Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
Brother, the Governor ofMaryland,
You tell us, that when about Seven Years ago you heard, by our BrotherOnas, of our Claim to some Lands in your Province, you took no Notice of it, believing, as you say, that when we should come to reconsider that Matter, we should find that we had no Right to make any Complaint of the Governor ofMaryland, and would drop our Demand. And that when about two Years ago we mentioned it again to our BrotherOnas, you say we did it in such Terms as looked like a Design to terrify you; and you tell us further, that we must be beside ourselves, in using such a rash Expression as to tell you, We know how to do ourselves Justice if you still refuse. It is true we did say so, but without any ill Design; for we must inform you, that when we first desired our BrotherOnasto use his Influence with you to procure us Satisfaction for our Lands, We, at the same time, desired him, in case you should disregard our Demand, to write to the Great King beyond the Seas, who would own us for his Children as well as you, to compel you to do us Justice: And, two years ago, when we found that you had paid no Regard to our just Demand, nor that BrotherOnashad convey'd our Complaint to the Great King over the Seas, we were resolved to use such Expressions as would make the greatest Impressions on your Minds, and we find it had its Effect; for you tell us, "That your wise Men held a Council together, and agreed to invite us, and to enquire of our Right to any of your Lands, and if it should be found that we had a Right, we were to have a Compensation made for them: And likewise you tell us, that our Brother, the Governor ofMaryland, by the advice of these wise Men, has sent you to brighten the Chain, and to assure us of his Willingness to remove whatever impedes a good Understanding between us." This shews that your wise Men understood our Expressions in their true Sense. We had no Design to terrify you, but to put you on doing us the Justice you had so long delayed. Your wise Men have done well; and as there is no Obstacle to a good Understanding between us, except this Affair of our Land, we, on our Parts, do give you the strongest Assurances of our good Disposition towards you, and that we are as desirous as you to brighten the Chain, and to put away all Hindrances to a perfect good Understanding; and, in Token of our Sincerity, we give you this Belt of Wampum.
Which was received, and the Interpreter ordered to give theYo-hah.
Brother, the Governor ofMaryland,
When you mentioned the Affair of the Land Yesterday, you went back to old Times, and told us, you had been in Possession of the Province ofMarylandabove One Hundred Years; but what is One Hundred Years in Comparison of the Length of Time since our Claim began? since we came out of this Ground? For we must tell you, that long before One Hundred Years our Ancestors came out of this very Ground, and their Children have remained here ever since. You came out of the Ground in a Country that lies beyond the Seas, there you may have a just Claim, but here you must allow us to be your elder Brethren, and the Lands to belong to us long before you knew any thing of them. It is true, that above One Hundred Years ago theDutchcame here in a Ship, and brought with them several Goods; such as Awls, Knives, Hatchets, Guns, and many other Particulars, which they gave us; and when they had taught us how to use their Things, and we saw what sort of People they were, we were so well pleased with them, that we tied their Ship to the Bushes on the Shore; and afterwards, liking them still better the longer they staid with us, and thinking the Bushes too slender, we removed the Rope, and tied it to the Trees; and as the Trees were liable to be blown down by high Winds, or to decay of themselves, we, from the Affection we bore them, again removed the Rope, and tied it to a strong and big Rock [here the Interpreter said, They mean theOneidoCountry] and not content with this, for its further Security we removed the Rope to the big Mountain [here the Interpreter says they mean theOnandagoCountry] and there we tied it very fast, and roll'd Wampum about it; and, to make it still more secure, we stood upon the Wampum, and sat down upon it, to defend it, and to prevent any Hurt coming to it, and did our best Endeavours that it might remain uninjured for ever. During all this Time the New-comers, theDutch, acknowledged our Right to the Lands, and sollicited us, from Time to Time, to grant them Parts of our Country, and to enter into League and Covenant with us, and to become one people with us.
