Conference with the Chiefs of the Choctaw Nation December 16^th 1796 Eatchehorpoia. The first talk I ever delivered was to Colonel Hawkins at Hopewell, I then presented him with an Eagle's tail. I now deliver in like manner one to the Secretary of War. I give this in remembrance, and as the renewal of the old friendship which I made with the United States. My first speech was delivered when I was a young man, I am now grown old and I think it right and proper to renew my talk before I die, I have not spoken to any of the Officers of the United States since the first treaty when I was a young Man. I am the same, altho I am grown old and I hope what I now say will be kept in mind and remembered by the children that are yet unborn. The Great Spirit, who has given us a Being has lengthened out my days that I may again speak. I hope what I say may be kept in remembrance and that the United States and my Nation may for ever remain in peace. I hope that the United States may raise on their frontiers their Women and Children in peace and that our Women and Children may also be raised in peace, for the Sun shines equally bright and clear on both people. The United States cannot accuse us of breaking any Promises; for we never broke any. Search back all former treaties that we have made and you will find that they have been kept sacred and inviolate. —— There is no occasion to use many words about friendship. A Man who has never acted otherwise than as a friend has no need to make use of many professions. I have therefore done with that subject and shall now address my father on another. I am a Choctaw. I speak now about our lands. I do not even suppose that as the Choctaws have ever been peaceable that our lands should be disturbed. — There is a river called Tombigby that runs thro' my nation and empties itself near Mobile. The lands on that river belong to us. I hope they may never be disturbed but preserved for our Women and Children — Our boundary line is from where the trading road from the Creeks to the Chickasaws crosses Sipoy near the head of it, from thence to the dividing ridge of Cohoppe and the Allabahama then along the dividing ridge, near the Mouth of Cohoppe and the Allabahama, then crosses the Tombigpa and takes the dividing ridge between the Allabahama and Tombigby thence to the junction of the two rivers and up Tombigby three Miles from Mobile a creek called the three Mile creek which runs a West course near the Sea coast, and crosses a river called the Chickasahee River near where it runs into the Sea; from that a course to a river called Nunneweya, which runs into the lakes, our claim is to the mouth of that river; thence to another large creek called Bochitta near where it empties into the lakes thence to the South side of a lake near one Perrony lives; thence a West course to another creek called Nitubbee near a Town called Galaxyp Town, then to a place called the Mud fort on the Mississippi. The Western part of our boundary I am unable to describe by Water courses being unacquainted with that part of the Country. On this side of the Natches, there is a creek called the big [undecipherable] it strikes that creek and goes out at the head of it and strikes the Mississippi again at the mouth of Coles creek. There is a Spanish Garrison at the Walnut Hills, this was established by consent of some of the upper Town chiefs. I do not know how much land was purchased— that Garrison is within the boundaries I have described. As I am not certain of the quantity of land granted as it does not lay in the district of my nation to which I belong, it must be settled by the Nation. — I have now done respecting my boundaries. there is a line between us and the Chickasaws; but as we are always good friends and act as one Nation I shall not mention them. I have described these boundaries that they may be examined by our father the President and the Secretary of War and I hope that as the Choctaws have always been good children and as dutiful as any of the Red people, that they may be taken into consideration; that their lands may be preserved to their Women and Children and that they may always live in peace.— In the treaty made with the United States the Choctaws were promised that their lands should be secured, and that if any persons had purchased or made encroachments on their lands, the purchases should not stand or the encroachments remain unless done by an act of Congress. There is an encroachment made on our lands by some persons who speak the English language. Whether they are Americans or not I cannot say. I hope the United States will take measures for removing them. There is a Spanish Garrison within forty five Miles of the Heart of the Nation. We did not sell this land to the Spaniards, but gave them permission to have a fort there and they promised to have us supplied with our yearly presents at that fort by which means we should not be troubled to go to a great distance for them. I understand that the United States are to have that land. I hope that the fort may be demolished and that in future no buildings may be erected, as it is in the heart of my Nation and is of no use to the United States. Down Tombigby towards this Garrison there are a number of Whites settled among the Choctaws, I hope that those Whites may be removed for fear of disputes another day. I hope that my father the President and the Secretary of War will attend to what I have said and preserve the lands to us as it is — from them that we provide our support, and should we lose our lands we would lose our all. I hope when my father reads this talk that he will be pleased at it and give me a satisfactory answer before I return. — I have come a great way to have my business done. I have spoken about my lands and boundaries and hope that attention will be paid to what I have spoken. — I was always told that my Great Father the President loved all his Red Children alike. As we live at a great distance from him we seldom visit him. I hope to inform my nation that altho we are farthest