Osage Chiefs in Washington City

Photo: An Osage warrior painted by George Catlin in approximately 1834.  Public Domain

In early July 1804, a dozen Osage chiefs arrived in Washington City. They were the first to make the long trip at the invitation of Captains Lewis and Clark. President Jefferson made it clear to the Captains that he wished as many chiefs as possible to visit the new capital city and meet him face to face.

The Osage leaders, accompanied by the prominent St. Louis fur trader Peter Chouteau, were the first Native chiefs that Jefferson would meet. He was gracious yet straightforward in his comments, “We are all now one family, born in the same land, & bound to live as brothers. You have furs and peltries which we want, and we have clothes and other useful things which you want. Let us employ ourselves then in mutually accommodating each other.”

A second contingent of Osage chiefs would arrive in Washington in early 1806. And a third group would arrive in late 1806.
This is a transcription of Jefferson’s speech to the second delegation:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-4778

Unfortunately, his words and American justice would prove to be very different in the years to come.