“Father, I was told that you intended to hang me.  When I heard this, I intended to remember it, and tell my father, when I went to see him, and relate to him the truth.

“I heard, when I settled on the Wabash, that my father, the governor, had declared that all the land between Vincennes and fort Wayne, was the property of the Seventeen Fires.  I also heard that you wanted to know, my father, whether I was God or man; and that you said if I was the former, I should not steal horses.  I heard this from Mr. Wells, but I believed it originated with himself.

“The Great Spirit told me to tell the Indians that he had made them, and made the world—­that he had placed them on it to do good, and not evil.

“I told all the red skins, that the way they were in was not good, and that they ought to abandon it.

“That we ought to consider ourselves as one man; but we ought to live agreeably to our several customs, the red people after their mode, and the white people after theirs; particularly, that they should not drink whiskey; that it was not made for them, but the white people, who alone knew how to use it; and that it is the cause of all the mischiefs which the Indians suffer; and that they must always follow the directions of the Great Spirit, and we must listen to him, as it was he that made us:  determine to listen to nothing that is bad:  do not take up the tomahawk, should it be offered by the British, or by the long knives:  do not meddle with any thing that does not belong to you, but mind your own business, and cultivate the ground, that your women and your children may have enough to live on.

“I now inform you, that it is our intention to live in peace with our father and his people forever.

“My father, I have informed you what we mean to do, and I call the Great Spirit to witness the truth of my declaration.  The religion which I have established for the last three years, has been attended to by the different tribes of Indians in this part of the world.  Those Indians were once different people; they are now but one:  they are all determined to practice what I have communicated to them, that has come immediately from the Great Spirit through me.

“Brother, I speak to you as a warrior.  You are one.  But let us lay aside this character, and attend to the care of our children, that they may live in comfort and peace.  We desire that you will join us for the preservation of both red and white people.  Formerly, when we lived in ignorance, we were foolish; but now, since we listen to the voice of the Great Spirit, we are happy.

“I have listened to what you have said to us.  You have promised to assist us:  I now request you, in behalf of all the red people, to use your exertions to prevent the sale of liquor to us.  We are all well pleased to hear you say that you will endeavor to promote our happiness.  We give you every assurance that we will follow the dictates of the Great Spirit.