Advent of the New York Indians into Wisconsin

              428    Wisconsin Historical Collections    [voi.ii
the effort for a further extension of territory. Every argument and a most liberal offer in the shape of annuities for ten years,, were proposed in vain The Winnebagoes gave the answer, stoutly refusing further negotiations. That tribe soon left in a body to repair to their hunts. The Menomonees lingered, and were again got into council with the delegates, which conference eontinuied for several days, and finally resulted in the gi-eat transaction which ga,ve the New York Indians the foot-hold on Fox Eiver, which they have in part maintained to this day. The Menomonees, for a trifling consideration, ceded to the New York Indians a right in comanon 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 terri- torieis compassing nearly half of the State of Wisconsin,*
*This treaty or purchase included all the country, beginning at the Grand Kakalin, on Pox Eiver, thence east on the lower line of the purchase of the New York Indians of the preceding year, to or equi-distant with the Man-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 the islands of the Grand Traverse; thence from the mouth of Green Bay northerly, to the Bay de Noque, on Lake Michigan; thence a westerly course, on the height of land separating the waters of Lake Superior and Michigan, to tlie head of the Me^ nomonee River; thence continuing nearly the. same course until it strikes the north¬ eastern boundary line of the land purchased by the New York Indians the year pre¬ ceding, and thence south-easterly to the plaj3e of beginning. This appears to have been a complete cession of "all the right, title, interest and claim" of the Menom¬ onees, to the country described, reserving, however,"the free permission and privi¬ lege of occupying and residing upon the lands herein ceded, in common with them— the Stockbridge, Oneida, Tuscarora, St. Regis and Munsee nations; Provided never¬ theless, That they, the Menomonee nation, shall not in any manner infringe upon any settlements or improYements whatever, which may be in any manner made by the said Stockbridge, Oneida, Tuscarora, St. Regis or Munsee nations." The considera¬ tion was one thousand dollars in goods to be paid in hand, and one thousand dollars more in goods the next year, and a similar amount the year following. This treaty was concluded Sept. 23d, 1822. But President Monroe did not approve to its full ex¬ tent, this purchase; his approval, bearing date March 'I3th, 1823, is thus qualified: **The aforegoing instrument is approved so far as it conveys to tlie Stockbridge, Oneida, Tuscarora, St. Regis, and Munsee tribes or nations of Indians, that portion, of the country therein described, which lies between Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay, Fox River, and that part of the former purchase made by said tribes or nations of In¬ dians of the Menomonee and Winnebago Indians, ou the 8th of August, 1821, which lies south of Pox River, and a line drawn from the soutli-eastern extremity of said purchase 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 preceding year, may be found in full, appended to tha Address of Hon. Morgan L. Martin before the Wisconsin State Historical Society,.. Jan. 21, 1851. ^- ^- ^-