We are placed here by the Great Spirit,
for purposes known to him. You have no right to interfere. You told us
that we had large and unproductive tracts of land. We do not view it so.
Our seats, we consider small; and if we are left here long, by the Great
Spirit, we shall stand in need of them. We shall be in want of timber.
Land after many years' use wears out; our fields must be renewed, and new
ones improved, so that we have no more land in our reservations than we
want. Look at the white people around us, and back. You are not cramped
for lands. They are large. Look at that man. [Footnote: Mr. Ellicott,
agent of the Holland Land Company.] If you want to buy, apply to him. He
has lands enough to sell. We have none to part with. You laugh, but do not
think I trifle. I am sincere. Do not think we are hasty in making up our
minds. We have had many councils, and thought for a long time upon this
subject. We will not part with any, not with one of our reservations.
"We recollect that Mr. Ogden addressed his speech to you, therefore I have
spoken to you. Now I will speak to Mr. Ogden.
"BROTHER: You recollect when you first came to this ground, that you told
us you had bought the pre-emptive right. A right to purchase given you by
the government. Remember my reply. I told you, you had been unfortunate in
buying. You said you would not disturb us. I then told you as long as I
lived, you must not come forward to explain that right.
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