USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Discovery and conquests of the Northwest, with the history of Chicago, Vol. I > Part 27
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Under these circumstances, any diplomatic favors from England must necessarily result more from the statesmanship of our minister than from any power behind him, and Washington saw and made provision for this contingency, when he appointed our envoy to England.
Mr .. Jay arrived in London in June, and, says Lyman, the diplomatic historian, "There can be no question but a war would have taken place if he had not suc- ceeded in making a treaty." The instrument was not signed till the following November, but his presence at the Court of Saint James, even before the treaty was signed, had inspired that body with due respect for the government which he so ably represented, and prevented
303
Fort Wayne Built.
any hasty declaration of war. The treaty was a very lengthy document, and only the second article will be quoted, as it only had a direct influence on the North- west:
"ART. 2. Great Britain to withdraw her troops from certain posts within the boundary line of the United States, on or before the Ist of June, 1796, etc. Set- tlers and traders residing in the precincts of the posts to be surrendered, to enjoy their property unmolested, etc. These settlers not to be compelled to become citizens of the United States, or to take the oath of allegiance, etc." *
General Wayne remained near the battle ground, till the 14th of the succeeding month, September, when he took up his march westwardly to a deserted Miami vill- age, at the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's rivers. He reached the place on the 17th, and set his men at work building a fort. It was finished on the 22d, and named Fort Wayne, in honor of the commanding general. The christening was solemnized by the firing of fifteen rounds of artillery by Col. Hamtramck. This was the nucleus around which the city of Fort Wayne grew into its present proportions.
The place had been noted as a portage from the head waters of the Wabash to the Miami river, ever since the founding of Vincennes, and without doubt as long be- ' fore that period as the time when the country first became inhabited by the Indians, during whose occupation of the country, the spot lay in the track of their commu- nication between the Wabash valley and Lake Erie. Here General Wayne remained the succeeding winter, and was visited by delegations from the Wyandots, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawattamies, Sacs, Miamis, Delawares and Shawanese, all anxious for peace. Arrangements were now made for the most important
* NOTE .- The reason which the British gave for holding the posts, was to secure the payment of private debts contracted before the revolution, due her subjects from private individuals in America, alleging, and perhaps with truth, that legal obstructions had been thrown in the way of their collection. If this was so, such obstructions were removed, as provided in Article 7 in the treaty.
304
Little Turtle's Speech.
Indian treaty ever held in the west, to be convened at Fort Greenville the following June, 1795.
After the usual preliminaries which always go before the business of an Indian council, Little Turtle made the following able speech :
"I wish to ask of you and my brothers present, one question. I would be glad to know what lands have been ceded to you, as I am uninformed in this particu- lar. I expect that the lands on the Wabash, and in this country, belong to me and my people. I now take the opportunity to inform my brothers of the United States, and others present, that there are men of sense and understanding among my people, as well as among theirs, and that these lands were disposed of without our knowledge or consent. I was yesterday surprised, when I heard from our grandfathers, the Delawares, that these lands had been ceded by the British to the Americans, when the former were beaten by, and made peace with, the latter; because you had before told us that it was the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippe- was, Pottawattamies, and Sauckeys [Sacs], who had made this cession. *
"I hope you will pay attention to what I now say to you. I wish to inform you where your younger brothers, the Miamis, live, and also the Pottawattamies of St. Joseph's, together with the Wabash Indians. You have pointed out to us the boundary line between the Indians and the United States, but now I take the liberty to inform you that that line cuts off from the Indians a large portion of country which has been enjoyed by my forefathers, time immemorial, without molestation or dispute. The print of my ancestors' houses are everywhere to be seen in this portion.
"I was a little astonished at hearing you, and my brothers who are now present, telling each other what business you had transacted together heretofore at Mus- kingum, concerning this country. It is well known by all my brothers present that my forefather kindled the first fire at Detroit; from thence he extended his lines to the headwaters of Scioto; from thence to its mouth;
* Minutes and proceedings of the treaty of Greenville.
FORT WAYNE, 1794.
306
General Wayne's Reply.
from thence, down the Ohio, to the mouth of the Wabash; and from thence to Chicago, on Lake Michi- gan; at this place, I first saw my elder brothers, the Shawanese.
