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The Indian's speech, translated from the Latin, is as followeth.— "Since the subject of his errand is to persaude is to embrace new doctrines, perhaps it may not be amiss, before we offer hint the reasons why we cannot comply with his request, to acquaint him of the grounds and princi-ples of that religion he would hare Us to abandon.

"Brothers...As you are once more assem- bled in council for the purpose of doing honor to yourselves, and justice to your country; we, your brothers, the sachems, chiefs and warriors, of the Seneca nation, request you to open your ears and give atten- tion to our voice and wishes.

Forty years ago my mother died.  She captured by Comanche, nine years old.  Love Indian and wild life so well no want to go back to white folks.  All same people, God say.  I love my mother.  I like white people.  Got great heart.  I want my people follow after white way, get educate, know work, make living when payments stop.  I tell ’um they got to know pick cotton, plow corn.  I want ’um know white man’s God.  Comanche may die tomorrow, or ten years.  When end come then they all be together again.

"We love you white men, but we have fear of your success because it is so dry.  This is a pretty country but you white men take it away from us. The only thing this country is good for is red ants, coyotes, and cattle men."

 

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.

(Addressing the Sioux) Yon have heard our chief.

(Here he was told ne must speak to the commissioner.)

We have all listened to you, (the commissioner.)  We have never been the aggressors, though they (the Sioux) say we have.  When I killed a Sioux, I revenged myself on my own land, not on theirs.  These men are like I was when a little boy; there is a great deal of mischief in their heads.

My father: Looking round at your children, you think all their ears are open to what you say; but I think part of them are deaf; they act like men that have no ears at all.

I have heart and ears, and take into them all I hear from you.  These people have struck us often, but we have sat with our arms folded: still they strike, and we remain quiet.

What I say I do not say with a forked tongue; we are willing to hold back, as you have counselled us; our agent has given us the same counsel, and has partly held my hands.