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it, and you old men should grasp the opportunity of profiting by the proceeds of its cession which would provide for your comforts in your declining years; and you young men would thus be given a start, that should, with reasonable industry on your part, place you in comfortable circumstances, and on the road to independence.

It may be proper for me to state that I hare made a great many agreements with Indians for the cession of lands during the past six years, and every agreement that I hare made has been approved by the department and ratified by congress, except seven, which I hare made the past year, which are now before Congress and will doubtless be ratified during the present session, and every agreement that I have made has been carried out to the letter, as written,  I am exceedingly careful in wording agreements, avoiding ambiguous expressions, so as to leave no possible chance for misinterpretation or misunderstanding as to the meaning of any word, and I believe this to be the principal reason why I am assigned to this class of work.

I am also very particular in the wording of my agreements so as to properly protect the Indians and the government in the transaction.

This is my first visit to the Chippewa country, I have never visited any of the Chippewa Agencies before, although I know of the Chippewa very well and have met many of your people in the past, and many of you doubtless know of me, and those of you who have heard of

me must have learned that I am a firm friend of the Indians, having been continuously among the Indians in an official capacity for over

30 years, and I am glad to be here among you Red Lake Chippewas, to negotiate with you for this tract of land.

We hare met as friends and we must discuss this matter in a friendly way, and if we cannot reach an agreement we will part as friends, so that if we ever meet again it will be as friends.

I am in a position to give you a good bargain and will meet you