"Father: "Respecting the War with the French we will do as the Six Nations and our Fathers, and will take them for Examples in all Things relating thereto.' "A Belt. "Father: "We are glad the Six Nations design to send some of their People to Canada to treat with the Indians there. We have been two or three times to the Carrying Place to treat with some of those Indians, in order to keep Peace, and design to send some of our People to Canada to speak with some of the Indians there upon the same Business.' "Gave some Skins. "His Excellency recommended to them that they should use their Endeavours to prevail upon the Aschicanhook Indians, and all the rest of the Indians who have left their old Dwelling Place to return to Schakook. "They answered they would. "The Indians of the United Nations then delivered their Answer to the Speech made.to them, Canasatego being Speaker: A Copy of which, with what ensued, as we received it, follows in these Words: "Brethren: "Two Days ago you spoke to Us, and we are now come to give you our Answer. You must not expect that we can answer particularly to the several Heads you mentioned to Us, but only to the principal Articles. You have renewed to Us the Covenant Chain, and we do now renew the same on our Parts; and it is impossible that it can ever Rust, for we daily wipe off the Rust and Dirt and keep it clean, which we will ever continue to do.' "A Belt. ""Brethren: "You thought fit to mention to us that there had been an Uproar among Us last Winter, and told us we ought not to entertain any such Notions of you our Brethren, especially as we had no Grounds to believe any such Thing. It is true, Brethren, there was such a Rumour among us, but it was immediately buried and forgot, and we did not expect that our Brethren would have mentioned any thing concerning that Affair to Us at this Interview; and we desire You think no more of it. We are always mindful of the Covenants between us and our Brethren, and here is a Certificate* They here produc'd a Certificate under the Seal of the Massachusetts. VOL. V.-2. whereby it appears that we are in Covenant with our Brethren of Boston.' "A String of Wampum. "Brethren: "You spoke to us concerning our going to Canada, and told us that the Commissioners of Indian Affairs had last Winter told us not to go there, but some of us went. As to what that tell you us, we had taken up the Hatchet against our Brethren and promised to consider of it at Home, it is not so. The Mohawks and Tuscaroroes, at their Return, gave the Commissioners of Indian Affairs an Account of all that passed there, and we are convinced that that Account is true.” "A Belt. "Brethren: "You have thought fit to relate to us several Particulars concerning the War between you and the French, and what Reason You had for taking up the Hatchet against the French and their Indians. We thank you for giving Us a particular Account of the Provocations and Inducements you had for declaring War against them. You have also mentioned to us that we are one Body and Flesh, and that if one of us is touched or hurt the other is likewise; and you have informed us that you were molested and attacked by the Enemy, and had therefore taken up the Hatchet against them, and desired, as we are one Flesh with you, that we would also take up the Hatchet against the French and those under their influence, in. Conjunction with You. We Six Nations accept of the Hatchet and will keep it in our Bosom. We are in Alliance with a great number of far Indians, and if we should so suddenly lift up the Hatchet without acquainting our Allies, it would perhaps disoblige them; we will, therefore, before we make use of the Hatchet against the French or their Indians, send four of our People, who are now ready, to Canada, to demand Satisfaction for the wrongs they have done our Brethren; and if they refuse to make Satisfaction, then we will be ready to use the Hatchet against them whenever our Brother the Governor of New York orders us to do it.' "A Belt. "His Excellency ask'd them what time they thought necessary to see whether the French Indians would make such Satisfaction? "They answered two months. "His Excellency asked them, That if in case the Enemy should commit any further Hostilities in the mean time, Whether they would then, upon his Commands, immediately make use of the Hatchet? "They answered Yes. "Brethren: "You desired us to gather together our People who are scattered and to settle in a Body, especially as it is very uncertain how soon we may have occasion for them. Your Request is very reasonable, and we will use our Endeavours to that End.' "A Belt. "Brethren: "We have now finished our Answer, and have nothing further to say but only one Request to make to You all, which is, That you our Brethren should be all united in your Councils, and let this Belt of Wampum serve to bind you all together; and if any thing of Importance is to be communicated to us by any of you, this is the place where it should be done.' "A Belt. "The answer thus delivered by the United Nations was received with the Approbation of the Governor of New York, the Commissioners of the Massachusetts only expressed their Diss-atisfaction; for that, as they alledged, the Indians the last Year had engaged that if any Hostilities were committed against the English, they would in such Case declare War; That Hostilities had been since committed, and therefore by those Engagements the Six Nations ought now to Declare War with the French and Indians. "This Day we proposed to Lave Delivered our Speech to the Indians, but the time being too far spent, & this the last Day of the Weck, we were obliged to post pone it until the beginning of the next. "The fourteenth of October being the time we appointed for Speaking with the Indians, we gave Directions to Conrad Weiser to give them notice to attend. But before they came to the place appointed, we received a Message from the Governor of New York that he was then met in