“Brothers, we hope you will make the situation of our brother as comfortable as circumstances will admit. We hope, also, that many of your young men will be willing to be taught by him, to use the plough, the hoe, and other implements of husbandry—for we are sure, brothers, that as you take hold of such tools as are in the hands of the white people, you will find them to be to you, like having additional hands. You will also find that by using them they will enable you to do many things, which without them, cannot be performed.
“Brothers, the white people, in order to get their land cultivated, find it necessary that their young men should be employed in it—and not their women—women are smaller than men—they are not as strong as men. It is the business of our women to be employed in our houses—to keep them clean—to sow, knit, spin, and weave—to dress food for themselves and families—to make clothes for the men and the rest of their families, to keep the clothing of their families clean, and to take care of their children.
“Brothers, we are fully convinced that if you will turn your attention to the cultivation of the earth, to raising the different kinds of grain—to building comfortable dwelling houses for your families—to raising useful animals—amongst others, sheep for the advantage of the wool, in making clothing—to raising flax and hemp for your linen—and your women learn to spin and weave—your lives will be much easier and happier than at present—and your numbers will increase, and not continue to diminish. As we before observed, brothers, your land is good—it is far better than the land which the white people near the great waters, cultivate. We are persuaded that your land will produce double the quantity of any kind of grain, or flax, or hemp, with the same labour necessary near the great water.
“Brothers, we shall now end what we had to say, with informing you, that all the corn and other productions of the earth which Philip Dennis may raise, we wish our red brethren to accept as a token of our friendship. And it is our desire that the chiefs of the Pottawattamie and Miami nations who are now present, added to our brothers the Five Medals, Tuthinipee, and Philip Dennis, make such a distribution thereof as they may think proper.”
The Indians manifested great decorum, and were very attentive during the delivery of this address—in reply to which, the Little Turtle delivered a speech on behalf of the council, from which we extract the following:
“Brothers and friends—we rejoice that the Great Spirit has appointed, that we should meet this day, for we believe this meeting will be of the utmost consequence to your red brethren.
“Brothers, the things which you have said to us, require our greatest attention: it is really necessary that we should deliberate upon them. In order to do so, we must beg you to leave the paper, upon which they are written, that we may communicate them to our chiefs, when they assemble in grand council.
“Brothers, you have been very particular in pointing out to us the duties of our women, and you have told us that in adopting your mode of living, our numbers would increase and not continue to diminish. In all this I certainly agree with you, and I hope my brother chiefs will also agree with you.
“Brothers, assure your people who sent you here—tell your old chiefs that we are obliged to them for their friendly offers to assist us in changing our present mode of living. Tell them it is a great work that cannot be done immediately; but that we are favourably disposed, and hope it will take place gradually.”