Treaty with The Kansa
August 16, 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 of 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, being duly appointed Commissioners
as aforesaid, and being duly and fully authorized, have this
day met the Chiefs and Head Men of the Kansas tribe of Indians,
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,
on the Sora Kansas Creek, two hundred and thirty-eight miles
Southwestwardly from Fort Osage; have, after due deliberation
and consultation, agreed to the following Treaty, which is
to be considered binding on the said Kansas Indians, from
and after this day:
Article 1.
The Chiefs and Head Men of the Kansas Nation, or tribe of
Indians, for themselves and their nation, 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 Kansas Tribe or nation of Indians.
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 Kansas Indians.
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 track, for the
purpose of finding subsistence and proper camping places.
Article 5.
In consideration of the privileges granted by the Chiefs
of Kansas Tribe 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 and
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 Kansas 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 Kanzas tribe or nation
of Indians, have hereunto set their hands and seals, on the
Sora Kanzas Creek aforesaid, this sixteenth 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.]
- Shone-gee-ne-gare - the great chief of the Kanzas nation - his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ke-hea-bash-ee - eldest son of the great chief, (a warrior and leader,) his x mark, [L. S.]
- Hu-ra-soo-gee, (the red eagle,) a chief and warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Opa-she-ga, (the unready,) a warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Nun-gee-saggy, (the hard heart,) a warrior and counsellor, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Nee-a-ke-shall - a chief, brother of the great chief, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ee-be-seen-gee - a warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Wa-rig-ni-ne-gare - a warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Hah-ee-see-she (white plume's deputy,) warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Nee-ha-wash-in-tun-ga (the passionate,) warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Has-ska-mo-nee (white horns that walk,) warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- To-ka-mee-ra (the scalper,) warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Mee-ra-ta-mo-nee (the midway walker,) warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Mo-nee-ra-ta (he who walks off,) chief, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Mo-she-ha-mo-nee (the ridge walker,) warrior, his mark, [L. S.]
- Saw-nee-wah-ree (the striker of three,) warrior, his x mark, [L. S.]
In presence of -
- Archibald Gamble, secretary,
- Jos. G. Brown, surveyor,
- W. S. Williams, interpreter,
- Stephen Cooper,
- Daniel T. Bahan,
- Benjamin Robertson,
- David Murphy,
- Singleton Vaughn,
- John M. Walker,
- Andrew Broaddies,
- Benjamin Jones,
- Hendley Cooper,
- James Wells,
- Joseph R. Walker,
- Samuel Givens,
- James Brotherton,
- Harvy Clark.
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Native American Legends A-B