26 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [ktii. ann. 14 



ami a most liberal offer iu the shape of annuities for ten years, were proposed in vain. 

 The \Yinnebagoes gave the answer, stoutly refusing further negotiations. That tribe 



s i left in a body to repair to their hunts. The Menomonees lingered, and were again 



got. into council with the delegates, which conference continued for several days, and 

 finally resulted in the great transaction which gave the New York Indians the foot- 

 hold on Fox River, which they have in part maintained to this day. The Menomonees, 

 for a trifling consideration, ceded to the New York Indians a right in common to the 

 whole of their lands. Although some two of the principal chiefs were not present to 

 join in this important cession, this treaty, as well as the one of the previous year, 

 were approved by the President, and the New York Indians thereby recognized as 

 joint owners with the Menomonees of all their immense territories comprising nearly 

 half of the State af Wisconsin. 1 



Tile several tribes of the New York Indians now hoped to be able to occupy, 

 without further hindrance or trouble, their new homes, jointly with the Menomo- 

 nees; but subsequent events proved their wishes but half attained. The whites 

 and traders at Green Bay saw that the. Menomonees had been grossly over-reached 

 by their new friends, the New York Indians, in a bargain. They very soon showed 

 that tribe, that in making the Not-ta-wai/8 equal owners with them in their country, 

 they could no longer control their own affairs, especially in the great business of 

 treating with their great Father; that the New York Indians, if their treaties were 

 to stand, would, in a short time, out-general them in tactics, and probably in nttni- 

 bers, and put them completely in the back ground in all public matters. The 

 arguments had their effect, and in a short time the Menomonees repented of the 

 bargain, and sought means to invalidate the treaties. The same ingenuity which 

 had helped them to a dislike found a ready pretext for denying and repudiating the 

 treaties, especially the last one. It was said, that at the treaty of 1822, several of 

 the chiefs highest in authority were not present, which, being true, gave the tribe a 

 good reason for denying and with-holding sanction to the arrangement. As usual in 

 such cases, the Menomonees separated into two parties, the one adhering to the 

 treaties and the interest of the New York Indians, the other denying them and 

 resisting their rights to any part of the country. The adverse party had the support 

 of all the trading interest, together with most of the half breeds, and soon became 

 the strongest, both iu point of influence and numbers. 



'This treaty or purchase included all the oountry, beginning at the Grand Kakalin, on Fox River, 

 thence east on the lower Hue of the purchase of the New York Indians of the preceding year, to or 

 ei | Hi-distant with theMan-a-wah-ki-ah (Milwaukee) river; thence down said river to its mouth; thence 

 northerly, on the borders of Lake Michigan, to and across the mouth of Green Bay. so as to include all 

 tin- islands of the Grand Traverse; thence from the mouth of Green Bay northerly, to the Bay de 

 Noqne, on Lake Michigan ; thence a westet ly conrse, on the height of laud separating the waters of 

 Lake Superior and Michigan, to the head of t lie Menomonee river ; thence continuing nearly the same 

 course until it strikes the north-eastern boundary line of tin land purchased by the Xevr York Indians 

 tin- year preceding, and thence south-easterly to the place of beginning. This appears to have been a 

 complete 1 1 ssionof "all the right, title, interest, and claim" of the Menomonees, to theconntry described, 

 reserving, however, "the free permission and privilege of occupying and residing upon tint lands 

 herein ceded, in common with them — the Stockbridge, Oneida, Tuscarora, St. Regis and Munsee 

 nations; Provided nevertheless. That they, the Menomonee nation, shall not in any manner infringe 

 upon any settlements or improvements whatever, which may be in any manner made by the said 

 Mori, lu-idge, Oneida, Tuscarora, St. Regis, or Munsee nations." The consideration was one thousand 

 dollars iu goods to he paid iu hand, and one thousand dollars more in goods the nest year, and a similar 

 amount the year following. This treaty was concluded September 23d, 1S22. But. President. Mouroe 

 did not approve, to its full extent, this purchase ; his approval, bearing date March 13th, 1823, is thus 

 qualified: "The aforegoing instrument, is approved so far as it conveys to the Stockbridge, Oneida, 

 Tuscarora, St. Kegis, aud Munsee tribes or nations of Indians, that portion of the country therein 

 described, which lies between Sturgeon Bay. linen Bay, Fox River, that part i>f the former purchase 

 made by said trities or nations of Indiana of the Menomonee and Winnebago Indians, on the 8th of 

 August. 1821, which lies south of F\»x River, and a line drawn from the south eastern extremity of said 

 purohase to the head of Sturgeon Bay, and no further; that quantity being deemed sufficient for the 

 use of the first before-mentioned tribes or nations of Indians." This treaty, and that of the p receding 

 year, may be found in full, appended to the address of Hon. Morgan L. Martin before the \Yisconsin 

 State Historical Society, January 21, 1851. 