Council, and desired to speak with us. We went accordingly. When we came to the Governor's, besides himself and his Council there were present the Commissioners from the Massachusetts, who then presented to the Governor Letters that they had received by an Express, giving an Account that a Party of French and Indians had a few Days before made an Attack on the Great Meadow Fort, about Fifty Miles, as we are informed, from Albany. That they had taken Prisoner a Person whom they found at some Distance from it. That two others coming down a Creek near that Fort were shot at, one killed the other inade his Escape. The Number of French and Indians was not mentione On reading of these Letters, the Commissioners for the Massachusetts were requested to be explicit in what they desired on this Occasion. They thereupon represented, that their Government thought it unreasonable the whole Burden of the War should remain on one Province, whilst the rest remained Neutral; That they desired the Indians of the Six Nations might be engaged to assist them. That tho' they thought it was reasonable other Provinces should bear a part of the Expence, yet rather than want the Assistance of the Indians on the present occasion they would bear the whole Expence themselves. The Governor of New York complained the Massachusetts Government had been too precipitate in their Declaration of War; That the other Governments were not obliged to follow the Example; Said that he had done all in his Power towards being better provided for a War; That in the Condition the Inhabitants of that Province were in on the Borders, it would be imprudent in him to engage the Indians of the Six Nations in a War; That proper Provision should first be made, which could not be done without his Assembly, who were to sit in a little time, and before whom he would lay this Affair. After this, and more of like Import said, we parted. The Governor of New York having delivered the Presents from that Government to the Indians of the United Nations, embarked for the City of New York, and we proceeded to meet the Indians according to our appointment. When we came to the Place agreed on for this purpose, we found the Deputies of the United Nations attending, and the Speech we had before agreed on was now read, and Interpreted to them by Conrad Weiser, the Interpreters of New York and the Massachusetts being also present and assisting. Which Speech follows in these Words: "Brethren of the Six Nations. "Altho' it is not long since a Treaty was held with You in Pennsylvania, yet our Governor and the Assembly of the Province, being informed of your coming hither, have, at the invitation of the Governor of Now York, sent us here to be present at the Treaty now held with you. We attend accordingly, and are glad to see You. In token whereof we present you with this "String of Wampum. "Brethren: "Before your last going to Canada you promised our Governor that on your return you would open your Hearts and give a full Account of all that passed between you and the French Governor; And we have it in Charge to desire you now to perform this promise. "Brethren: "We are also to put you in mind that by the Treaty made last Year with our Governor at Lancaster, you promised him that neither the Governor of Canada nor any of his People should come through your Country to hurt your Brethren the English, nor any of the Settlements belonging to them: Notwithstanding which some of the Shawnese Indians, in Conjunction with some Frenchmen from Canada, committed a Robbery on our Traders, and took from them a great Quantity of Goods. This our Governor sometime since gave you notice of by Conrad Weiser, and you undertook to demand Satisfaction for the Injury of the Governor of Canada and the Shawnese Indians. We, therefore, now desire to be informed whether you have made this Demand, and what Satisfaction you have obtained. The French men who did this Injury came through the Lands you claim, and the Robbery was committed on our Traders on those Lands. It was, therefore, a manifest Breach of the Neutrality the Governor of Canada pretended to observe towards you, and shews the perfidy of the French, and that they regard the Treaties they make no longer than whilst they think it their Interest so to do. "We hope their Example will not influence you, but that you will fulfil all the Treaties you have enter'd into with your Brethren the English. To impress this on your minds, and to enforce our Request we present you with this "Besides what we have already said, we are also to remind you that our Governor, at the Request of the Government of Virginia, became a Mediator between you and the Southern Indians called Catawbas; And you promised him next Spring to send Deputies to Philadelphia to meet some of that Nation, in order to conclude a Peace with them, And that in the mean time all Hostilities should be suspended. But our Governor is since informed that a party of the Oneides' Warriors are gone to Attack the Catawbas. Whether this be true or not, or whether any of your Young Men went without your Knowledge we do not know, and therefore desire you now to inform us of all the particulars; and if any of your Warriors are gone against the Catawbas that you will forthwith recal them, and take care that no more go against them during the time agreed on. "Brethren: "You may remember that at a Treaty held with our Government at Philadelphia, in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-two, you were advised' 'To call home all those of your Nations who were at Canada or live amongst the French, lest if any Occasion or Difference should arise they might be prevented from returning. This in your Answer made to our Governor in the Year One Thousand Seven hundred and Thirty-six, you call 'Sound Advice, say the French were formerly your cruel Enemies, and that you were taking such Measures as you hoped would be effectual to bring back your People if any new Breach should happen.' |