"Saukees, one of your partizans, forgetting to whom he was speaking, has had the presumption to recount his feats in war, how often he had struck the red skins of Missouri, and to insinuate that he was unwilling to restrain his young men. I believe him to be a man of sense; but he has spoken without reflection, he has spoken like a fool.
"Saukees, it has always been, and still is, my business to prevent (if possible) the effusion of human blood—to give peace and happiness to the land: but when I cannot stop the running of blood, I will probe the wound, and make it run more fast.
"I wish you to understand that the Otoes and Missouries, though few in number, and much exposed, do not beg for peace; and I do not ask it for them. They have not as yet revenged the death of some of their murdered countrymen: the spirits of these dead are not satisfied. No, Saukees, these red skins, whom you persecute, have opened their ears to my words, and are constantly looking towards me. They do not wish a dishonourable peace. I would sooner see you drink their blood, than suffer them to make a dishonourable peace. You have a few of their children as prisoners among you; if you consult the interest of your nation, you will send them to their mothers: if you do not deliver them up, the red-skins of Missouri will go after them; and in hunting them they may find some of yours.
"I tell you to be cautious, Saukees, how you disturb the red skins of Missouri. They call themselves my children: be cautious how you disturb my children, or I will no longer look to the pacific disposition of my nation, but consult my own feelings, and probe the wound which I cannot heal.
"I am not like many white chiefs whom you have been accustomed to see. I never act an humble part. I am one of those white men who never fear a red skin—when I move amongst them, it is not like a dog with his tail between his legs, but as becomes a man; and when I speak, I feel the strength of my nation.
"On the Missouri I have guns, powder and balls, blankets, breech-clouts, and leggings, and I am now getting more. I know where you have your village, and I know the face of the country over which you stretch your limbs. I know how and where you are scattered on hunting excursions. I know where you are most exposed, and what I do not know I can easily learn from the whites, and other red skins of the Mississippi.
"I have every thing that a red skin wants; and you all know he wants only the means of war. You know that all red skins are fond of war, and that I can make brother fight brother.
"Saukees; you are a strong nation of red skins; but if you don't endeavour to restrain the ungovernable disposition of some of your young men, they will expose your hearts in the midst of your strength.
"Yes, Saukees, be cautious how you offend me; lest I assemble an army of red skins, and from some high peak on Missouri, show them where to find your village, and your exposed and scattered lodges. I know that the red skins of Missouri cannot destroy you directly; but they can give you unpleasant dreams. Be cautious, Saukees, how you deceive yourselves, or suffer others to deceive you, or the day will come when some of your children will have the misfortune to behold the dogs fighting over the bones of their fathers upon this land; and as I may have many years to live, I don't intend to sit still; and if I continue to increase in strength as I have done, I may live to see the day when I can make you smile, or shed tears of blood. Saukees, I have done, I am going to the Council Bluff."
The Chief of the Saukees, after consulting each warrior separately, replied, (in substance) as follows:—