Spring Wells, September 8, 1815. The treaty signed and sealed by the commissioners on behalf of the United States, and the sachems, headmen, and warriors of the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawanee, Seneca, Ottawa, Chippewa, Pattawatamie, and Miami tribes. A chief of the Pattawatamies.-He said that he saluted the commissioners, and thanked the Great Spirit that the treaty was now finally concluded. He thanked the commissioners, and thanked the President of the United States, that they were placed in the same situation that they stood by the ancient treaty of Greenville. All the cessions of the lands made by the Indians were confirmed. He gave his consent, though with reluctance. It was the act of their ancestors, who were, perhaps, less enlightened than those of this period. But why should we uncover the graves of the dead, and disturb their ashes? He would not do it. Let the dead rest in peace. He would not reflect upon their memories. He would rather say their acts were wise. If, however, it were to do again, he would pause; he would reflect. He would look at his children in the cradle, and ask what right he had to injure those innocents? what authority he had to deprive them of their rights? He hoped that whilst they walked upon the grounds they had acquired of the Indians, they would remember and commiserate their situation. He was afraid that their annuities would not be sufficient for them, and hoped that they would, when necessary, throw in something in addition to that which they were entitled to by treaty. It had pleased the Master of the Universe to place the Indians upon this land, but the scene was now changed. Their ancestors had parted with it. He begged the commissioners that they would not listen to little stories circulated to their prejudice. He again saluted the commissioners, and called the Great Spirit to witness, as was the custom of the Americans when they opened a solemn council. Pacan, chief of the Miami tribe.-He accounted for their joining their old father the British during the war; expressed his satisfaction at the return of peace, and at the renewal of the treaty of Greenville. He was also much rejoiced that no new concessions of land were demanded of them. They were much distressed from the scarcity of animals, and requested that white men might be prohibited from hunting on their lands. There was no such The Seventeen Fires General Harrison had just been informed by one of our citizens that a Wyandot had told him that the British told the Indian that, by the treaty of Ghent, the American Government should pay for the injury done their property at Brownstown. It was a lie. They knew it was a lie when they uttered it; and they might tell them that he said it was a lie. thing contained in the treaty of Ghent. intend to satisfy their own friends; but injuries done to those fighting against them they will not atone for. The Indians had a just claim on the British for a compensation for those losses. He would not be understood that the United States made the British promise in the treaty to do so. It was a thing with which the United States had nothing to do. But as the British had seduced them from their duties to the United States, and, by so doing, brought those calamities upon them, it was but fair and just that they should compensate them for it. The British knew better than to propose such a thing to our ministers at Ghent. They knew that it would have been refused with indignation. But such a proposition was never made. EXHIBIT 222. Treaty with the Wyandot, etc., 1815.1 A Treaty between the United States of America and the Wyandot Delaware, Seneca, Shawanoe, Miami, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatimie, Tribes of Indians, residing within the limits of the State of Ohio, and the Territories of Indiana and Michigan. Whereas the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatimie, tribes of Indians, together with certain bands of the Wyandot, Delaware, Seneca, Shawanoe, and Miami tribes, were associated with Great Britain in the late war between the United States and that power, and have manifested a disposition to be restored to the relations of peace and amity with the said States; and the President of the United States having appointed William Henry Harrison, late a 'Charles J. Kappler: Indian Affairs, Laws and Treaties, Vol. II, p. 117. Major General in the service of the United States, Duncan M'Arthur, late a Brigadier in the service of the United States, and John Graham, Esquire, as Commissioners to treat with the said tribes; the said Commissioners and the Sachems, Headmen, and Warriors, of said tribes having met in Council at the Spring Wells, near the city of Detroit, have agreed to the following Articles, which, when ratified by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, shall be binding on them and the said tribes: ARTICLE I. The United States give peace to the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatimie, tribes. ART. 2. They also agree to restore to the said Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatimie tribes all the possessions, rights, and privileges, which they enjoyed, or were etitled to, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven, prior to the commencement of the late war wth Great Britain; and the said tribes, upon their part, agree again to place themselves under the protection of the United States, and of no other power whatsoever. ART. 3. In consideration of the fidelity to the United States which has been manifested by the Wyandot, Delaware, Seneca, and Shawanoe, tribes, throughout the late war, and of the repentance of the Miami tribe, as manifested by placing themselves under the protection of the United States, by the treaty of Greenville, in eighteen hundred and fourteen, the said States agree to pardon such of the chiefs and warriors of said tribes as may have continued hostilities against them until the close of the war with Great Britain, and to permit the chiefs of their respective tribes to restore them to the stations and property which they held previously to the war. ART. 4. The United States and the beforementioned tribes or nations of Indians, that is to say, the Wyandot, Delaware, Seneca, Shawanoe, Miami, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatimies, agree to renew and confirm the treaty of Greenville, made in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and all subsequent treaties to which they were, respectively, parties, and the same are hereby again ratified and confirmed in as full a manner as if they were inserted in this treaty. Done at Spring Wells, the eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the independence of the United States, the fortieth. |