[Endorsement on outer fold: [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] Colonel [undecipherable: probable reading "Pasteur"] [undecipherable]] Speech of Jean Baptist Ducoyne Chief of the Kaskaskias Tribe & [undecipherable: probable reading "Interpret^d"] to Cap^t Thomas Pasteurs at Fort Massac, 25 Oct 1798 My Brother. I shall say but little, But I shall hold you [undecipherable] fast by the hand as long as I live. I never lay down nor rise, but I think of my Father the President. I have been threatened by my own Center, because I love my father; I fear them not, for I remember he is Strong, I am no coward. I will strike the men that strikes me. many of the Indians listen too much to evil People. [undecipherable] as long as [undecipherable] Kaskaskian Indians love, they will hold Congress fast by the hand. all the Indians have Struck you but the Kaskaskians, nor [undecipherable] giving the displeasure of the other Indians by not Joining them but [undecipherable] little, I hold our lands. My Brother I shall now speak to you as if I was speaking to Congress. [undecipherable] was on my way here with [undecipherable] young Men & [undecipherable] to renew my Father's Presence some. [undecipherable] & Nickopees, from the [undecipherable: probable reading "Osea"], had been on the other Side the Mississippi, & returned, way-lay'd me, & Stole 12 of our Horses, with 5 Men followed, & took 3 of the Indians & recovered 5 of our Horses. Those Indians told me that the Indians & White People at Cape Gerardes in [undecipherable] Town, told them to go & kill Ducoyne and take his Horses, he was on the Road [undecipherable] Massac for his presents from the [undecipherable]. I took my Horses from [undecipherable] to the Men go thinking I ought not to kill Them, instead I tell my Father know of it. my young men will wait 3 Months to see if you can get my other & Horses. if you cannot, they will go, & steal others from the same Indians. [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] live with them, they want to see Congress with me. If they dont retain my [undecipherable] I will not let them be Chiefs — My Brother — the White People intrude on our Lands, it makes fair in our worry, and the Indians from the Spanish Side comes over the Mississippi & hunts on our Lands & kills our game. I hope Congress will prevent it. Capt Pasteur's Answer. Brothers As I regard your future happiness, & knowing that it greatly depends on your Conduct towards the United States, I present this [undecipherable] to have you declare that your [undecipherable] adhere strictly to the advice of your father the President of the United States, who in their [undecipherable] with their advice has taken every prudent & admirable measures to make you happy — so long as you remain his faithfull Children, your Enemies will fear to hurt you. Knowing they Might draw on them the Wrath of your father the President of the United States, at whose word they would be punished as he should direct. The Indians my Brother who have been formerly [undecipherable: probable reading "persuaded"] to strike The United States, have been humbled, & that with as light a hand as a father could chastize his [undecipherable: probable reading "Children"] happy is the President your father, that they have been sensible of their error, & that a mere secret correction became unnecessary, by their confessing their faults, & promising in the Most Solemn manner to become good & faithfull children. for your satisfaction My Brother, you, and your Tribe, [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] your father has remained in peace & happiness, while your other Brothers have drawn their father to reduce them to many inconveniences & [undecipherable]. own that [undecipherable] to run under his [undecipherable] fast. I am truly sorry to hear that your Brothers the [undecipherable: probable reading "Potawatomies"] at [undecipherable: probable reading "Osea"] have [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] your Horses from [undecipherable] of any person. But remember — Brother that among all nations, thieves will be found. I highly approve of your conduct in not killing those whom you took with five of your horses. & shall use every effort to have the chiefs returned. But by all means restrain your young Men from rashly retaliating until you hear further from me, or some other of your Father's Chiefs on the Subject, and I shall without delay communicate the Subject to the Great War Chief Gen^l Wilkinson who commands your father's army, from whom I shall receive my Instructions, & give you full advice, he will also be informed of the White Intruders on your lands & of the Indians from the Spanish Side the Mississippi hunting on your Lands. his answer on that Subject will enable me to give you further advice on that head; my Brother I send this talk with my sincere wish for the good Conduct of your Tribe & my dear Brothers in General; towards the President of the United States, & which they may insure their own happiness — & that of their Children forever —