers when we first assembled, that peace was your object. You swore your interpreters before us to the faithful discharge of their duty and told them the Great Spirit would punish them did they not perform it. You told us it was not you, but the President of the Fifteen Fires of the United States, who spoke to us; that whatever he should say should be firm and lasting; that it was impossible he should say what was not true. Rest assured that your younger brothers, the Miamies, Ottawas, Chippeways, Pottawattamies, Shawanees, Weas, Kickapoos, Piankeshaws, and Kaskaskias, are well pleased with your words, and are persuaded of their sincerity. You have told us to consider of the boundaries you showed us : your younger brothers have done so, and now proceed to give you their answer. [A white string. ]
Elder brother! Your younger brothers do not wish to hide their sentiments from you. I wish them to be the same with those of the Wyandots and Delawares. You have told us that most of the reservations you proposed to us, belonged to our fathers the French and British. Permit your younger brothers to make a few observations on this subject.
Elder brother! We wish you to listen with attention to our words. You have told your younger brothers that the British imposed falsehoods on us when they said the United States wished to take our lands from us, and that the United States had no such design. You pointed out to us the boundary line, which crossed a little below Loramie's store and struck Fort Recovery, and ran thence to the Ohio River, opposite the mouth of Kentucky River.
Elder brother ! You have told us to speak our minds freely, and we now do it. This line takes in the greater and the best parts of your brothers' hunting-ground; therefore your younger brothers are of opinion you take too much of their lands away, and con- fine the hunting-grounds of our young men within limits too contracted. Your brothers the Miamies, the proprietors of those lands, and all your younger brethren present, wish you to run the line, as you mentioned, to Fort Recovery, and to continue it along the road from thence to Fort Hamilton, on the Great Miami River. This is what your bro- thers request you to do; and you may rest assured of the free navigation of that river, from thence to its mouth, forever.
Brother! Here is the road we wish to be the boundary between us. What lies to the east, we wish to be yours; that to the west, we would desire to be ours. [Presenting a road belt. ]
Elder brother! In speaking of the reservations, you say they are designed for the same purpose as those for which our fathers, the French and English, occupied them. Your younger brothers now wish to make some observations on them.
Elder brother! Listen to me with attention. You told us you discovered on the Great Miami traces of an old fort. It was not & French fort, brother; it was a fort built by me. You perceived another at Loramie's; 'tis true a Frenchman once lived there for a year or two. The Miami villages were occupied as you remarked; but it was unknown to your younger brothers until you told them, that we had sold land there to the French or English. I was much surprised to hear you say it was my forefathers had set the example to the other Indians in selling their lands. I will inform you in what manner the French and English occupied those places.
Elder brother! These people were seen by our forefathers first at Detroit; afterwards we saw them at the Miami village-that glorious gate which your younger brothers had the happiness to own, and through which all the good words of our chiefs had to pass from the north to the south, and from the east to the west. Brothers, these people never told us they wished to purchase our lands from us.
Elder brother ! I now give you the true sentiments of your younger brothers the Mi- amies with respect to the reservation at the Miami villages. We thank you for kindly contracting the limits you at first proposed. We wish you to take this six miles square on the side of the river where your fort now stands, as your younger brothers wish to inhabit that beloved spot again. You shall cut hay for your cattle wherever you please, and you shall never require in vain the assistance of your younger brothers at that place.
Elder brother! The next place you pointed to was the Little River, and said you wanted two miles square at that place. This is a request that our fathers the French or British never made us-it was always ours. This carrying place has heretofore proved, in a great degree, the subsistence of your younger brothers. That place has brought to us in the course of one day, the amount of one hundred dollars. Let us both own this place, and enjoy in common the advantages it affords. You told us at Chicago the French possessed a fort; we have never heard of it. We thank you for the trade you promised to open in our country ; and permit us to remark that we wish our former traders may be continued and mixed with yours. [A belt. ]
Elder brother! On the subject of hostages, I have only to observe that I trust all my brothers present are of my opinion with regard to peace and our future happiness. I expect to be with you every day when you settle on your reservations, and it will be impossible for me or my people to withhold from you a single prisoner ; therefore we don't know why any of us should remain here. These are the sentiments of your younger brothers present on these particulars. [A white string.]
Asimethe, a Pottawattamie chief, arose and spoke as follows :-
Elder brother! You have heard the voice of your younger brothers present. I have nothing to add to what has been said. Where could I find & contrary opinion ? I have only to hope that we may all experience the truth of what you have told us in the name of General Washington who sent you. All our treaties hitherto have failed; this, I am confident, will be lasting. These words come from the three fires, and we hope the Great Spirit may witness our sincerity. [A white string. ]
Council adjourned.
