Treaty with The Great and Little Osage
August 10, 1825
WHEREAS the Congress of the United States of America, being
anxious to promote a direct commercial and friendly intercourse
between the citizens of the United States and those of the
Mexican Republic, and, to afford protection to the same, did,
at their last session, pass an act, which was approved the
3d March, 1825, "to authorize the President of the United
States to cause a road to be marked out from the Western frontier
of Missouri to the confines of New Mexico," and which
authorizes the President of the United States to appoint Commissioners
to carry said act of Congress into effect, and enjoins on
the Commissioners, so to be appointed, that they first obtain
the consent of the intervening tribes of Indians, by treaty,
to the marking of said road, and to the unmolested use thereof
to the citizens of the United States and of the Mexican Republic;
and Benjamin H. Reeves, Geo. C. Sibley, and Thomas Mather,
Commissioners duly appointed as aforesaid, being duly and
fully authorized, have this day met the Chiefs and Head men
of the Great and Little Osage Nations, who being all duly
authorized to meet and negotiate with the said Commissioners
upon the premises, and being specially met for that purpose,
by the invitation of said Commissioners, at the place called
the Council Grove, on the river Nee-o-zho, one hundred and
sixty miles southwest from Fort Osage; have, after due deliberation
and consultation, agreed to the following treaty, which is
to be considered binding on the said Great and Little Osages,
from and after this day:
Article 1.
The Chiefs and Head Men of the Great and Little Osages, for
themselves and their nations, respectively, do consent and
agree that the Commissioners of the United States shall and
may survey and mark out a road, in such manner as they may
think proper, through any of the territory owned or claimed
by the said Great and Little Osage Nations.
Article 2.
The Chiefs and Head Men, as aforesaid, do further agree that
the road authorized in article 1, shall, when marked, be forever
free for the use of the citizens of the United States and
of the Mexican Republic, who shall at all times pass and repass
thereon, without any hindrance or molestation on the part
of the said Great and Little Osages.
Article 3.
The Chiefs and Head Men as aforesaid, in consideration of
the friendly relations existing between them and the United
States, do further promise, for themselves and their people,
that they will, on all fit occasions, render such friendly
aid and assistance as may be in their power, to any of the
citizens of the United States, or of the Mexican Republic,
as they may at any time happen to meet or fall in with on
the road aforesaid.
Article 4.
The Chiefs and Head Men, as aforesaid, do further consent
and agree that the road aforesaid shall be considered as extending
to a reasonable distance on either side, so that travellers
thereon may, at any time, leave the marked tract, for the
purpose of finding subsistence and proper camping places.
Article 5.
In consideration of the privileges granted by the Chiefs
of the Great and Little Osages in the three preceding articles,
the said Commissioners on the part of the United States, have
agreed to pay to them, the said Chiefs, for themselves and
their people, the sum of five hundred dollars; which sum is
to be paid them as soon as may be, in money or merchandise,
at their option, at such place as they may desire.
Article 6.
And the said Chiefs and Head Men, as aforesaid, acknowledge
to have received from the Commissioners aforesaid, at the
before the signing of this Treaty, articles of merchandise
to the value of three hundred dollars; which sum of three
hundred dollars, and the payment stipulated to be made to
the said Osages in Article 5, shall be considered, and are
so considered by said Chiefs, as full and complete compensation
for every privilege herein granted by said Chiefs.
In testimony whereof, the said Benjamin H. Reeves, George
C. Sibley, and Thomas Mather, commissioners as aforesaid,
and the chiefs and head men of the Great and Little Osage
tribes of Indians, have hereunto set their hands and seals,
at Council Grove, this tenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
- B. H. Reeves, [L. S.]
- G. C. Sibley, [L. S.]
- Thomas Mather, [L. S.]
- Pa-hu-sha, (white hair,) head chief of the G. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ca-he-ga-wa-tonega, (foolish chief,) head chief of the L. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Shin-gawassa, (handsome bird,) chief of the G. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ta-ha-mo-nee, (swift walker,) chief L. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ca-he-ga-wash-im-pee-she, (bad chief,) chief G. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Wee-ho-je-ne-fare, (without ears,) chief L. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ca-he-ga-shinga, (little chief,) chief G. O., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Waw-bur-cou, warrior Little Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Maw-sho-hun-ga, warrior Great Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Waw-lo-gah, (Owl,) warrior Little Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Maw-she-to-mo-nee, warrior Great Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Che-he-kaw, warrior Little Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ne-ha-wa-she-tun-ga, warrior Great Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ho-no-posse, warrior Little Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Waw-kun-chee, warrior Little Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Pwa-ne-no-push-re, warrior Little Osages, his x mark, [L. S.]
In the presence of -
- Archibald Gamble, secretary,
- Jos. C. Brown, surveyor,
- W. S. Williams, interpreter,
- Stephen Cooper,
- Samuel Givens,
- Richard Brannan,
- Garrison Patrick,
- Daniel J. Bahan,
- I. R. Walker,
- Singleton Vaughn,
- Benjamin Jones,
- Bradford Barbie,
- Hendley Cooper,
- John M. Walker,
- Joseph Davis,
- George West,
- Thomas Adams,
- James Brotherton.
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Native American Legends A-B