The Enquirer

INDIAN AFFAIRS.

We have had frequent accounts from the Michigan territory that an Indian war appeared to be impending. These accounts were soon afterwards contradicted, and ascribed to Indian traders; but the traders have been ill used by having those reports attributed to them, as being circulated to promote their speculations.
For a variety of articles of intelligence from Michigan territory show that serious expectations of hostilities have been entertained there.
The following are copies of "Talks," delivered in the presence of a number of Indian chiefs, to captain Dunham, commander of the United States troops at Michilimackinac, and his answer.
Bojon Palladiih.
TALKS,
Delivered to capt. Dunham, at the Grand Council of Indians, Chiefs of the Chippeways & Ottawas tribes, held at Michilimackinac, June 20, 1806.
My Father: we have come to see you and to give you our hand; we hope you will listen to us.
My Father: Our ancestors once owned this island: we can still point out the spot where some of them sleep, and the bones of others are now white, in the cave where they are deposited. 'Tis a little spot, but it is still dear to us.
My Father: The time I am speaking of was before the man with pots came among us. We then had only kettles of clay, and our hatchets were made of stone.
My Father: The French taught our fathers the use of the musket instead of the bow and arrow; and they gave them hatchets made of iron. They were very good to us, and gave us many good things.
My Father: When red coats [British] came among us they gave us bread and meat and blankets;--they were very kind. The big knives [Americans] have also given us bread and meat, and we are now your children.
My Father: We, the chiefs of the Chippeways and Ottawas at --- Croche, now speak from the heart. We respect our great American father. And hold his white children firmly by the hand.
My Father: Sir John Johnson [of Montreal] has always been the friend of red men. You have often told us the same of our great American father. Our hearts towards him are clear as this wampum. [Six strings of white wampum here given as a pledge of sincerity]
My Father: When our Captain general Wilkinson came here and took us by the hand, he gave us this talk showing his speech in writing] it was a good talk, it tickled our ears, but it did not warm our backs.
My Father; We are all your children. If any wicked birds come among us, 'tis our duty to tell you. We have had a belt and talk from the red coats, asking us to raise warriors to help them; but we did not listen.
[Three strings of wampum.]
My Father: We are a little people, not equal to you. We hope you will give us charity when we are in need of it. We are very poor.
My Father: Since the big knives, Americans] have been here we have been well treated. You have been a good father. We hope you will continue so, and consider us.
My Father: It is very hard when our children cannot pay all our debts, that they should be put in prison. They are very poor, and cannot pay all their debts.
My Father: Some of the traders are here present, and perhaps they may have something to say, when I have done. I wish you would consider us, and let the traders bring their rum along with them when they come among us.
My Father: We, the chiefs and warriors of the Chippeways and Ottawas here present, are your real children. We love our white brethren, and are ready to do them good. We shall always hold them firmly by the hand. We hope father you will not let the merchants imprison us for debt.
My Father: We hope you will not forget us, but ask our great father to send us the goods general Wilkinson promised us. We are very poor. If he will not allow you to give us his milk rum, perhaps he may send us some tobacco to smoke.
My Father: I have no more to say, we love your white children, and will always do them good, I hope you will remember us.
(Six strings of wampum.)
ADDITIONAL TALK.
By the old chief Kitchi Negon, or Grand Sauble, (about 90 years old) formerly principal proprietor of the island of Michilimakinac.
My Father: The mouth of the great chief has been open: and you have listened. Now permit me to speak.
My Father: I am an old man, very old, I am now addressing you for the last time. I hope you will listen.
My Father: We have been threatened with being put to jail; we hope you will not suffer the merchants to put our sons in jail, when they cannot pay all, we hope for your pity; we will pay all we can.
My Father: I shall soon go to sleep. I hope you will continue your kindness to our wives and children, and to our young men; and let them set their feet on Round Island. It is the resting place of our fathers. We love to sit by their graves when we are wearied with hunting. I shall soon go to rest and sleep with my friends.
My Father: Our young men are not like soldiers, they do not like to be struck. If they are foolish, we hope you will not give them any pain, but forgive them.
My Father: The traders have locked up their Milk [Rum] this very hard; I hope you will give your orders to let it loose.
My Father: We have some sick people among us, we hope you will speak to the great spirit to make them well; so that our hearts may be glad. and their kindred rejoice. I hope the great spirit will have pity!
My Father: I have no more to say: I now take you by the hand, and bid you Farewell!"
(Eight strings of wampum.)
* A little island, opposite Mackinac, where the Indians bury their dead, and reserved by them on that account.
Capt. DUNHAM'S ANSWER.
Brothers: I am happy to see you. I have long wished to see you together, and to take you by the hand, for I have something to say.
Brothers: I am pleased with what you have said. I hope it was sincere from the heart. I know very well that bad birds have been hovering about in this quarter; they have filled my ears with bad reports.
Brothers: I have been told that many of the Red People have been dissatisfied; and I have heard before that a war belt has been circulating among your different tribes, to induce them to take up the hatchet against the Americans.
Brothers: This I hope is not true--Not because we are afraid of war, but because we love peace. Because we had rather see the chain of friendship brighter, than to see the hatchet bloody.
Brothers: I have been told, by a very swift bird from Fort Wayne, that the red people have formed a plan to take my fort. This I do not believe, for red men are not fools: Nor do I fear it--because my eyes are open; our knives are not only big, but sharp, and our guns never miss fire.
