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here who speaks for you people, for the reason that I knew you had many things which you wish to present and I am ready to hear about those claims and grievances that you wish to have placed before the Great Father’s Council.  It would be something unusual, something away beyond the ordinary, for us to meet and separate the same day; that we would conclude an agreement at once, or that you would decline to entertain a proposition. 

You people have been very good in coming here, this has been quite a representative gathering, and I hope that you will consider this matter fully and deliberate upon it for some time.  The fact that you have sent for me to-night and given me your answer without asking any questions, convinces me that you have not given this matter full consideration.

As I stated to you this afternoon, in my first talk, we met here as friends and we will discuss matters in a friendly spirit, and I

hope we can agree; if we cannot agree we will part as friends, so that should we ever meet again it will be as friends.  That is the wish I have.  I am speaking to you as a representative of the government in this matter and have very friendly interest in your welfare.  So has the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.  They have your wellfare at heart, but they are powerless to do all things.  Congress makes the laws and the heads of the Departments executes them.  The Secretary of the Interior whose eyes, ears and tongue I am in the Indian work that I am engaged upon, desires the cession by you of this tract of land, believing that it is for your best interests.  The Secretary has sent me here to see you with my eyes and hear what you have to say with my ears and tell you with my tongue the things that we think are best for you, and I am convinced that it is best for you to dispose of that western portion of your reservation.  I have the gratification of having ay reports almost invariably accepted by the