off, our father loves us as well as if we were near him. It is needless to use many words my meaning is that I hope my father will consider us as his Children and not let us return home ashamed. Parshenahla. I speak to you to day, I am in a low state of health— my Spirits are low. Two Years ago the Spaniards made an encroachment and settled a Garrison without the consent of the whole Nation. The Choctaws and the Americans are friends. they ought to be as one people, they all live upon the same soil and breathe the same air— I hope that the Americans may consider us as Brothers. It was never known that our land was stained with the blood of the Whites. We are a great Nation— there is no Nation of Red people that is able to put out our fires— The land we now possess belonged to our forefathers. The Country we inhabit always belongs to us. I do not speak for myself, neither does Eatchehorpoia speak for himself, but we speak for our Offspring, for those that are to come hereafter. We will use every effort to preserve peace and I hope that the White People will do so likewise. I return thanks to the Great Spirit, the father of us all for permitting me to live so long, that I might come and speak to my father, who lives in this Country. I hope my father will take into consideration the Garrison in our Country. it appears like a black cloud— and that the black cloud may be scattered and driven away by the Wind, that the Sun may shine again on the land and that all may appear bright. I now speak on another subject. I now wish to inform my father of services rendered to the United States. About two years ago I arrived at Cumberland at General Robertson's with a party of Warriors and from thence was conducted to the Army under General Wayne. General Wayne made promises for the services of myself and Warriors. I went with him into the Enemy's Country, into their Towns and into their Yards. General Wayne said to me 'altho your flesh is not so white as mine I respect you as a friend and Brother' he advised me to pay a visit to my Great Father the President and told me that when I visited my father he would not make me ashamed for he would make a repeat of my friendships for what greater proof of friendship could men show than venturing their lives one for the other. I went voluntarily and joined General Wayne when I came he told me I should be well rewarded for it. I hope my father will take it into his consideration and remember me and my warriors, as I was told that a Man who had shown friendship and done as I said would never be forgotten. General Wayne furnished my Warriors with Arms but they were not good. As I had arms and clothing of my own, I did not accept of any. General Wayne told me he would write to his father who would give me clothing and a gun. I would not be ashamed of. I do not know that the General has informed my father of what I have mentioned. He also said that I should have a Saddle and plated Stirrups and medals for my inferior Officers and a Hat with feathers and a Red feather in the Center to distinguish me as a Warrior for this Country. There was a party here two years ago, who were with me at General Wayne's who received Guns and other presents. There were eleven Guns less than the number of the party. General Wayne said that each of my Officers, twelve in number, should have a pipe Hatchet to be delivered to such of them as I might think proper. When I left home I told the Warriors who had not received their Guns that I would mention it to my father, and that if he gave me the Guns I would bring them with me. I hope my father will do what is right. There are three Captains who did not receive their arms. I hope my father will take it into consideration and grant me the Guns that I may satisfy them when I return. — I hope my father will consider us— our nation is poor— and that he will love us as well as he does the other Red people. There are two young Men Officers present of the Nation. I hope they will be noticed. I do not expect to live long. I hope they will endeavour to maintain the friendship. One of them is Shappanahorma or the Red Flag a Nephew to Mingo Hoopke who is dead and who takes his place in the nation, the other is Hootleneba, he was an Officer and went with me to the Army, he is appointed by Franchimastobe and Toboke to come with their Talk and to deliver a White String. Hootleneba. I hope you will be attentive. I have a few words to say not for myself but my Nation. — Take hold of one end of these Beads, I have been directed by Franchimastobe and Tooboke of my nation to take these beads and to request my father to take hold of them and never let them dirty but always to have them remain bright— they are old men not able to bear any fatigue they desired me to come, and I request the President would look upon me as if they were here present. One of them perhaps you are acquainted with— he was here once he was then old, he is now older— he is unable to bear fatigue and desired me to shake hands. I understand that the Americans are passing thro' my Country— as I understand that they now have the Navigation of the River Mississippi. I hope that neither the River nor its banks may be obtained but always kept clean and that the Eagles tail may for ever remain pure as a proof of our friendship. The Great Council of our nation desired me to ask for a flag to be hoisted in the nation to show that there was a friendship subsisting between us and the United States, that your Citizens travelling thro' our Country may not be afraid. I hope that the Beads may be received and preserved. Shappanahorma. A White man named Smith came into our Country and after some time went away and took with him a young Woman a Niece of mine— whether by force or by her own consent I know not, they are settled on the Spanish Territory. I would request my father to write to the Governor of Florida that I may obtain permission to go and visit my Niece and to enquire into her situation and see if she is happy, that I may return and tell her friends of it. [Answer]