“Brothers, open your ears.  You are brave men.  You have fought like tigers, but in a bad cause.  We have conquered you.  We were sorry last year, that you raised the tomahawk against us; but we believe you did not know us then as you do now.  We think that in time to come, you will be wise and that we shall be friends forever.  You see that we are a great people—­numerous as the flowers of the field, as the shells on the sea-shore, or the fish in the sea.  We put one hand on the eastern, and, at the same time, the other on the western ocean.  We all act together.  If some time our great men talk long and loud at our council fires, but shed one drop of white men’s blood, our young warriors, as thick as the stars of the night, will leap on board of our great boats, which fly on the waves, and over the lakes—­swift as the eagle in the air—­then penetrate the woods, make the big guns thunder, and the whole heavens red with the flames of the dwellings of their enemies.  Brothers, the President has made you a great talk.  He has but one mouth.  That one has sounded the sentiments of all the people.  Listen to what he has said to you.  Write it on your memories.  It is good—­very good.

“Black Hawk, take these jewels, a pair of topaz earrings, beautifully set in gold, for your wife or daughter, as a token of friendship, keeping always in mind, that women and children are the favorites of the Great Spirit.  These jewels are from an old man, whose head is whitened with the snows of seventy winters, an old man who has thrown down his bow, put off his sword, and now stands leaning on his staff, waiting the commands of the Great Spirit.  Look around you, see all this mighty people, then go to your homes, open your arms, to receive your families.  Tell them to bury the hatchet, to make bright the chain of friendship, to love the white men, and to live in peace with them, as long as the rivers run into the sea, and the sun rises and sets.  If you do so, you will be happy.  You will then ensure the prosperity of unborn generations of your tribes, who will go hand in hand with the sons of the white men, and all shall be blessed by the Great Spirit.  Peace and happiness by the blessing of the Great Spirit attend you.  Farewell.”

Black Hawk accepted the present and said in reply.

“Brother, we like your talk.  We will be friends.  We like the white people.  They are very kind to us.  We shall not forget it.  Your counsel is good.  We shall attend to it.  Your valuable present shall go to my squaw.  We shall always be friends.”

While at New York, Major Garland came to the determination not to take the captives to Boston, but to ascend the North river, and proceed directly to the west.  This created much disappointment, among the citizens of that city, who were generally anxious to behold the “great agitator” of the north western frontier.