William Carey Crane

“ War can not make them happy. It has lasted too long. Let it now be ended and cease forever. Tell all my red brothers to listen to my commissioners, and to walk by the words of my counsel. If they hear me and keep my words, their homes shall be happy—their fires shall burn brightly, and the pipe of peace shall be handed round the hearth of their wigwams. The tomahawk shall no more be raised in war. Nor shall the dog howl for his master who has been slain in battle. Joy shall take the place of sorrow; and the laughing of your children shall be heard in place of the cries of women. ”

“ If wrong has been done to the red brothers in Texas, it was not done by the chiefs who are now in power. They were bad deeds, and the people condemn them. They are now passed away. It will do us no good to wrong the red brothers. Peace will make the white as well as the red brothers happy. Let us meet in peace and talk together, as men who desire to walk in straight paths. Let the young men of your nations take counsel of their chiefs and wise men. Then they will bring happiness to your people instead of sorrow and trouble. ”

“ We must forget our sorrows, and walk together like brothers in the path of peace.
Our people have suffered, and we have done each other much harm. War has been among us; and the white and the red warrior have been killed We have prisoners and your people have prisoners of ours. When we meet in council they shall be exchanged. The white and red prisoners shall all return to their homes, and we will take prisoners no more. When you see the red prisoners they will tell you that they have been well treated. ”

“ When truth is spoken His countenance will rejoice; but before him who speaketh lies, the Great Spirit will place darkness, and will not give light to his going. Let all the red men make peace; let no man injure his brother; let us meet every year in council, that we may know the heart of each other. I wish some of the chiefs of my red brothers to come and see me at Washington. They shall come in peace, and none shall make them afraid. ”

“ I know that you and our Delaware brothers are good men and will not use crooked ways with your friends. I have written to our commissioners and told them to let the Shawnees, Delawares, and Kickapoos settle on the waters of the Brazos and raise corn. They will also keep all bad red men from our frontier, or, if any should come, they will treat them as enemies. You will stand by us and keep trouble from our people. If red men come to our settlements or hurt our people when they meet them, the blame may fall upon good red brothers, and cause injury to them and their people. ”

“ Such things as your people need, our traders will have to sell to them. You will not have to go to a great distance, but in the midst of your hunting-grounds you can find goods; and the journeys which you make will be in a land where you have buffalo and water. ”

“ When we talked together, our people were in our thoughts, and we remembered the women and children of our nations,—you have kept your words, nor have I forgotten mine. You wish to raise corn in our country, and to be our friends. ”