Cornplanter, April 27th, 1791

The following speech was an exchange of compliments, given by Corn Planter at the beginning of a counsel meeting, April 27th, 1791 at Buffalo Creek.

Brother Listen! It is usual for us to speak; and to you we do it as to a brother that has been absent a long time.  Now we all speak to you, and to our head warrior that left us last fall: — and we thank the Great Spirit for his and your safe arrival here, as you are together, hand in hand, from Honandaganius, upon great business.

You have traveled long, with tears in your eyes, upon account of the bad roads, and bad season of the year.  Besides the disturbances between the bad Indians and our brothers the white people, every thing has been trying to prevent your coming, and to stop your business, and make you lose your way.

Thus the big waters might have stopped your coming; and the wars might have stopped you; and sickness might have stopped you; for we cannot know what is to happen until it comes upon us.  So, therefore, we thank the Great Spirit who has preserved you from such dangers that might have hindered us from hearing of the good news which you and our head warrior have opened to us.  But how could it be that any thing bad could have happened to you, while you have such important business to transact, as we understand you have come on?

You must now wipe away those tears occasioned by all the great dangers you have come through.  And now we set you upon a seat where you can sit up straight — and a seat where you are secure from the fears of your enemies; — where you can look around and see all your friends and brothers in peace.  Besides, you have come along with your heart and your throat stopped up, to secure all that you had to say in your body.  But now we open your heart with your brothers' hands, and we run our fingers through to open your mouth, that you may speak clear, and not be molested.  Your ears also have been stopped by Honandaganius until you should see your brothers at this place, being spared by the Great Spirit to arrive safe.

Now, open your ears to hear what your brothers may say after you have made your speech.  This is, therefore, the compliment of the chiefs and head men of Buffalo creek, to you and our great warrior, the Cornplanter, and you may each of you go on safely with your business.