Thursday, 30th July. In council. Present as before. Asimethe thus resumed his address :-
Elder brother ! What I am about to say is the voice of all present. You know the Great Spirit witnesses our words-I am afraid to tell an untruth. I have nothing to add to what has been said; it meets the full approbation of all your younger brothers. You know we have all buried the hatchet together with our bad actions. Why, therefore, do you wish to detain hostages from among us? You may depend upon our sincerity. We cannot but be sincere as your forts will be planted thick among us. Although an Indian, I respect the words of a good man; and when I pledge my faith, I do not deviate from my engagements. Your people with us will undoubtedly be restored as soon as possible; I cannot fix any precise period for their delivery, for perhaps I could not exactly fulfil my promises and I should be sorry to give you cause to doubt my veracity.
The Shawanees, Miamies, and Delawares, who lived at the gate, and who caused all our misfortunes have wisely buried the hatchet forever; they wish to return to their former situation and enjoy again their favorite abode.
Elder brother! Do not view my freedom with displeasure. [A white string.]
Kee-a-hah, a Kickapoo chief, arose and said :-
I am sent by my nation to hear what the assembled nations should say at this treaty ; together with the words of our elder brother. I shall now speak a few words through the Little Turtle. [Presents a pipe to smoke. ]
The Little Turtle said :-
Elder brother! The United States and your elder brothers present, look at this calu- met-you see it is white. It is an instrument given to us Indians by the Great Spirit to assist in communicating our sentiments to each other.
Elder Brother! I return you thanks for the good words you sent among us; in con- sequence of which we are here this day. We, the Kickapoos and Kaskaskias, are happy in perceiving your humanity towards us. We see with great pleasure all our elder brothers now take you by the hand; and we sincerely hope your words to each other
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may never be violated. We present this calumet as a token of our lasting friendship towards you, and of our anxious desire that this good work may last forever. [A pipe . delivered.]
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, chief of the Chippeways, arose and spoke as follows :-
Elder brother, listen to what I now say ! Your younger brothers, that is, the Ottawas, Chippeways, and Pottawattamies, have told you that they were but one people and had but one voice. They have said the truth and what I now say is in the name of the three fires. You have asked of us, the island of Michilimackinac, and its dependencies, on the main, where the fort formerly stood ; they are ceded to you forever, with the utmost cheer- fulness. You have also asked a piece of ground at the entrance of the straits to cut your wood on and for other necessary purposes; this is also granted to you; and I further add to it the Isle de Bois Blanc, as an instance of our sincere disposition to serve and accommodate you.
You know, brother, when the French formerly possessed this country we were but one people and had but one fire between us; we now entertain the hope of enjoying the same happy relations with you, the United States. Your brothers present, of the three fires, are gratified in seeing and hearing you; those who are at home will not experience that pleasure until you come and live among us: you will then learn our title to that land; you will then be convinced of my sincerity, and of our friendship and strength of our nations.
This, elder brother, is all I have to say at present. We all know that the good work of peace is accomplished : I only address these few words to you that all nations present may again hear the sentiments of the three fires, and understand them perfectly. [A blue and white string.]
The Little Beaver, a Wea chief, arose and said :-
Elder brother! You already know what I am about to say. I have got a cold; I cannot speak well at present; my brother, the Little Turtle, will speak for me.
The Little Turtle :-
Elder brother! Here are papers which have been given to me by General Washington, the great chief of the United States. He told me they should protect us in the possession of our lands, and that no white person should interrupt us in the enjoyment of our hunt- ing grounds, or be permitted to purchase any of our towns or lands from us; that he would place traders among us who would deal fairly. I wish you to examine these papers.
Elder brother! You have asked for a reservation at the Quiatanon; I hope you will put a trader there on the spot formerly occupied by one. We would wish Captain Prior to be our trader. I can't give you any lands there, brother ; I will lend you some as long as you want it.
Elder brother! You have told us of a place possessed by the French, called Musquiton. We have lived at our village a long time, and it is very surprising that we should never know anything about it. The French live at Vincennes, where they were permitted to settle by my forefathers, who told them they should have a small quantity of land for the cattle, etc., on the east, but none on the west side of the Wabash. [A white string.]
Masass, a Chippeway chief, arose and said :-
All you my brothers present ! When the chiefs of my village sent me hither to hear your proceedings in council, they told me I could not see the extent of the American fires; that they believed their elder brother had called them together in pity to them, their women and children, and they enjoined the three fires to speak with one voice and do their utmost to forward the good work ; saying, that they had seen several treaties, heretofore made with the United States, which the Indians had always violated, by taking up the hatchet.
Elder brother ! I have listened to all your words, and to those of my brothers. It would be very wrong in me to raise objections to what has been done, as you have explained to us your treaty with Britain.
Elder brother! You say, at the Fort of Detroit, you intend to take a piece of land six miles deep, from the river Racine to Lake St. Clair. I now ask you what is to become of our brothers, the French, who live on this land. We look on them as our brothers and friends, who treated us well, when abused by the British. We wish to know your sentiments on this subject. We think, brother, you could find land enough between the rivers Raisin and Rouge. We have no objection to your reservation at the foot of the rapids. We have no objection to any other proposition you have made; and we sincerely wish we could now take you among us, because the British, on our return, will renew their old songs.
