urn, there would be any danger to the frontier.
Gen. Clark and Gen. Atkinson, whom you know, have informed me that
your principal chief and the rest of your people are anxious you should
return, and Keokuk has asked me to send you back. Your chiefs have
pledged themselves for your good conduct, and I have given directions
that you should be taken to your own country.
"Major Garland, who is with you, will conduct you through some of our
towns. You will see the strength of the white people. You will see that
our young men are as numerous as the leaves in the woods. What can you
do against us? You may kill a few women and children, but such a force
would seen be sent against you as would destroy your whole tribe. Let
the red men hunt and take care of their families. I hope they will not
again raise the tomahawk against their white brethren. We do not wish to
injure you. We desire your prosperity and improvement. But if you again
make war against our people, I shall send a force which will severely
punish you. When you go back, listen to the councils of Keokuk and the
other friendly chiefs; bury the tomahawk and live in peace with the
people on the frontier. And I pray the Great Spirit to give you a smooth
path and a fair sky to return."
I was pleased with our Great Father's talk and thanked him. Told
him that the tomahawk had been buried so deep that it would never be
resurrected, and that my remaining days would be spent in peace with all
my white brethren.
We left Baltimore in a steamboat, and traveled in this way to the big
village, where they make medals and money, (Philadelphia.) We again
expressed surprise at finding this village so much larger than the one
we had left; but the war chief again told us we would see another much
larger than this. I had no idea that the white people had such large
villages, and so many people. They were very kind to us, showed us all
their great public works, their ships and steamboats. We visited the
place where they make money, (the mint) and saw the men engaged at it.
They presented each of us with a number of pieces of the coin as they
fell from the mint, which are very handsome.
I witnessed a militia training in this city, in which were performed
a number of singular military feats. The chiefs and men were all well
dressed, and exhibited quite a warlike appearance. I think our system of
military parade far better than that of the whites, but as I am now done
going to war I
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