After this theEnglishcame into the Country, and, as we were told, became one People with theDutch. About two Years after the Arrival of theEnglish, anEnglishGovernor came toAlbany, and finding what great Friendship subsisted between us and theDutch, he approved it mightily, and desired to make as strong a League, and to be upon as good Terms with us as theDutchwere, with whom he was united, and to become one People with us: And by his further Care in looking into what had passed between us, he found that the Rope which tied the Ship to the great Mountain was only fastened with Wampum, which was liable to break and rot, and to perish in a Course of Years; he therefore told us, he would give us a Silver Chain, which would be much stronger, and would last for ever. This we accepted, and fastened the Ship with it, and it has lasted ever since. Indeed we have had some small Differences with theEnglish, and, during these Misunderstandings, some of their young Men would, by way of Reproach, be every now and then telling us, that we should have perished if they had not come into the Country and furnished us with Strowds and Hatchets, and Guns, and other Things necessary for the Support of Life; but we always gave them to understand that they were mistaken, that we lived before they came amongst us, and as well, or better, if we may believe what our Forefathers have told us. We had then Room enough, and Plenty of Deer, which was easily caught; and tho' we had not Knives, Hatchets, or Guns, such as we have now, yet we had Knives of Stone, and Hatchets of Stone, and Bows and Arrows, and those served our Uses as well then as theEnglishones do now. We are now straitened, and sometimes in want of Deer, and liable to many other Inconveniencies since theEnglishcame among us, and particularly from that Pen-and-Ink Work that is going on at the Table (pointing to the Secretary) and we will give you an Instance of this. Our BrotherOnas, a great while ago, came toAlbanyto buy theSasquahannahLands of us, but our Brother the Governor ofNew-York, who, as we suppose, had not a good Understanding with our BrotherOnas, advised us not to sell him any Land, for he would make an ill Use of it; and, pretending to be our good Friend, he advised us, in order to preventOnas's, or any other Person's imposing upon us, and that we might always have our Land when we should want it, to put it into his Hands; and told us, he would keep it for our Use, and never open his Hands, but keep them close shut, and not part with any of it, but at our Request. Accordingly we trusted him, and put our Land into his Hands, and charged him to keep it safe for our Use; but, some Time after, he went toEngland, and carried our Land with him, and there sold it to our BrotherOnasfor a large Sum of Money; and when, at the Instance of our BrotherOnas, we were minded to sell him some Lands, he told us we had sold theSasquahannahLands already to the Governor ofNew-York, and that he had bought them from him inEngland; tho', when he came to understand how the Governor ofNew-Yorkhad deceived us, he very generously paid us for our Lands over again.
Tho' we mention this Instance of an Imposition put upon us by the Governor ofNew-York, yet we must do theEnglishthe Justice to say, we have had their hearty Assistances in our Wars with theFrench, who were no sooner arrived amongst us than they began to render us uneasy, and to provoke us to War, and we had several Wars with them; during all which we constantly received Assistance from theEnglish, and, by their Means, we have always been able to keep up our Heads against their Attacks.
We now come nearer home. We have had your Deeds interpreted to us, and we acknowledge them to be good and valid, and that theConestogoeorSasquahannah Indianshad a Right to sell those Lands to you, for they were then theirs; but since that Time we have conquered them, and their Country now belongs to us, and the Lands we demanded Satisfaction for are no Part of the Lands comprized in those Deeds; they are theCohongorontas[6]Lands; those, we are sure, you have not possessed One Hundred Years, no, nor above Ten Years, and we made our Demands so soon as we knew your People were settled in those Parts. These have never been sold, but remain still to be disposed of; and we are well pleased to hear you are provided with Goods, and do assure you of our Willingness to treat with you for those unpurchased Lands; in Confirmation whereof, we present you with this Belt of Wampum.
Which was received with the usual Ceremonies.
CANASSATEGOadded, that as the three Governors ofVirginia, Maryland, andPensylvania, had divided the Lands among them, they could not, for this Reason, tell how much each had got, nor were they concerned about it, so that they were paid by all the Governors for the several Parts each possessed, and this they left to their Honour and Justice.
The Honourable
GEORGE THOMAS
, Esq; Governor, &c.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Virginia
.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Maryland.
The Deputies of the
Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser
, Interpreter.
