To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, chiefs, braves, warriors, and hunters, of the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, beg leave respectfully to represent to your honorable body, that, under the existing law of Congress, regulating the payment of the annuities to our nation, by which they are to be paid to the chiefs, or to some person designated by them, they have been deprived of their just rights as individuals of those tribes, as they verily believe that it was the intention of Congress that every person belonging to our nation should receive an equal proportion of the annuities, and not all be given to a few individuals because they are chiefs, as it was the present year.
They further state and declare that they have received no part of the annuities that were paid this year, either in money, clothing, or any thing else; and, as they are solely dependent upon them for a supply of clothing and hunting equipments, it has reduced them to great want. And they are informed by the chiefs themselves that they were sent for to St. Louis, which is about 250 miles from our villages, and 200 from the nearest part of our country, nearly or quite a month earlier than the usual time of paying the annuities, (which, by the treaty, are to be paid on the 1st of September,) and there paid in bank notes, by the agent of the United States, a thing unheard of before in the payment of the annuities, and that they, the chiefs aforesaid, immediately paid the whole or most of the money over to the American Fur Company, on debts contracted by themselves for goods had by them, and in a few of their particular friends, without the majority of the nation receiving any part or benefit thereof. That no previous notice was given of the time when, or manner in which, or place where, their annuities were to be paid; by which means the undersigned were deprived of their just rights, and prevented from interceding for such part of the money as was coming to them. (Read Article 3)
They further beg leave to represent, that the manner in which the annuities are now paid, places it in the power of a few individuals to receive all the benefits thereof, without the majority of the nation receiving any part whatever. They, therefore, humbly pray that the present mode of paying the annuities may be altered, and that they be paid either to the heads of families, or to every individual, or in any other manner that your honorable body may decide, so that it may be distributed justly.
And we further beg leave to represent, that it it is our wish that it should be paid in our own country, either there at our villages, or any other place that your honorable body may designate, as it would be very inconvenient for us to go to St. Louis, where the money was paid this year, or to any other place distant from our country. And they, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
Dated at our respective villages, on the 26th day of August, and 20th September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four. (Black Hawk Treaty) (Note: Read Article 3 as to how the money is to be distributed.)
A-pe-noose, Fox chief
Wa-sy-nin
Wa-na-to-we-na
Na-ni-he-keet
Wa-pe-ma
I-o-who-wa
Ke-shis
Wis-co-sa
Ka-ka-pe-shaut
Ka-ke-ka-py-quit
Ke-kik-ka-sa
Na-na-ma-kee
Ma-ne-kiat
Poy-nue-kee
Sha-quas-sa
His-ka-pue-a-wa
Sha-quah
Ma-sha-kuk
Ka-ke-ka-mae
Na-qus-kee
Pa-mo-sa
Ki-ke-mo
No-ta-ka
Ma-no-sin-e-wee
Ma-she-wa
Wy-au-kish-e-mo
Ma-sque-pek-yu
A-no-ta
Ma-ka-ta-see
Pe-pal-a-wha
Ma-to-puck-e
O-ta-kuhn
Che-muck-o-pen
Pa-she-o
Ma-ta-a-qua
Sa-wal-a-qua
Ka-much-e-wy-la
Wa-wa-suck
Pa-me-sa-a-qut
Na-na-a-pee
To-ke-kus
Wa-co
Pa-me-chee
Ma-the-pa
Ka-ta-sau
She-wak-kee
O-cauque
Chuck-ke-muck-co
Ma-squa-ta
Wa-pe-ka-piah
Muc-a-ta-kun
Sqy-o-wee
Nes-ke-pee
Ka-me-i
She-ko-ne-a
A-squa-ma
Sal-a-whyoa
Na-cose
Ta-pus-e-sa
Na-na-qui-pa
Ke-koo-lass
Pau-wee-sheek
Na-ha-no
Ma-che-quoi-wa
Ash-ke-puck-a
Wy-sa-hau
Es-ke-pee
Pa-ta-que
O-kema-sau
Kat-che-pa-mo-sa
Nesh-ke-we-nau
Ma-ka-to-a-qua
Ash-ke-puck-e-wa
Na-na-wy-ca-pa
Wa-co-sin-ne-wee
Ma-sha-coke
Ta-cum-e-say
Ne-sha-qua
Ne-pa-tee
Wy-kee–ke-ka-pee
Ke-ka-poo
Se-pal-e-ka
Ka-ke-ka–to
No-ca-want
Na-much-e-sa
Wa-p e-noo-ka, (Sac,)
Ca-ta-ho
Pe-ko-ness
Wo-e-a-ka
Pe-na-hah
Mick-so-mack
Ne-con-a-quak
Wish-e-co-mak
Pa-ma-ho, sen.