Elder brother! My children must have suffered since I left home; perhaps I myself may be made unhappy on my return to them ; for the British may probably say, Why don't you seek relief from your new friends? This makes me uneasy and urges me to entreat you to come immediately and live nearer to us. You might then assist us and it would be more convenient for the surrender of our prisoners. I hope you pity my situation. When I returned from the treaty of Muskingum, McKee threatened to kill me; I have not now less cause to fear him, as he endeavored to prevent my coming hither.
Elder brother! You asked who were the true owners of the lands now ceded to the United States. In answer, I tell you, that if any nations should call themselves the owners of it they would be guilty of a falsehood; our claim to it is equal; our elder .brother has conquered it.
Brothers! Have done trifling. Let us conclude this great work ; let us sign our names to the treaty now proposed and finish our business.
Elder brother! If I can escape the snares of McKee and his bad birds, I shall ascend as high as the Falls of St. Marys, and proclaim the good tidings to all your distant bro- thers in that quarter. [A belt. ]
The General spoke as follows :-
Younger brothers, all of yon, listen with attention! I shall now reply to what was said yesterday by the Wyandots. I will then answer the observations of the Little Turtle, made in behalf of the Miamies and Wabash tribes.
Younger brothers, the Wyandots, Delawares and Shawanees! I am pleased to hear you say with one voice, for the second time, that I have done the greatest justice to you in dividing the lands of the United States from those of the Indian nations by the bound- ary line which I have proposed. You request me to fix the boundaries that shall divide the lands between the respective tribes of Indians now present.
Younger brothers! A moment's reflection will show you the impropriety as well as the impossibility of my acting in this business. You Indians best know your respective boundaries.
I particularly recommend to all you nations present, to continue friendly and just to each other; let no nation or nations, invade, molest or disturb, any other nation or na- tions in the hunting-grounds they have heretofore been accustomed to live and hunt upon within the boundary which shall be now agreed on. And, above all, I enjoin that no injury be offered to any nation or nations, in consequence of the part any or either of them may have pursued, to establish a permanent and happy peace with the United States of America.
Younger brothers, the Wyandots and other Indians of Sandusky, make your hearts and minds easy. Be assured that as soon as circumstances will permit a fort shall be established on the reserved lands, near the entrance of Sandusky Lake, which will always afford you protection against the common enemy, should any such presume to disturb our peace and mutual friendship.
Younger brothers, the Miamies! I have listened to you with attention and have heard your observations upon the general boundary line proposed by me, as well as upon the proposed reservations. If my ears did not deceive me I have heard all the other nations give their assent to the general boundary line and to the reservations generally; I there- fore address you, the Miamies: You say that the general boundary line as proposed by me will take away some of your best hunting-grounds, and you propose to alter it, and run it from Fort Recovery, through the centre of this place, and along the road to the Miami River, opposite Fort Hamilton.
Younger brothers! This would be a very crooked, as well as a very difficult line to follow, because there are several roads between this and Fort Hamilton, some of them several miles apart, which might certainly be productive of unpleasant mistakes and differences. That which I propose will be free from all difficulty and uncertainty. You all know Fort Recovery, as well as the mouth of Kentucky River. A straight line drawn from one to the other, will never vary; they are two points which will ever be remem- bered, not only by all present, but by our children's children, to the end of time. Nor will this line prevent your hunters, or young men in the smallest degree from pursuing all the advantages which the chase affords, because, by the seventh article, the United States of America grant liberty to all the Indian tribes, to hunt within the territory ceded to the United States, without hindrance or molestation, so long as they demean them- selves peaceably, and offer no injury to the people of the United States.
I find there is some objection to the reservation at Fort Wayne. The Little Turtle observes, he never heard of any cessions made at that place, to the French. I have traced the lines of two forts at that point; one stood near the junction of the St. Josephs and the St. Marys; and the other not far removed, on the St. Marys; and it is ever an established rule, among Europeans, to reserve as much ground around their forts as their cannon can command ;- this is a rule, as well known as any other fact.
Objection has also been made respecting the portage between Fort Wayne and Little River; and the reasons produced are, that the road has been to the Miamies a source of wealth-that it has heretofore produced them one hundred dollars per day. It may be so; but let us inquire who in fact paid this heavy contribution. It is true, the traders bore it in the first instance, but they laid it on their goods, and the Indians of the Wabash really and finally paid it; therefore, it is the Little Beaver-the Soldier-the Sun, and their tribes, who have actually been so highly taxed. The United States will always be their own carriers, to, and from, their different posts. Why should the United States pay the large sum of eight thousand dollars, annually, if they were not to enjoy the privilege of open roads, to, and from their reservations? This sum of money the United States agree to pay for this, and other considerations; and the share which the Miamies will receive of this annuity, shall be one thousand dollars.
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