The Commissioners ofVirginiaordered the Interpreter to let theIndiansknow the Government ofVirginiawas going to speak to them, and then they spoke as follows:
Sachems and Warriors of theSix United Nations,our Friends and Brethren,
At our Desire the Governor ofPensylvaniainvited you to this Council Fire; we have waited a long Time for you, but now you are come, you are heartily welcome; we are very glad to see you; we give you this String of Wampum.
Which was received with their usual Approbation.
Brethren,
In the Year 1736, four of your Sachems wrote a Letter toJames Logan, Esq; then President ofPensylvania, to let the Governor ofVirginiaknow that you expected some Consideration for Lands in the Occupation of some of the People ofVirginia. Upon seeing a Copy of this Letter, the Governor, with the Council ofVirginia, took some Time to consider of it. They found, on looking into the old Treaties, that you had given up your Lands to the Great King, who has had Possession ofVirginiaabove One Hundred and Sixty Years, and under that Great King the Inhabitants ofVirginiahold their Land, so they thought there might be some Mistake.
Wherefore they desired the Governor ofNew-Yorkto enquire of you about it. He sent his Interpreter to you inMay,1743, who laid this before you at a Council held atOnandago, to which you answer, "That if you had any Demand or Pretensions on the Governor ofVirginiaany way, you would have made it known to the Governor ofNew-York." This corresponds with what you have said to GovernorThomas,in the Treaty made with him atPhiladelphiainJuly, 1742; for then you only make your Claim to Lands in the Government ofMaryland.
We are so well pleased with this good Faith of you our Brethren of theSix Nations, and your Regard to the Treaties made withVirginia, that we are ready to hear you on the Subject of your Message eight years since.
Tell us what Nations ofIndiansyou conquered any Lands from inVirginia, how long it is since, and what Possession you have had; and if it does appear, that there is any Land on the Borders ofVirginiathat theSix Nationshave a Right to, we are willing to make you Satisfaction.
Then laid down a String of Wampum, which was accepted with the usual Ceremony, and then added,
We have a Chest of new Goods, and the Key is in our Pockets. You are our Brethren; the Great King is our common Father, and we will live with you, as Children ought to do, in Peace and Love.
We will brighten the Chain, and strengthen the Union between us; so that we shall never be divided, but remain Friends and Brethren as long as the Sun gives Light; in Confirmation whereof, we give you this Belt of Wampum.
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
TACHANOONTIAreplied:
BrotherAssaragoa,
You have made a good Speech to us, which is very agreeable, and for which we return you our Thanks. We shall be able to give you an Answer to every Part of it some Time this Afternoon, and we will let you know when we are ready.
The Honourable
GEORGE THOMAS
, Esq; Governor, &c.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Virginia
.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Maryland
.
The Deputies of the
Six Nations
.
Conrad Weiser
, Interpreter.
TACHANOONTIAspoke as follows:
BrotherAssaragoa,
Since you have joined with the Governor ofMarylandand BrotherOnasin kindling this Fire, we gladly acknowledge the Pleasure we have in seeing you here, and observing your good Dispositions as well to confirm the Treaties of Friendship, as to enter into further Contracts about Land with us; and, in Token of our Satisfaction, we present you with this String of Wampum.
Which was received with the usual Ceremonies.
BrotherAssaragoa,
In your Speech this Morning you were pleased to say we had wrote a Letter toJames Logan, about seven Years ago, to demand a Consideration for our Lands in the Possession of some of theVirginians; that you held them under the Great King for upwards of One Hundred and Sixty Years, and that we had already given up our Right; and that therefore you had desired the Governor ofNew-Yorkto send his Interpreter to us last Year toOnandago, which he did; and, as you say, we in Council atOnandagodid declare, that we had no Demand upon you for Lands, and that if we had any Pretensions, we should have made them known to the Governor ofNew-York; and likewise you desire to know if we have any Right to theVirginiaLands, and that we will make such Right appear, and tell you what Nations ofIndianswe conquered those Lands from.
