In St. Louis, on the 3d April, 1821, B. O'Fallon, agent for Indian affairs on Missouri, met a deputation from the Saukee nation of Indians, on the subject of a most destructive war, carried on by them against the Otoes, Missouries, and Omawhaws of his agency, and spoke to them as follows:—
"Saukees,
"I am glad you have arrived, before my departure for the Council Bluff, as it affords me an opportunity to address you on a subject that has agitated my mind for some time past. Yes, Saukees, for some time past I have wished to speak to you on a subject that even now makes the blood run warm in my veins.
"In addressing you upon this important subject, I shall not speak to please your ears, but to strike your hearts.
"Saukees, you must recollect to have seen me frequently; but you do not know me, and I know you well. I recollect when I first visited your land, your balls whistled round my ears. I was then a boy, and wished to be a man—I am now a man, with a heart as strong as my strength.
"A few winters since, I was a chief to the red skins of the upper Mississippi (Sioux and Foxes); I am now chief to the red skins of Missouri, some of whose blood you have spilt. Listen that you may hear me; dispose your minds to understand me; and remember well what I am now going to tell you, and carry my words to your nation, that they may not deceive themselves.
"When I first climbed the rapid Missouri, I found the red skins as wild as wolves. Without ears they roved through the plains, only thirsting for each other's blood. They could only see the storm as it gathered around them; they could only see the clouds when they obscured the sun, and hear it thunder when it rained: but when I sat down on their land, they assembled around me; they listened to my words; I settled the difference that existed between them, and gave peace to the land. They then sat down to rest; but they could not rest long, for the Saukees of the Mississippi, you whom the Big Knives, like fools, have suffered to live, came and disturbed them in their sleep. When disturbed, not like women did they mourn their misfortunes; but like men, they rose in arms and came to me. I did not consult my feelings; I consulted the feelings of my nation, and I was for peace. I told them to sit down, and they did so. Keep your ears open that you may hear me, and raise your eyes that you may see me, for I have saved your blood. Yes, Saukees, I restrained their arms, and they sat down in tears. But you were not satisfied: you presumed upon their forbearance, and came again; but they were not asleep, and you did not spill their blood, but you stole their horses: you stole horses from the whites, who, like fools, had still suffered you to live; and you murdered some traders, who were also white. They again raised their arms; every body who were there at the time, both whites and red skins, raised their arms, and looked around them; but they could not see you; for, like the timid wolf, you had sought the wood, where they could not follow you, until they had consulted me—I, whose blood began to boil in my veins. Saukees, my heart was for war; but my nation was too much for peace, and it was my business to promote peace; therefore I gave them some tobacco, and told them once more to sit down, and endeavour to restrain their feelings: they did so; and I left them smoking their pipes, and came away to see the great American Chief. After I left them, you returned again to their land: you found them asleep; you stole their horses, murdered their women and children, took their scalps, and carried some of them prisoners to your villages.
"How long, how long, Saukees, will you continue to disturb the repose of other nations? How long will you (like the serpent creeping through the grass) continue to disturb the unsuspecting stranger passing through your country? Be cautious how you disturb the red skins of Missouri; or your women and children shall mourn the loss of husbands and fathers—husbands and fathers shall mourn the loss of wives and children.
"Yes, Saukees, the Otoes, Missouries, and Omawhaws, are unwilling to be disturbed any longer. They will no longer suffer you to make slaves of their children, and dance their scalps in your villages.
"Saukees, be cautious; you live in the woods, and the game of your country is nearly exhausted. You will soon have to desert those woods in which the red skins of Missouri cannot find you, and follow the buffalo in the plains, where the red-skins are not less brave than you, and as numerous as the buffalo. As long as you have the wood to conceal your warriors, you may continue to disturb the women and children of Missouri; but when hunger drives you from those woods, your bodies will be exposed to balls, to arrows, and to spears. You will only have time to discharge your guns, before, on horseback, their spears will spill your blood. I know that your guns are better than those of Missouri, and you shoot them well: but when you reach the prairies, they will avail you nothing against the Otoes, Missouries, Omawhaws, and Pawnees. As you have seen the whirlwind break and scatter the trees of your woods, so will your warriors bend before them on horseback. (Here B. O'Fallon paused, to give the Saukees an opportunity to reply; when one of their most distinguished partisans arose and spoke with energy and animation, recounting many of his feats in war. He mentioned how often he had struck upon the tribes of Missouri, and that the Otoes had killed his brother, whom he loved as a father, and whose spirit could not be appeased as long as an Oto walked erect upon the earth. He also spoke of the difficulty of restraining his young warriors, who were unwilling to die in obscurity. To which B. O'Fallon spoke to the following effect:)