“I have just closed a Council with the Sac and Foxes and have heard many fine speeches.  We meet again day after tomorrow—­as tomorrow must be appropriated to the Creeks—­I think I shall have a success here—­The Sack and Foxes to the No of say two hundred have a dance out on the green They are dressed and painted for the occasion and as it is in honor of my visit I must go out and witness it * * * Well we have had an extensive dance which cost me a beef and while waiting for a Chipaway Chief who comes as I learn to complain of his agent I go on with my Letter—­The New York Indians are tolerably well represented and I shall talk with them tonight—­This is a grand jubilee amongst the Indians here.  So many tribes and parts of tribes or their Chiefs gathered here to see the Comr.  Paint and feathers are in great demand and singing, whooping—­and the Drum is constantly ringing in my ears.  I am satisfied that it is a good arrangement to have them here together it is cheaper and better and saves much time.

“I made a great mistake that I did not bring maps of the reserves and especially of the Indian Territory—­I do the best I can from the Treaties.

“I have had no mail for Eight Days as my mail is at Leavenworth.  I expect my letters day after tomorrow when I hope to have a late letter from you as well as one from the Sec.—­Will you please send Hutchinson some money he must have funds to pay for surveying and alloting the Ottawa reserve The survey is finished and pay demanded.”

[Indian Office Consolidated Files, Neosho, D 198 of 1863].]

[Footnote 689:  The propositions were in the form of a memorandum, drawn up by White Hair, principal chief of the Great and Little Osages, and Little Bear, principal chief of the Little Osages, who, in conjunction with Charles Mograin, assistant head chief of the Great and Little Osages, had been (cont.)]

making them after the fashion of the Creeks long before at Indian Springs.[690] Dole had finally to be told that the rank and file of the Osages would not allow their chiefs to confer with him except in general council.[691] As a matter of fact, not one of the Dole treaties could run the gauntlet of criticism and, consequently, the whole project of treaty-making in 1862 and 1863 accomplished nothing beneficial.  It only served to complicate a situation already serious and to forecast that when the great test should come, as come it surely would, the government would be found wanting, lacking in magnanimity, lacking in justice, and all too willing to sacrifice its honor for big interests and transient causes.

[Footnote 689:  (cont.) solicited by their people, when in council at Humboldt, July 4, to proceed to Washington and interview their Great Father [Coffin to Dole, July 16, 1863, Indian Office Consolidated Files, Neosho, C 365 of 1863].  The propositions were to the effect that the Osages would gladly sell thirty miles by twenty miles off the southeast corner of their Reserve and one-half of the Reserve on the north for $1,350,000, which should draw six per cent interest until paid [Ibid., D 239 of 1863].  John Schoenmaker of the Osage Mission was apprehensive that the Roman Catholic interests would be disregarded as in the Potawatomi Treaty.  See letter to Coffin, June 25th.]