Now we answer, We have the Right of Conquest, a Right too dearly purchased, and which cost us too much Blood, to give up without any Reason at all, as you say we have done atAlbany; but we should be obliged to you, if you would let us see the Letter, and inform us who was the Interpreter, and whose Names are put to that Letter; for as the whole Transaction cannot be above a Year's standing, it must be fresh in every Body's Memory, and some of our Council would easily remember it; but we assure you, and are well able to prove, that neither we, nor any Part of us, have ever relinquished our Right, or ever gave such an Answer as you say is mentioned in your Letter. Could we, so few Years ago, make a formal Demand, byJames Logan, and not be sensible of our Right? And hath any thing happened since that Time to make us less sensible? No; and as this Matter can be easily cleared up, we are anxious it should be done; for we are positive no such thing was ever mentioned to us atOnandago, nor any where else. All the World knows we conquered the several Nations living onSasquahannah,Cohongoronta, and on the Back of the Great Mountains inVirginia; theConoy-uch-such-roona,Coch-now-was-roonan, Tohoa-irough-roonan, andConnutskin-ough-roonaw, feel the Effects of our Conquests, being now a Part of our Nations, and their Lands at our Disposal. We know very well, it hath often been said by theVirginians, that theGreat KingofEngland, and the People of that Colony, conquered theIndianswho lived there, but it is not true. We will allow they have conquered theSachdagughroonaw, and drove back theTuscarroraws, and that they have, on that Account, a Right to some Part ofVirginia; but as to what lies beyond the Mountains, we conquered the Nations residing there, and that Land, if theVirginiansever get a good Right to it, it must be by us; and in Testimony of the Truth of our Answer to this Part of your Speech, we give you this String of Wampum
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
BrotherAssaragoa,
We have given you a full Answer to the first Part of your Speech, which we hope will be satisfactory. We are glad to hear you have brought with you a big Chest of new Goods, and that you have the Key in your Pockets. We do not doubt but we shall have a good Understanding in all Points, and come to an Agreement with you.
We shall open all our Hearts to you, that you may know every thing in them; we will hide nothing from you; and we hope, if there be any thing still remaining in your Breast that may occasion any Dispute between us, you will take the Opportunity to unbosom your Hearts, and lay them open to us, that henceforth there may be no Dirt, nor any other Obstacle in the Road between us; and in Token of our hearty Wishes to bring about so good an Harmony, we present you with this Belt of Wampum.
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
BrotherAssaragoa,
We must now tell you what Mountains we mean that we say are the Boundaries between you and us. You may remember, that about twenty Years ago you had a Treaty with us atAlbany, when you took a Belt of Wampum, and made a Fence with it on the Middle of the Hill, and told us, that if any of the Warriors of theSix Nationscame on your Side of the Middle of the Hill, you would hang them; and you gave us Liberty to do the same with any of your People who should be found on our Side of the Middle of the Hill. This is the Hill we mean; and we desire that Treaty may be now confirmed. After we leftAlbany, we brought our Road a great deal more to the West, that we might comply with your Proposal; but, tho' it was of your own making, your People never observed it, but came and lived on our Side of the Hill, which we don't blame you for, as you live at a great Distance, near the Seas, and cannot be thought to know what your People do in the Back-parts: And on their settling, contrary to your own Proposal, on our new Road, it fell out that our Warriors did some Hurt to your People's Cattle, of which a Complaint was made, and transmitted to us by our BrotherOnas; and we, at his Request, altered the Road again, and brought it to the Foot of the Great Mountain, where it now is; and it is impossible for us to remove it any further to the West, those Parts of the Country being absolutely impassable by either Man or Beast.
We had not been long in the Use of this new Road before your People came, like Flocks of Birds, and sat down on both Sides of it, and yet we never made a Complaint to you, tho' you must be sensible those Things must have been done by your People in manifest Breach of your own Proposal made atAlbany; and therefore, as we are now opening our Hearts to you, we cannot avoid complaining, and desire all these Affairs may be settled, and that you may be stronger induced to do us Justice for what is past, and to come to a thorough Settlement for the future, we, in the Presence of the Governor ofMaryland, and Brother Onas, present you with this Belt of Wampum.
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
ThenTachanoontiaadded:
That he forgot to say, that the Affair of the Road must be looked upon as a Preliminary to be settled before the Grant of Lands; and, said he, either theVirginiaPeople must be obliged to remove more Easterly, or, if they are permitted to stay, our Warriors, marching that Way to the Southward, shall go Sharers with them in what they plant.
