Treaty with the Great and Little Osage, Aug. 10, 1825.

The following data is extracted from Indian Treaties, Acts and Agreements.

     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 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 specially met for that purpose, by the invitation of said Commissioners, at the place called the 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 I. 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 II. 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 III. 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 IV.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 travelers thereon may, at any time, leave the marked tract, for the purpose of finding subsistence and proper camping places.
Article V. 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.
Article VI. And the said Chiefs and Head Men, as aforesaid, acknowledge to have received from the Commissioners aforesaid, at the 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 Osages 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 Great and Little Osage tribes of Indians, have hereunto set their hands and seals, at Council Grove, this tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
B. H. Reeves
G. C. Sibley
Thomas Mather
Pa-hu-sha, (white hair,) head chief of the G. O., his x mark
Ca-he-ga-wa-tonega, (foolish chief,) head chief of the L. O., his x mark
Shin-gawassa, (handsome bird,) chief of the G. O., his x mark
Ta-ha-mo-nee, (swift walker,) chief L. O., his x mark
Ca-he-ga-wash-im-pee-she, (bad chief,) chief G. O., his x mark
Wee-ho-je-ne-fare, (without ears,) chief L. O., his x mark
Ca-he-ga-shinga, (little chief,) chief G. O., his x mark
Waw-bur-cou, warrior Little Osages, his x mark
Maw-sho-hun-ga, warrior Great Osages, his x mark
Waw-lo-gah, (Owl,) warrior Little Osages, his x mark
Maw-she-to-mo-nee, warrior Great Osages, his x mark
Che-he-kaw, warrior Little Osages, his x mark
Ne-ha-wa-she-tun-ga, warrior Great Osages, his x mark
Ho-no-posse, warrior Little Osages, his x mark
Waw-kun-chee, warrior Little Osages, his x mark
Pwa-ne-no-push-re, warrior Little Osages, his x mark
In the presence of:
Archibald Gamble, Secretary
Jos. C. Brown, Surveyor
W. S. Williams, Interpreter
Stephen Cooper
Samuel Givens
Richard Brannan
Garrison Patrick
Daniel J. Bahan
I. R. Walker
Singleton Vaughn
Benjamin Jones
Bradford Barbie
Hendley Cooper
John M. Walker
Joseph Davis
George West
Thomas Adams
James Brotherton

Source: Indian Treaties, Acts and Agreements

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