Pa-ma-ho, Jun.
She-ko-ka-naque
Ta-wa-nin-ne, sen.
Ta-wa-nin-ne, Jun.
Nes-se-wis-e-kuk
Wes-sa-mis-sa
Wa-pis-e-ko
Chuck-e-sa-ka-to
Wes-sa-hun
We-mun-a-kee
Quas-qua-me
I-o-whah
A-no-ta
I-o-na
Wa-pe-sha-ko-mack
A-no-wha
Tuck-qua-we
Tow-is-e-kat
Na-na-que-shick
Ka-ko-tak
Che-kaw-in
A-che-co-tun
Me-sick-ka
Qua-wa-ne-a
Pe-ah-ma-ske-a
Ma-ta-e
Much-a-wa-me
Kis-ken-a
Wa-squa-sa-pe-tah
Kaw-ka-ka-ko-luk
Pa-a-che-a
Wa-pus-se
We-to-e-ta-haut
Nesh-e-wis-se-ta
Nep-pe-we
Mun-a-qut
O-no-pe-a
Wa-co-se-ma-qua
Ko-ka-na-he
Se-poo-os-sum
Wa-pe-ka-mis-e-ka
Chock-a-so
Muck-a-ta-wa-quat
Sa-swa-wa-sick
Wa-pe-ke-sick
Na-mo-shete
Na-ma-ke
Wa-pa-pe-a
Ka-ke-na-wa-tas-see
Ka-na-wa-so
She-she-qua-ness
Wa-pa-lo-sa
Wa-pes-kauk
Pa-seek-a-see
Muck-e-na-nas-see
Qua-wa-sa
We-so-wa
She-po-na-mo
Pow-o-skow
Pa-me-wa-sas-e-kuk
Na-ne-as-que
Ka-cho-ke-ma
Mis-sick-ko
Pow-ne-nin-ne
Wa-co-ho-se
E-sho-ta
Much-ko-ta-kin
O-wa-sick-e-ka
Mish-awoss
Un-a-qua-to
Wa-pa
Kush-a-o-ke-ma
Wa-pas-suck
Che-ko-skuck-a
Wa-co-se-kak-pa
Sa-swal-wa
Ma-che
Ma-na-ko-me-qua
Paw-hees
Ta-pos-e-pa-me-hat
A-ko-me
Tuck-qua-wee
Wa-pa-quat
Ke-wa-see
Ma-ma-wan-a-quah
Men-a-o-ke-ma
Ta-ta-ta-se-o
Qua-kup-pe-ta
Wa-ta-sa
Saw-namane
Shaw-ko-ka-wa
Pa-me-che
Kis-ke-tum
We-wa-we-kee
Ma-ta-ma
Ma-ya-wo-ta
Was-so-uk
O-ta-no-se-kuk
Mo-ka-qua
Ma-che-mo-oke
Che-che-ko
She-ka-ho
Mis-sa-ha
We-so-e-na
Mack-e-na
Ko-sa-he
Pa-pawne-tuk-qua-sa
Ko-pa
Na-ta-ke-ho
Na-ka-sis
Wa-pol-o-ka
Wes-ke-sa
Sho-kup
Ne-pa-ta
Ka-se-na-se-kuck
Wa-pe-ka-ha
Now-a-hauk, jun.
Na-ko-che-ke
Wa-wa-ka-pa
Wa-po-maut
A-na-que
Po-wa-ne-na-ke
In presence of
J. B. Patterson.
Melgar Couchman.
Joseph Cota, Interpreter.
Alexis Phelps.