Mam-Pu-Wee-Chastah, White Man, 1837

My Father: What you say, and what our great father says, I always hear with open ears.

When I received the invitation from our agent, I determined, when I came, to keep my ears open.

What I say is all true. Once I acted a little foolishly, but no lives were lost then.

My ears are always open to good counsel; but I think my great father should take a stick and bore the ears of these people.  They appear to shut their ears when they come here into the council.

I always thought myself and my people would be made happy by listening to your advice.  But begin to think the more we listen, the more we are imposed upon by other tribes.

Had I been foolish, and given foolish counsel to my young men, you would not have seen me here to-day; I might have been home doing mischief, seeking the revenge these people have provoked.

I have been struck by these men eight times, and have lost many of my people.  But I have advised my young men to remain quiet, and let our great father know the whole truth.

I am always ready to do the best I can for my people; but it seems to me, the more we listen to the counsels of our great father, the more we are imposed upon by the tribes around us.  I hope you will make them keep quiet.

Grown men, like these, ought to be men of sense, but I do not believe they have any sense.  I cannot place any confidence in them.  I have more confidence in that little child, (pointing to tint son of Keokuk, who sat between his father's feet) than in all these large, grown men.