"He died seven years ago at Louisville," answered the Governor.
"In securing the liberties of this country I esteem him second only to Washington," said Lafayette.
"Those thieving Osages have taken six more of my horses," complained Chouteau the next morning at the office of Governor Clark.
"And four blankets and three axes of me," added Baptiste Dardenne.
"Worse yet, they have stolen my great-coat and razor case," said Manuel Roderique.
Two thousand dollars' worth of claims were paid in that summer of 1825.
"We must get them out of the way," persisted the exasperated whites.
"Acts and acts of Congress regulating trade and intercourse with the tribes are of no avail. They must be removed, and as far as possible. They are banditti, robbers!" said Benton.
In spite of all proclamations clothes disappeared from the line, silk stockings and bed-quilts and ladies' hats mysteriously went into the wigwams of the vagrants.
"This state of affairs is intolerable!" exclaimed Benton. "Governor Clark, if you will conclude a treaty removing those tribes to the West I will stake my honour on putting a ratification through Congress. I'll present the case!"