The Honourable
GEORGE THOMAS
, Esq; Governor, &c.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Virginia
.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Maryland
.
The Deputies of the
Six Nations
.
Conrad Weiser
, Interpreter.
TheGovernorspoke as follows.
Friends and Brethren of theSix Nations,
Iam always sorry when any thing happens that may create the least Uneasiness between us; but as we are mutually engaged to keep the Road between us clear and open, and to remove every Obstruction that may lie in the Way, I must inform you, that three of theDelaware Indianslately murderedJohn Armstrong, anIndianTrader, and his two Men, in a most barbarous Manner, as he was travelling toAllegheny, and stole his Goods of a considerable Value.Shickcalamy, and theIndianssettled atShamokin, did well; they seized two of the Murderers, and sent them down to our Settlements; but theIndians, who had the Charge of them, afterwards suffered one of them to escape, on a Pretence that he was not concerned in the bloody Deed; the other is now inPhiladelphiaGoal. By our Law all the Accessaries to a Murder are to be tried, and put to Death, as well as the Person who gave the deadly Wound. If they consented to it, encouraged it, or any ways assisted in it, they are to be put to Death, and it is just it should be so. If, upon Trial, the Persons present at the Murder are found not to have done any of these Things, they are set at Liberty. Two of our People were, not many Years ago, publickly put to Death for killing twoIndians; we therefore expect you will take the most effectual Measures to seize and deliver up to us the other twoIndianspresent at these Murders, to be tried with the Principal now in Custody. If it shall appear, upon their Trial, that they were not advising, or any way assisting in this horrid Fact, they will be acquitted, and sent home to their Towns. And that you may be satisfied no Injustice will be done to them, I do now invite you to depute three or fourIndiansto be present at their Trials. I do likewise expect that you will order strict Search to be made for the Remainder of the stolen Goods, that they may be restored to the Wife and Children of the Deceased. That what I have said may have its due Weight with you, I give you this String of Wampum.
Which was accepted with theYo-hah.
The Governor afterwards ordered the Interpreter to tell them, he expected a very full Answer from them, and that they might take their own Time to give it; for he did not desire to interfere with the Business ofVirginiaandMaryland.
They said they would take it into Consideration, and give a full Answer.
Then the Commissioners ofVirginialet them know, by the Interpreter, that they would speak to them in the Afternoon.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Maryland
.
The Deputies of the
Six Nations
.
Conrad Weiser
, Interpreter.
The Commissioners desired the Interpreter to tell theIndiansthey were going to speak to them.Mr.Weiseracquainted them herewith.After which the said Commissioners spoke as follows:
Our good Friends and Brethren, theSixunitedNations,
Ie have considered what you said concerning your Title to some Lands now in our Province, and also of the Place where they lie. Altho' we cannot admit your Right, yet we are so resolved to live in Brotherly Love and Affection with theSix Nations, that upon your giving us a Release in Writing of all your Claim to any Lands inMaryland, we shall make you a Compensation to the Value of Three Hundred Pounds Currency, for the Payment of Part whereof we have brought some Goods, and shall make up the rest in what Manner you think fit.
As we intend to say something to you about our Chain of Friendship after this Affair of the Land is settled, we desire you will now examine the Goods, and make an End of this Matter.
We will not omit acquainting our good Friends theSix Nations, that notwithstanding we are likely to come to an Agreement about your Claim of Lands, yet your Brethren ofMarylandlook on you to be as one Soul and one Body with themselves; and as a broad Road will be made between us, we shall always be desirous of keeping it clear, that we may, from Time to Time, take care that the Links of our Friendship be not rusted. In Testimony that our Words and our Hearts agree, we give you this Belt of Wampum.
On presenting of which theIndiansgave the usual Cry of Approbation.
Mr.Weiseracquainted theIndians, they might now look over the several Goods placed on a Table in the Chamber for that Purpose; and the honourable Commissioners bid him tell them, if they disliked any of the Goods, or, if they were damaged, the Commissioners would put a less Price on such as were either disliked or damnified.
