Treaty with the Great and Little Osage, 1825
Whereas the Congress of
the United States of America, being anxious to promote and 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 especially met for that purpose, by the invitation of
said Commissioners, at the place called 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, 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 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.
