79
PAPERS OF l\l.IR.\BE.\U BUONA.PARTE LAMAR
ro. 94
1830 Apr. 13, CREEK N"ATIO TO [J. H. EATO ] Creek Nation
April 13th. 1830
Friend & Brother
(The copy forwd. to Washington was altered in some particulars from this draught-I have no cor- rect copy of the one sent)
In complying with our promise to write, it grieves us that we have no glad tiding to communicate. We have partially failed in ~the friendly object of our :Mlission. The Talk which you placed in ''Our hands to deliver to the chiefs, has been presented to them and re- jected by them. It was our intention to have had it read & inter• preted to them at their own houses by their firesides; believing that tltey might there be more disposed to listen to the voice of reason and reciprocate the friendly feelings we desire to cultivate; but shortly after our arrival here, we were informed that a Council was to be held in a few days, and concluding that the occasion would be a favorahle one to deliver the Talk, we determined to embrace it. 'l'he Council convened and on the 7th. inst.. the Talk was accordingly 1:endered to them. At first they refused to receive it-we addressed the Chiefs. We urged upon them the great importance of a recon· ciliation among our people-they had become divided by the designs of a few wicked men-their divisions had already brought calamities enough upon them, and if persevered in, would soon operate their total distruction. Once we were a united arid contented people- happy as individuals and prosperous as a nation, but what was our {!ondition now? A distracted and miserable race, despising & hating one another, with no prospect before us, but that of leading de- graded lives and leaving wretchedness .as au inheritance to our children. And what was the cause of thi unfortunate condition 1 We told them that it was owing to the animosities that prevailed nmongst us-it was time to drop them. When w.e were united in thr. hands of love and peace we were .a powerful & flou;rishing people ond to hecome so again, it was only necessary to unite in affection i1nd assemble once more as a common nation. It was for this pur- pose (we said) that ,ve had visited them- we came to bury the Tom- ahawk and to restore tranquility-our arms are open to receive our enemi~let offences and resentments be remember no lono-er. We informed the Council that we were instructed by our brethren in Arka.nsaw to make this overttu·e of peace & friendship, and to invite them to a particip.ation of the blessings that are enjoyed in the Wet. There the atmosphere was salub1·ious, the soil fertile and the land abounded in game-those who are there, are satisfied & de- siring peace & harmony with their brethren here, they entreated them to come and sha_re the advantages of th~ Country ·and form once more united happy and powerful people. Your ituation (we said) require your removal and imperious circumstances will very
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