“Chiefs and warriors of the united Sac and Fox tribes, you are welcome to our hall of council.  You have come a far way from your homes in the west to visit your white brethren.  We are glad to take you by the hand.  We have heard before of the Sacs and Foxes—­our travellers have told us the names of their great men and chiefs.  We are glad to see them with our own eyes.

“We are called the Massachusetts.  It is the name of the red men who once lived here.  In former times the red man’s wigwam, stood on these fields, and his council fires were kindled on this spot.

“When our fathers came over the great waters, they were a small band.  The red man stood on the rock by the sea side, and looked at them.  He might have pushed them into the water and drowned them; but he took hold of their hands and said, welcome, white man.  Our fathers were hungry, and the red man gave them corn and venison.  Our fathers were cold, and the red man spread his blanket over them and made them warm.

“We are now grown great and powerful, but we remember the kindness of the red man to our fathers.

“Brothers, our faces are pale and yours are red, but our hearts are alike.  The Great Spirit has made his children of different complexions, but he loves them all.

“Brothers, you dwell between the Mississippi and the Missouri—­they are mighty streams.  They have great arms—­one stretches out to the east and the other away west to the Rocky mountains.  But they make one river and they run together into the sea.

“Brothers, we dwell in the east and you in the far west, but we are one family, of many branches but one head.

“Brothers, as you passed through the hall below, you stopped to look at the great image of our father Washington.  It is a cold stone and cannot speak to you.  But our great father Washington loved his red children, and bade us love them also.  He is dead but his words have made a great print in our hearts, like the step of a strong buffalo on the clay in the prairies.

“My brother, (addressing Keokuk) I perceive by your side your young child sitting in the council hall with you.  May the Great Spirit preserve the life of your son.  May he grow up by your side like the tender sapling by the side of the mighty oak.  May you long flourish both together, and when the mighty oak is fallen in the forest, may the young tree take its place, and spread out its branches over the tribe.

“Brothers, I make you a short talk, and bid you welcome once more to our council hall.”

Keokuk rose first in reply, and shaking hands with the Governor and others near to him, spoke with fine emphasis and much earnest and graceful gesticulation, holding his staff, which he frequently shifted from hand to hand.

“Keokuk and his chiefs are very much gratified that they have had the pleasure of shaking hands with the head man or governor of this great state, and also with all the men that surround him.