TheIndianshaving viewed and examined the Goods, and seeming dissatisfied at the Price and Worth of them, required Time to go down into the Court-House, in order for a Consultation to be had by the Chiefs of them concerning the said Goods, and likewise that the Interpreter might retire with them, which he did. Accordingly they went down into the Court-House, and soon after returned again into the Chamber.
Mr.Weisersat down among theIndians, and discoursed them about the Goods, and in some short Time after they chose the following from among the others, and the Price agreed to be given for them by theSix Nationswas,viz.
When theIndianshad agreed to take these Goods at the Rates above specified, they informed the Interpreter, that they would give an Answer to the Speech made to them this Morning by the honourable the Commissioners ofMaryland, but did not express the Time when such Answer should be made. At 12 o'Clock the Commissioners departed the Chamber.
The Honourable
GEORGE THOMAS
, Esq; Governor, &c.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Virginia
.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Maryland
.
The Deputies of the
Six Nations
.
Conrad Weiser
, Interpreter.
The Commissioners ofVirginiadesired the Interpreter to let theIndiansknow, that their BrotherAssaragoawas now going to give his Reply to their Answer to his first Speech, delivered them the Day before in the Forenoon.
Sachems and Warriors of the unitedSix Nations,
We are now come to answer what you said to us Yesterday, since what we said to you before on the Part of the Great King, our Father, has not been satisfactory. You have gone into old Times, and so must we. It is true that the Great King holdsVirginiaby Right of Conquest, and the Bounds of that Conquest to the Westward is the Great Sea.
If theSix Nationshave made any Conquest overIndiansthat may at any Time have lived on the West-side of the Great Mountains ofVirginia, yet they never possessed any Lands there that we have ever heard of. That Part was altogether deserted, and free for any People to enter upon, as the People ofVirginiahave done, by Order of the Great King, very justly, as well by ancient Right, as by its being freed from the Possession of any other, and from any Claim even of you theSix Nations, our Brethren, until within these eight Years. The first Treaty between the Great King, in Behalf of his Subjects ofVirginia, and you, that we can find, was made atAlbany, by ColonelHenry Coursey, Seventy Years since; this was a Treaty of Friendship, when the first Covenant Chain was made, when we and you became Brethren.
The next Treaty was also atAlbany, above Fifty-eight Years ago, by the LordHoward, Governor ofVirginia; then you declared yourselves Subjects to the Great King, our Father, and gave up to him all your Lands for his Protection. This you own in a Treaty made by the Governor ofNew-Yorkwith you at the same Place in the Year 1687, and you express yourself in these Words, "Brethren, you tell us the King ofEnglandis a very great King, and why should not you join with us in a very just Cause, when theFrenchjoin with our Enemies in an unjust Cause? O Brethren, we see the Reason of this; for theFrenchwould fain kill us all, and when that is done, they would carry all the Beaver Trade toCanada, and theGreat King ofEnglandwould lose the Land likewise; and therefore, O Great Sachem, beyond the Great Lakes, awake, and suffer not those poorIndians, that have given themselves and their Lands under your Protection, to be destroyed by theFrenchwithout a Cause."
The last Treaty we shall speak to you about is that made atAlbanyby GovernorSpotswood, which you have not recited as it is: For the white People, your Brethren ofVirginia, are, in no Article of that Treaty, prohibited to pass, and settle to the Westward of the Great Mountains. It is theIndians, tributary toVirginia, that are restrained, as you and your tributaryIndiansare from passing to the Eastward of the same Mountains, or to the Southward ofCohongorooton, and you agree to this Article in these Words; "That the Great River ofPotowmack, and the high Ridge of Mountains, which extend all along the Frontiers ofVirginiato the Westward of the present Settlements of that Colony, shall be for ever the established Boundaries between theIndianssubject to the Dominions ofVirginia, and theIndiansbelonging to and depending on theFive Nations; so that neither ourIndiansshall on any Pretence whatsoever, pass to Northward or Westward of the said Boundaries, without having to produce a Passport under the Hand and Seal of the Governor or Commander in Chief ofVirginia; nor yourIndiansto pass to the Southward or Eastward of the said Boundaries, without a Passport in like Manner from the Governor or Commander in Chief ofNew-York."
