Treaty of Greenville Minutes

              564 INDIAN AFFAIRS. tl^gg,
Extract of a letter from Major General Mthony PFmjne to the Secretary of War, dated Head Quarters, Chm-
- ville, 9th August, 1795.
It is withjilfinite pleasure I now inform you, that a treaty of peace between tiie United States of' America anil all the late hostile tribes of Indians northwest of the Ohio, was unanimously and voluntarily agreed to, and cheerfully signed, by all the sachems and war chiefs of the respective nations, on the 3d, and exchanged on the 7th instant.
Minutes of a Treaty with the tribes of Indians called the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese, Otlawas, Chippmas, Patiawalamies, Miamies, Eel River, Kickapoos, Piankeshaws, and Kaskaskias, begun at Greenville, onilielm day of June, and ended on the lOth day qf Jlugust, 1795.
A considerable number of Delawares, Ottawas, Pattawatamies, and Eel River Indians, having arrived at Green¬ ville since the beginning of June, General Wayne caused them to be assembled together on Tuesday, the Ifltli, and, for the first time, met them in general council. They were presented with and smoked the calumet of peace; after which the General arose^ and addressed them as follows:
I take you all by the hand as brothers, assembled for the good work of peace.   I thank the Great Spirit for this
tlorious sun, (who appears to rejoice at our meeting) and for permitting so many of us to assemble liere this day, the rat of that moon appointed for holding the intended treaty. The Great Spirit has favored us with a clear sky and a refreshing breeze lor tlie happy occasion. _
I have cleai'ed this ground of all brush and rubbish, and opened roads to the east, to the west, to tlic north, and ^to the south, that all nations may come in safety and ease to meet me. The ground on which this council house gtands is unstained with blood, and is as pure as the heart of General Washington, the great chief of America, and of his great council—as pure as my heart—which now wishes for nothing so much as peace and brotherly love.
I have this day kindled the council fire of the United States: we will now cover it up, and keep it alive, until the remainder of the dilferent tribes assenible, and form a full meeting and representation.'
I now deliver to each tribe present a string of white wampum, to serve as records of the friendship that ia this day commenced between us.. [Wampum delivered.]
The heavens are bright, the roads are open; we will rest in peace and love, and wait the arrival of our brotliera. In the interim, we will nave a little drink, to wash the dust out of our throats. We will, on this happy occasion, be merry, without, however, passing the bounds of temperance and sobriety.
Te-ta-boksh-ke, King of the Delawares, rose, and spoke as follows:
Our meeting this day affords itie infinite pleasure. I thank the Great Spirit, and I thank you, far be3to^ving on us so great a happiness. All my people shall be informed of, and will rejoice in, the commencement of our friend¬ ship, which, I hope, will never end.   [A wliite string of wampum. ]
The fire was raked up, and the council adjourned.
June 17,
Forty Pattawatamies arrived, and had audience.
The New Corn, one of their chiefs, addressing the General, said:
I have come here on the good work of peace; no other motive could have induced me to undertake so long a jour¬ ney as I have now perlbrraed, in my advanced age and infirm state of health. I come i'rom lake Micliigan, I hope, after our treaty, you will exciiange our old medals, and supply us with General Washington's. My young men will no longer listen to the formerj they; wish tor the latter. 1 hey have thrown off the British, and henceforth will view the Americans as their only true friends. We come with a good hcai-t, and hope you will supply us with provision. The General replied:
I give you all a hearty welcome. I am particularly pleased with the presence of so venerable a man as Now Corn, You, young warriors, will, I am persuaded, pay the hignest respect to the counsels of tins aged chief. Your friend, the Sun, (a Pattawatamy chief) will tell you, that yesterday we kindled the council fire; that the roads arc all clear, and that we only wait the arrival of the other expected chielB, to begjn the good work. You must be fatigued. I will not detain you at present. You will be supplied with provision, and some drink to rclVesh you, and to make your hearts glad.
JunCii,
Buck-on-ge-he-las, with a party of Delawares, and Asi-me-the, with a party of Pattawatamies, anived, and wis received in the council-house.
Te-ta-boksh-ke, the Delaware king, for the former party, addressed the General as follows:
Bkother, listen! We are here met, by permission of the Great Spirit. Our forefathers used soft cloths to ihy up their tears: we use this, (wampum) and hope by its influence to do away all past misfortunes. We have now opened our eyes and ears, and hope to settle all differences.   [A white string.]
A-si-me-fhe, a Pattawatamy chief, spoke as follows:
I have nothing to observe; our grandfathers, the Delawares, have said what is necessary. Excuse my not present¬ ing you with wampums. Why should we, elder brother, be of a different opinion with our grandfathers, tiie Dela¬ wares? The Great Spirit has been equally kind to us in this meeting. You see us all here. You sent Ibr us. The remainder of us are dead, or incapable of coming to see you. Imcorapliance with your requisition for the surrender of prisoners, and as a proof of our sincere wislies for peace, I now present you two—all in our possession.
The General arose, and spoke thus: Brothehs: I take you all by the hand, and welcome you to Greenville. The great council fire has already been kmdled, and the calumet of peace has been smoked by the different nations already here. This old chief (To-ta- Iwksh-ke) has been witness to and joined in this solemn act, in the presence of the Great Spirit. Wc liave raked up the fire until the chiefs generally assemble. Last night I had accounts from the Wyandots of Sandusky and Detroit, and all the Indiana in that quarter. This day they rise upon their feet, to come and join In council with uaj the roads being all dear, they will arrive, without difficulty, in ten days. We will then add fresh wood to our iire, whose pure flame shall be seen from the rising to the setting sun. We will postpone entering on business until that penod. In the mean time, I will give you, my brothers, what will make your hearts glad. I have already givea •wampum to all the tribes present} I now present you with alittle more, to evince that my mind and heart are always the same.   [Wampum.]
June 33, Le Gris, the Little Turtle, and seventeen Miamies, iiiTived, and were presented. _ Le Gris merely observedv that he was very happy to see the General? that he had nothing particular to say at this time; he wished to encamp, and prepare for bad weather; and added, that the Miamies were united with him in friendly sentiments and wishes for peace.
The General spoke thus to them:
I feel much satisfaction in taking you all by the hand; my pleasure is equally great with yours in this interview The council lire was kmdled in this house oathe first day of this moon; we covered it up, and have preserved it clear, waiting tor your arrival and the appearance of our brothers the Wyandots, Shawanese, and a part of the Five