Council of Vincennes, Speeches by Chiefs, Warriors, and Captain Pasteur: Page #5

Council of Vincennes, Speeches by Chiefs, Warriors, and Captain Pasteur: Page #5

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to restore them to health, the weather is very warm, and I must request you <s>to </s>all to stay with me for some time, my reason for which I shall explain - to you all in my answer to my brother Ducoin- My Brother [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or wheat Chaff, You have demanded to know if Capt. Prior had not invited the Laques and Foxes to meet him at this place. I cannot positively answer, for if he did; it was without my knowledge, but it appears from what my brother Ducoin and others of you say, that he has invited them, this part of the business I shall more fully explain before I leave the Council - I know you have come a long way to see your friends, and if you have been deceived it is not your fault, nor shall you suffer for it, and I am happy to hear you left your village clear of bad birds, before you leave me, I hope I shall hear from my father's big Chief General Wayne, who I make no doubt will take pity on you, and afford you some relief, and put you in a straight clear road; I know you do well to mind what my brother Ducoin says to you, and if you have been deceived in the present business, it was not his fault, because he was deceived himself, be assured I shall treat you as myself during your stay with me, which I hope will be till I hear from General Wayne, who commands all my father's young men. My father has declared that his white people, and your red people, should be as one as long as you keep his hand fast, and observe the advice he given - and depend on it he will never deceive you. My Brother Ducoin, attend to what I say, and I hope the Laques and Foxes will also; I shall tell you nothing but truth, and what I say at one time I shall not deny at another; I do nothing in the dark, but wish all our friends to hear & see what I do. I know you do not despise General Washington, nor any of his officers, neither shall I any of his children that deserves his attention. I am well convinced of your attention, to the interest of your people, by using every effort in your power to promote peace and friendship between my father General Washington, and them, in the path of peace, that their children may not at a future day mourn the proceedings of their fathers. My Brother, I am certain you need not be apprehensive of the English penetrating so far into my fathers country as to injure you on your lands; my Father has beat them off his ground once, and he can do it again if necessary, and he will protect you in your rights. The Tomahawk that was offered to you and other nations to be used against my father, you wisely rejected, observing to your people, Let the white people fight their own battles, and you keep your lands in peace - That I believe would be the advice