An Indian Council in Washington

The newly arrived delegation from the Pottawatomies held a "talk" yesterday afternoon with the Cherokee delegation which has been in this city for some time past. The meeting was requested by the former, some of whom had attended as delegates from their tribe at the last grand council held in the Cherokee nation at Tah-le-quah in the month of June, 1843.

Mr. John Ross, the head chief of the Cherokees, first spoke, expressing his gratification at meeting his brethren of the Pottawatomies in the town of their grent [great] father, the President of the United States, to which he and the rest of the Cherokees present had come, like the Pottawatomies, on business connected with the interest of their brethren in the Far West. He said it was well that the red man came to their great father for advice when they needed it; for he always stood ready to point out to them the path that led to peace among the various tribes and with their white neighbors; and that he considered it no less his duty to watch over the interests of the red man than over those of the white.

He asked the Pottawatomies what had been done by their nation to further the object for which they, with the other tribes, had assembled in council last spring, in the Cherokee nation, towards bringing about such an understanding among all the red men of the West as would keep the hatchet forever buried between them. He said his heart was very full of this subject; that it could be effected if the braves and sages of the different tribes would earnestly strive to impress its importance on their followers.

His speech was then translated into the Pottawattomie dialect by their interpreter, Pierre Le Clere, a half breed.

"Half day," the Pottawatomie orator, replied; whose answer, being interpreted, was as follows:-

My brethren: The Pottawatomies were much pleased with the doings of the last general council of the Cherokee nation. The advise you and other Indians, who had adopted the habits and customs of the whites gave them was good, and had been impressed on their memories. They would not forget what you told them of the importance of at all times looking up to the government of the United States as their most reliable friend, and to its agent as their best adviser, which was the only certain way of avoiding trouble with their white neighbors. A letter from your people, too, repeating the same things said in your speech, has been communicated to us through our clerk, who received it from yours, and it had received much attention from the Pottawatomies. I was much pleased with it, and so were all the chiefs and headmen of our nation. It was immediately translated, and sent on wampum by a runner to the Chippewas, our kindred, with a request from us that they would hearken to its words in favor of general peace, and earnest efforts for the civilization of the various tribes. This was done about the time we started on our journey to this city.

When their answer is received by our brethren at home, that, and the letter, together with a "talk" from us, will be sent on wampum to the Delawares, and when we again meet in the spring, in council, we hope to be able to bring answers from both of these tribes, to tell you that your letter has had the effect of teaching us the importance of looking up to our fathers, the United States agents, and also of cementing peace and good will among red men, and between them and the whites. My brethren, the Pottawatomie chiefs, now here, wish me to assure you that when we return, we shall strive to induce as many nations as possible to unite with us in council next spring; and, according to your advise with us, as we place great confidence in their friendship and wisdom. The talk which you have just given us is good. We like it.

Mr. John Ross answered, that what they had done was well, and would doubtless have good effect if the other tribes would harken to the substance of the wampum containing his speech and letter, which he trusted, through their efforts, would be widely circulated. The pipe of peace was then lighted; and after it had been passed around the council, Mr. Ross again spoke: saying, that at the time of the council he had heard of the bad feeling existing between the Pottawatomies and Sioux, which had given him much distress; and that after it (the council) had broken up, he had sent a runner to the latter, urging them strenuously to make peace, and pointing out the folly and impropriety of wars between red men, when so many causes were combined to sweep them from the face of the earth. He now wished to know if peace had been made?

Half day answered, through the interpreter, that when he reached home after the council broke up, acting upon the advice of the Cherokee chief, (Mr. Ross) he, too, had endeavored to bring about a peace between the two nations, and had sent to the Winnebagoes to urge [urge] their friends (the Sioux) to bury the hatchet; and that, up to within a few days of their departure on this journey, the Sioux had given them no trouble; but just before they left, a Sioux war party had made their appearance in their country, laden with plunder they had taken elsewhere. As soon as the alarm was given in the Pottawatomie village their young men assembled and went out to meet the enemy, whom they came in sight of at a place about twelve miles west of their town. When the Sioux discovered them advancing, they retreated, dispersing in different directions, and the Pottawatomies only followed them until satisfied that they had left their country. He was glad that they had not come to blows; but his young men went prepared to make peace, or to fight if necessary. The manner in which they had retreated and were equipped, proved that they came with no good intentions, however. He hoped, however, that at a future general council, the difficulties between the two nations would be satisfactorily settled. At the next council there would doubtless by many more tribes represented, who would lend their efforts to bring the Sioux and Pottawatomies to a good understanding.

Le Clere, the half breed interpreter [interpreter], next said, that, on his way to the town of their great father, (Washington city.) he had met the United States agent stationed among the Sioux, and had asked him whether or not they were disposed for peace. The agent told him that the main body of the tribe were anxious to bury the hatchet, and had proposed to send a proposition to the Pottawatomies, but that he had advised them to defer it until his return to the nation, when he would attend himself to the matter. The agent also said that the Creeks had complained of depredations and murders committed by the Sioux or Pawnees on their people, who, if it was not stopped, would certainly be revenged. They had sent

a wampum to the Delawares, signed by seven different nations who had suffered injuries at the hands of these same Indians, and who wished a council to determine how to right themselves if these things continued. The agent also said that the Sissiton Sioux alone had done all the mischief.

The calumet was again passed round, and then Mr. John Ross again addressed them upon the importance and good effects of annual general councils, which, being attended and participated in by the United States agents, brought them into more frequent and direct communication with the United States agents, brought them into more frequent and direct communication with the United States government, and thus gave the latter a better knowledge of their wants, as well as of the best mode of attending to them. He said the Indians only wanted a close intercourse with the government to learn how truly they were their friends. He also spoke of the importance of these meetings in influincing [influencing] the red men to live in peace with all the world, that if they did not soon give up their old habits, the different nations would soon cease to exist, because, while in their present state, everything tended to destroy them. He remarked that the Pottawatomies at the last council had seen what civilization had done for the Cherokees. It had made them men in all respects; that they were rapidly improving, while the other nations, who still clung to their ancient habits of life, were retrograding, and, like the leaves of the forest in autumn, were passing away.

He warned the Pottawatomies that they too, if they would continue to exist, must adopt the habits of the whites; and referring to the patience, and energy, and judgment for which their tribe had been remarkable for untold ages, assured them that those were the national characteristics likely to make them most prosperous if their attention could be turned to the important work of civilization. The speech of Mr. Ross upon this subject was marked throughout with sound advice and good feeling, and evidently made a deep impression upon his auditors, who, notwithstanding their characteristic stoicism, appeared deeply touched by his arguments, showing the importance of saving their nation by strenuous efforts to adopt the habits of the whites. After he had concluded, the pipe of friendship was again passed round the council, which then broke up; the Pottawatomies rising, and passing around the circle, each shaking hands with every other person in the room.

(->) We like to read the moves of the red men,-it shows that the great day of Israel is at hand, and that God has respect to his word and people.