Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/111

 IIlsrolJY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 77 at Mendota. The first session was held in the warehouse of the Fur Company at that place, but the Indians found the atmos- phere stilling -, and not in accord with their usual method of outdoor councils, so the consideration of the treaty was taken up under a large brush arbor, erected by Alexis Bailly, on an ele- vated plain near the high prominence known as Pilot Knob. Dr. Thomas Foster was secretary for Commissioners Lea and Ram- sey; the interpreters were Alexander Faribault, Philander Preseott and Rev. G. II. Pond; the white witnesses were David Olmsted, V. ('. Henderson, Alexis Bailly, Richard Chute. Henry Jackson, A. L. Carpenter, W. II. Randall. A. S. II. White, H. L. Dousman, Fred ('. Sibley. Martin McLeod, George N. Faribault and Joseph A. Wheelock. On the opening of the first day's session the object of the gathering was fully explained to the assembled Indians by the white commissioners. For the Indians,. Wabasha, of the Medawakantons, replied as follows: The chiefs and braves who sit here have heard what you have said from our Great Father. I have but one thing to say to you. fathers, and then we will separate for the day. I was among those who went to Washington and brought home the w T ords of our Great Father. Some of those here were there also, and some who went are now dead. According to what our Great Father then said, we have some funds lying back in his hands. We spoke of these funds to our fathers, the commissioners, who were here fall before last. These men you see around you are anxious to get that which is due them before they do anything. That is all I have to say now." The Leaf Shooter (Wacoota). of the Red Wing band, rose and displayed the medal formerly worn by Chief AVambde Yah Kapi (War Eagle That May Be Seen), who was killed by the Sacs and Foxes on the Des Moines river in July, 1849. He said: "My race had four chiefs, but they have passed away from us. The last- one (War Eagle That May Be Seen) was made chief by my father, Governor Ramsey, who placed this medal about his neck. Father, I wish to have those who have killed the owner of this medal, pay for it. The fall before last, you spoke of this; the medal w r as then all bloody, and if you will look at it you will see that it is still so. I wish you to wash that blood off. I return it to you, and if you will wipe off the blood, I will be glad." The commissioners reminded the Indians that in regard to the money which was due them under the treaty of 1837, a por- tion of which was being withheld, the treaty provided that it was to be paid to them at the direction and pleasure of the Great Father, the president; that the Indians had agreed to this wdien they signed the treaty, twelve years previous, and had never com- plained before. But Colonel Lea said that if the Indians would