ORIGIN OF THE



  " You will listen to us with a good mind, and
what we say. You know that we first came
country, a long time ago, and when we sat o0
down 'upon it, we met with a great many hardsh
difficulties. Our country then was very large
has dwindled away to a small spot, and you
purchase that'? This has caused us to reflect



believe
3 to this
irselves
lips and
b, but'it
wish to
; much



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upon what is going forward. You know your children.
Since you first came among them, they have listened to
your words, with an attentive ear, and have always
hearkened to your counsels, whenever you have had a
proposal to-make to us, whenever you have had a favor
to ask of us, we have always lent a favorable ear, and
our invariable answer has been 'yes.'  This you know.
A long time has passed since we first came on our lands,
and our old people have all sunk into their graves.
They had sense. We are all young and foolish, and
do not wish to do any thing that they would not approve,
were they living. We are fearful we shall offend their
spirits, if we sell our lands; and we are fearful we shall
offend you, if we do not sell them. This has caused
us great perplexity of thought, because we have coun-
selled among ourselves, and do not know how we can
part with the land. Our country was given to us by
the Great Spirit, who gave it to us to hunt upon, to
make our corn-fields upon, to live upon, and to make
down our beds upon when we die. And he would
never forgive us, should we bargain it away. When
you first spoke to us for lands at St. Mary's, we said we
had a little, and agreed to sell you a piece of it; but we
told you we could spare no more. Now you ask us
again. You are never satisfied! We have sold you a
great tract of land, already; but it is not enough! We
sold it to you for the benefit of your children, to farm
and to live upon. We have now but little left. We
shallI want it all for ourselves. We 'know not how long
we may live, and we wish to have some lands for our
children to hunt upon. You are gradually taking away



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