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I now request the attention of the president of the United States, by his agent.  Colonel Pickering, now present.  A few days since, when the American chief had spoken to us, he gave us to understand that General Knox and Colonel Pickering should be the agents to negotiate with us, on things which concern our welfare.  Let me call for your compassion, as you can put all down upon paper, while we have to labor with our minds, to retain and digest what is spoken, to enable us to make an answer.

Brother Onas Governor: Open unprejudiced ears to what we have to say!  Some days since you addressed us, and what you said gave us great pleasure.  This day the Great Spirit has allowed us to meet you again in this council chamber.  We hope that your not receiving our immediate answer to your address will make no improper impression upon your mind.  We mention this lest you should suspect that your kind welcome and friendly address has not had a proper effect upon our hearts.  We assure you it is far other wise.

Brother from Pennsylvania: You that are sent from General Washington, and by the Thirteen Fires: you have been sitting side by side with us every day, and the Great Spirit has appointed us another pleasant day to meet again.

Now listen, Brother! You know what we have been doing so long, and what trouble we have been at; and you know that it has been the request of our head warrior, that we are left to answer for our women, who are to conclude what ought to be done by both sachems and warriors.  So hear what is their conclusion.

Brother: The Great Spirit has spared us until a new day to talk together, for since you came here from General Washington, you, and our uncles the sachems, have been counseling together.  
Tell him, (said he to the interpreter), Tell Colonel Proctor that some of his language is soft, but that other parts of it are too strong.  The danger before us is great.  Our enemies are drunk, and they will not hear what we say like a man that is sober; and we consider that, whatever number of the Six Nations accompany him (Colonel Proctor), will be in the same danger with himself, and it is likely that we shall not live long when the bad Indians shall see us.

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.