And what Right can you have to Lands that you have no Right to walk upon, but upon certain Conditions? It is true, you have not observed this Part of the Treaty, and your Brethren ofVirginiahave not insisted upon it with a due Strictness, which has occasioned some Mischief.
This Treaty has been sent to the Governor ofVirginiaby Order of the Great King, and is what we must rely on, and, being in Writing, is more certain than your Memory. That is the Way the white People have of preserving Transactions of every Kind, and transmitting them down to their Childrens Children for ever, and all Disputes among them are settled by this faithful kind of Evidence, and must be the Rule between the Great King and you. This Treaty your Sachems and Warriors signed some Years after the same GovernorSpotswood, in the Right of the Great King, had been, with some People ofVirginia, in Possession of these very Lands, which you have set up your late Claim to.
The Commissioners forIndianAffairs atAlbanygave the Account we mentioned to you Yesterday to the Governor ofNew-York, and he sent it to the Governor ofVirginia; their Names will be given you by the Interpreter.
Brethren,
This Dispute is not betweenVirginiaand you; it is setting up your Right against the Great King, under whose Grants the People you complain of are settled. Nothing but a Command from the Great King can remove them; they are too powerful to be removed by any Force of you, our Brethren; and the Great King, as our common Father, will do equal Justice to all his Children; wherefore we do believe they will be confirmed in their Possessions.
As to the Road you mention, we intended to prevent any Occasion for it, by making a Peace between you and the SouthernIndians, a few Years since, at a considerable Expence to our Great King, which you confirmed atAlbany. It seems, by your being at War with theCatawbas, that it has not been long kept between you.
However, if you desire a Road, we will agree to one on the Terms of the Treaty you made with ColonelSpotswood, and your People, behaving themselves orderly like Friends and Brethren, shall be used in their Passage throughVirginiawith the same Kindness as they are when they pass through the Lands of your BrotherOnas. This we hope, will be agreed to by you our Brethren, and we will abide by the Promise made to you Yesterday.
We may proceed to settle what we are to give you for any Right you may have, or have had to all the Lands to the Southward and Westward of the Lands of your Brother the Governor ofMaryland, and of your Brother Onas; tho' we are informed that the SouthernIndiansclaim these very Lands that you do.
We are desirous to live with you, our Brethren, according to the old Chain of Friendship, to settle all these Matters fairly and honestly; and, as a Pledge of our Sincerity, we give you this Belt of Wampum.
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
The Honourable the Commissioners of
Maryland
.
The Deputies of the
Six Nations
.
Conrad Weiser
, Interpreter.
Mr.Weiserinformed the honourable Commissioners,that theIndianswere ready to give their Answer to the Speech made to them here Yesterday Morning by the Commissioners;whereuponCanassategospoke as follows, looking on a Deal-board, where were some black Lines, describing the Courses ofPotowmackandSasquahanna:
Brethren,
Yesterday you spoke to us concerning the Lands on this SidePotowmackRiver, and as we have deliberately considered what you said to us on that Matter, we are now very ready to settle the Bounds of such Lands, and release our Right and Claim thereto.
We are willing to renounce all Right to LordBaltimoreof all those Lands lying two Miles above the uppermost Fork ofPotowmackorCohongorutonRiver, near whichThomas Cressaphas a hunting or trading Cabin, by a North-line, to the Bounds ofPensylvania. But in case such Limits shall not include every Settlement or Inhabitant ofMaryland, then such other Lines and Courses, from the said two Miles above the Forks, to the outermost Inhabitants or Settlements, as shall include every Settlement and Inhabitant inMaryland, and from thence, by a North-line, to the Bounds ofPensylvannia, shall be the Limits. And further, If any People already have, or shall settle beyond the Lands now described and bounded, they shall enjoy the same free from any Disturbance whatever, and we do, and shall accept these people for our Brethren, and as such always treat them.
We earnestly desire to live with you as Brethren, and hope you will shew us all Brotherly Kindness; in Token whereof, we present you with a Belt of Wampum.