Brothers: I was told four days ago, by a friendly bird, whispering in my ears, that you was going to bring me some wampum and a very friendly talk, in order to blind my eyes, that I might not see you lift the hatchet, til I felt the blow. This I do not believe.
Brothers: But suppose you were to take my fort, and get my scalp, with those of my brave soldiers, into the bargain, what would you gain by it?- Or what would your great father lose by it? Very little!
Brothers: It would only kindle his anger. which is terrible when it burns--and you, and your wives, and your little ones would all be consumed! He knows all your lodges; he knows, to a man, how many warriors you have: he has his white children and warriors planted all around you. You could not escape. You would all be cut off as clean as I cut off my beard when I shave. Who would be left to tell the story? Not one.
Brothers: I hope you will not be offended. because I tell you the truth. I do not say this to fill your hearts with fear, or to make your hands tremble. I am not speaking to old women. I know you are brave. You do not fear any thing. I only remind you of what you all know.--The certain consequences of taking up the hatchet, which has been so long buried.
Brothers: But your great father would be sorry to see this, because he is the great friend of red men; and loves you all. Your prosperity is near to his heart. He wishes you to be strong and to stand up together yet a great while, as a people.
Brothers: You were once very strong and powerful--a great people. We were then a little cloud rising out of the great water in the east. This little cloud has now become great: it has spread itself over the whole heavens, and over-shadows the whole land of our fathers, while you have become weak and scattered, very few, and must come and take shelter under it.
We are like the sun in the east, rising in its full strength. You are like the sun setting in the west, when its strength is gone.
Brothers: The Great Spirit has done this! He made both white and red men. They are all his children. The blood that runs in our veins is all of the same colour. The Great Spirit knows what is best, and we must submit to the will of the Great Spirit!
Brothers When we took you by the hand and smoked together. The hatchet was then buried--I hope forever. It must not be taken up again.
Brothers: Your Great Father is the friend of red men and the friend of peace. He wishes you to hunt without fearing a foe, and learn of us those arts by which you could live, if hunting should fail you.
Brothers: Your great father wishes you to learn to build huts, that will shelter you from the rain and cold, to use the plough, and to raise cattle and sheep. So that each of you may be able to say. "This house and that cornfield are mine, for they were my father's they will be my sons, and my grandsons after him." So that you may have bread and meat to fill you, when you are hungry, and clothing to keep you warm, when Buffaloes and Beavers will no longer be found in the forest. This is the wish of your Great Father.
Brothers: If any bad bird comes among you from the south, do not listen: If any advises you to take up arms against the Americans, it is a wicked bird: it is a vulture that wishes to destroy you. Remember what I say, do not listen to it. but inform me.
Brothers: if a bird alights among you from the north or the east, and whispers in your ear of war, do not believe it, it will deceive you. The red coats and big knives are Friends. They will not draw the bow against each other. Besides, you must always be ready to fight for your father, if he needs your assistance: for he is your father; the country all round you is his and you must look to him alone for protection.
Brothers: Lest you should forget who are your friends, I shall present you with the American flag; you have seen it before, but I will explain it to you.
Brothers: These seventeen stars are the seventeen Fires of the American people. These seventeen stripes so closely interwoven shew how closely our sires are united to form one great national fire. The red and the white severally represent the red and the white children of our great father, who all sit around it, and equally feel the warmth. When you look up, and see this waving in your camp, it will tell you who are your friends, and where you must look for protection.
Brothers: As to what you say of gen. Wilkinson's promise in the talk you have shewn me, it is not his fault that it has not been fulfilled; nor yet the fault of your great father. The presents are forwarded to Detroit, where they are issued to some of the chiefs of your nation, who probably engage to give you your share. But I shall speak of this to your great father, and I am sure he will see that you have justice done you in future.
Brothers: You complain that the merchants lock up their milk, they do right: because your great father orders it, if he should let it loose it would become a flood that would overwhelm you, you know it has destroyed thousands of your people; it is not milk but poison. You see how it takes away the strength of a man. when he drinks it so that he cannot stand up. Just so it will take away the strength of your nation, so that it can no longer stand up, as a people. Your great father sees this, and therefore orders us to lock up his milk.
Brothers: You appear apprehensive of being put in prison for debt--you need not be afraid: your Great Father would not allow it. You must however be honest and pay your debts; otherwise your Father will be displeased; besides, it is for your interest to be punctual in your payment--otherwise the merchants will look up from you not only their milk, but every thing else. You must not run in debt more than you can pay.
Brothers: I have said a great deal, but I have a little more to say. A few weeks ago a clerk of Mr. Bailey's was shot through the right hand, by an Indian at the river Riviere aux Marais, without provocation. He will lose his hand, and tis a wonder he was not killed on the spot. This saucy Indian said at the same time, that he would always shoot white men like ducks, wherever he could find them.
Brothers: I do not blame you for the wicked act of this man. I have received a string of wampum from the chief of that place. He says this is a bad Indian, that he has already killed several people, and that he ought to be punished. This is right, 'tis no more than justice.
Brothers: You well know that I am always ready to render justice to you. 'Tis but a few days since I compelled a white man to give satisfaction to an Indian, whom he had beaten and abused. I punished him according to our laws, and compelled him to bring me sureties that he would not do the like again, This act of justice