"You can still do that; am I not in your power? Can you not do with me as you choose? I am a soldier; I have done your people all the harm I could; I should have done them more harm, but I could not; I have fought you bravely, and if I had an army I should still fight you; I would contend to the last; but I cannot fight without warriors, for they have been taken from me. My people are gone; you have left but few of them; I can only weep for them that are gone."
Jackson was the man to admire boldness in another. His visitor had disarmed him by his bold surrender, knowing, as Jackson was sure he knew, his anger toward him. He looked admiringly at the tall, magnificent fellow and said:
"I will take no advantage over you, scoundrel though you are! If I should serve you as you ought to be served, even your own people would say I did right. You showed no mercy to poor women and children at Fort Mimms, when they had not harmed a hair in the head of you or yours, and could not defend themselves. But, as I said, I will take no advantage over you. You may walk out of this camp unharmed; you may place yourself at the head of your war party and fight us; but I warn you that if you are captured, you shall receive no quarter. Your people can save themselves only by unconditional submission."
Standing erect, the chief looked into the face of the stern, military leader, and without a tremor, replied:
"You know it is safe to address such words to me. There was a time, not long ago, when I should have known how to answer you; once I had a choice, but there is none left to me now. There does not remain even to me a hope. I could once animate my warriors to battle, but I cannot animate the dead. My warriors can no longer hear the voice which has nerved their arms so many times. Their bones are scattered at Talladega, Tallushatches, Emuckfau, and Tohopeka (the Indian name of Horseshoe Bend).
"I have not surrendered myself without thought. While there was a single chance of success, I never left my post nor begged for peace, for I did not want it. Weatherford does not fear to meet any white man. But my people are gone, and my prayer is not for myself but for my nation. I look back with deep sorrow, and wish to avert deeper calamities that threaten to come upon my people. If I had been left to contend with the Georgia army, I should have raised my corn on one bank of the river, and fought them on the other. But your people have destroyed my nation. You are a brave man. I rely upon your generosity. You will exact no terms of a conquered people, but such as it is right they should accede to. Whatever they may be, it would now be madness and folly to oppose them. If they are opposed, you shall find me among the sternest enforcers of obedience. Those who still hold out can be influenced by nothing but a mean spirit of revenge. To this they must not, and shall not sacrifice the last remnant of their country. You have told our nation where we might go and be safe. This is good talk, and they ought to listen to it. They shall listen to it!"
This fine speech produced the effect intended. General Jackson declined to accept Weatherford as a prisoner of war, and he strode out of the American camp as proudly as he had entered it, and kept the pledge made to his conqueror.
NORTHERN INDIAN TOTEM POLES