My reason teaches me that land cannot be sold. The Great Spirit gave it to his children to live upon and cultivate as far as necessary for their subsistence, and so long as they occupy and cultivate it they have the right to the soil, but if they voluntarily leave it then any other people have the right to settle on it. Nothing can be sold, except things that can be carried away.

 

 

 

     Suppose a white man should come to me and say, "Joseph, I like your horses. I want to buy them." I say to him, "No, my horses suit me; I will not sell them."

 

     Then he goes to my neighbor and says to him, "Joseph has some good horses. I want to buy them, but he refuses to sell."

 

     My neighbor answers, "Pay me the money and I will sell you Joseph's horses."

 

     The white man returns to me and says, "Joseph, I have bought your horses and you must let me have them."

 

     If we sold our lands to the government, this is the way they bought them.

 

 

 

     We know our lands have now become more valuable. The white people think we do not know their value; but we know that the land is everlasting, and the few goods we receive for it are soon worn out and gone.