OCR Text |
Show 100 EEPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. HOWLISH WAMPO. I meant my children went to school in the church ; that there were no school- houses. HOM- LI, ( chief of the Walla- Wallas. ) I have listened to you for three days. You see those Indians, ( his own baud,) they have all heard what has been said. For a great many 3' ears they have listened to your teachings. These peoples' fathers were not without instruction. The earth was their teacher. That is the true teacher. That is where the Indian first discovered ( from the ground) that he was a human being. Our forefathers taught their successors that were left on the earth. In the same way, from the earth, your fathers spring, and the earth taught you in the same way. From that you have found out how the earth was ; that is why we talk to each other now with our bodies, with friendly feelings. Both \ sere made from the same ground ; you have said true about the past. From the talk, ( addressing Mr. Meechaui, ) your children, the whites, are happy, and are well, and why should we not be happy, too, in talking well to each other. The same with the Indians, when they hunted for happiness, they searched the ground first. You, too, ( Mr. Brunot aud Corbett) have come with your hearts. To- day you see the Indians very plainly. We have talked about a great many things, and we have made things straighter. We have talked of hours from childhood to old age. We have not all talked about the land here with all our minds. We hare not all spoken about the land. There are a great many of us. You have talked about all our children, and about the whites from all over the land, and over the sea. Everywhere the white man is to be found. That is all I have to say at present. You ( to Mr: Meecham) make speeches too long. All day yesterday you talked. We can-not remember what you say. Mr. MEACHAM., We do not ask you talk because we have nothing to say, but we want to give you a chance. If anybody has a speech to make, we are ready to hear him, We want to do everything right. You know what we are all here for. May be you are wait-ing for us to tell you how we propose for you to do. We want you to make up your own hearts. We have told you all the time that we would answer an}' questions. We told you the white man wanted your country. We told you it was the best country we know of. We hide nothing. We do not want to hide anything. You know how you get along here. We have told you true, how the white man and Indian have always got along everywhere. We wanted you to know all that we know. We wanted to tell you these things, and to have you make up your heart, if you want to see any of these places we have talked about your going to. We are ready to go with you, when you make up your mind. Per-haps you are waiting to know how we propose to sell your land in case you propose to sell it. Perhaps you want to say something about how much money it is worth. There has been no law made about it, but we believe the President will do what is right, that you will get all the benefit from it. Mr. WHITE. My friends, I want to go home this evening. Senator Corbett, one of the law- makers for both whites and Indians, is going to accompany me home. His reason for wanting to go is that he may see that part of your reservation. He wishes, while here, to see as much of your country as he can, aud to learn as much about the lay of your laud as he can, that he may act intelligently regarding it. I did riot want to go away without explaining to you why I was going ; you all know me. Every Indian here has known me for a long time. You know I am your friend. I want to show Senator Corbett this country, and talk to him about your interest. You can go on with your council, and as many as wish to can talk to- morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Senator Corbett and I will return and meet you. If you council together to- night, talk with each other in friend; ship and love, as brothers ought to. I know the question that has been raised as to the purchase of your lands is one of a great deal of importance to you. You may differ among yourselves in regard to this matter, and the proposition made to you, but I ask you as my friends and neighbors to put away all bad feelings in regard to this matter. PIERRE, ( Walla- Walla.) I only have - nine years more, under the treaty, to live on this reservation. When you say, " I want to buy your laud," I say I do not wish to sell my land, or to throw it away, as long as I live. I will say I will not sell, I have thought, ( thinking powers,) and should I say what is wrong? lam no little boy. lam an old man. You see my white beard. I have no wish for money; I will work and make my money. I shall live to be old, and I shall die on this reservation. When these young men and children see me. and know how I have been doing, and how I have gotten along, they will follow my example when I am dead. My heart will always be that way. I will never part with or sell this land. When I die my children will do the same. They will live on this laud and work on it, and they will never part with it. I am in earnest, and talk straight, and but one word to say. God hears me now, and he hears you ; we have spoken plainly to one another, and not with bad hearts. I have no wish to go and see that country you talked to us about. I have no wish for any other country; I am satisfied to live at this res-ervation. What I have said to you is not from a bad heart ; but I love this country. This is the way I show you my heart. When these papers get to the President, he will see that I am fond of my land. The land is the same to me as my body. I am no more blind. My neart and my eyes are open, and I see how I am going to make a living. I never change what I say. I will not change my heart for any other person's heart. That is all I want you to wiite, coming from me, an Indian. My friends, that is all I have to say. |