"I have now informed you of the boundaries of the Miami nation, where the Great Spirit placed my fore- father a long time ago, and charged him not to sell or part with his lands, but preserve them for his posterity. This charge has been handed down to me. I was much surprised to find that my other brothers differed so much from me on this subject; for their conduct would lead one to suppose that the Great Spirit and their forefathers had not given them the same charge that was given to me, but, on the contrary, had directed them to sell their lands to any white man who wore a hat, as soon as he should ask it of them. Now, elder brother, your younger brothers, the Miamis, have pointed out to you their country, and also to our brothers present. When I hear your remarks and proposals on this sub- ject, I will be ready to give you an answer. I came with an expectation of hearing you say good things, but I have not yet heard what I expected."
To this speech General Wayne himself replied as follows:
"Brothers, the Miamis: I have paid attention to what the Little Turtle said two days since, concerning the lands which he claims. He said his fathers first kindled the fire at Detroit, and stretched his line from thence to the head waters of Scioto; thence down the same to the Ohio; thence, down that river, to the mouth of the Wabash; and from thence to Chicago, on the southwest end of Lake Michigan; and observed that his forefathers had enjoyed that country undisturbed from time immemorial. Brothers: These boundaries inclose a very large space of country indeed; they embrace, if I mistake not, all the lands on which all the nations now present live, as well as those which have been ceded to the United States. The lands which have been ceded, have within these three days, been acknowledged by the Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawattamies, Wyandots,
* Minutes and proceedings of the treaty of Greenville.
307
Arguments against Indian Claims.
Delawares and Shawanese. The Little Turtle says, the prints of his forefathers' houses are everywhere to be seen within these boundaries. Younger brother, it is true, these prints are to be observed; but, at the same time, we discover the marks of French possessions throughout this country, which were established long before we were born. These have since been in the occupancy of the British, who must, in their turn relin- quish them to the United States, when they, the French and Indians, will be all as one people. [A white string. ] "I will point out to you a few places where I discover strong traces of these establishments; and, first of all, I find at Detroit a very strong print, where the fire was first kindled by your forefathers; next at Vincennes, on the Wabash; again at Musquiton, on the same river; a little higher up that stream, they are to be seen at Ouatanon. I discover another strong trace at Chicago; another on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan. I have seen distinctly the prints of a French and a British post at the Miami villages, and of a British post at the foot of the rapids, now in their possession; prints, very con- spicuous, are on the Great Miami, which were pos- sessed by the French forty-five years ago; and another trace is very distinctly to be seen at Sandusky.
"It appears to me, that, if the Great Spirit, as you say, charged your forefathers to preserve their lands entire for their posterity, they have paid very little regard to the sacred injunction; for I see they have parted with those lands to your fathers, the French, and the English are now, or have been, in possession of them all; there- fore, I think the charge urged against the Ottawas, Chippewas, and the other Indians, comes with a bad grace, indeed, from the very people who perhaps set them the example. The English and French both wore hats; and yet your forefathers sold them, at various times, portions of your lands. However, as I have already observed, you shall now receive from the United States further valuable compensation for the lands you have ceded to them by former treaties.
" Younger brothers: I will now inform you who it was who gave us these lands, in the first instance. £ It was
308
Terms of Peace.
your fathers, the British, who did not discover that care for your interest which you ought to have expe- rienced. This is the treaty of peace, made between the United States of America and Great Britain, twelve years ago, at the end of a long and bloody war, when the French and Americans proved too powerful for the British. On these terms they obtained peace. [Here part of the treaty of 1783 was read. ] Here you per- ceive that all the country south of the great lakes has been given up to America; but the United States never intended to take that advantage of you which the Brit- ish placed in their hands; they wish you to enjoy your just rights, without interruption, and to promote your happiness. The British stipulated to surrender to us all the posts on their side of the boundary agreed on, I told you, some days ago, that treaties should ever be sacredly fulfilled by those who make them; but the British, on their part, did not find it convenient to relin- quish those posts as soon as they should have done; however, they now find it so, and a precise period is accordingly fixed for the delivery. I have now in my hand the copy of a treaty, made eight months since, between them and us, of which I will read you a little. "First and second articles of Mr. Jay's treaty read. ] By this solemn agreement, they promised to retire from Michilimackinac, Fort St. Clair, Detroit, Niagara and all other places on this side of the lakes, in ten moons from this period, and leave the same to full and quiet possession of the United States."
After much deliberation the treaty was concluded on the following basis as to giving up Indian lands:
"ART. 3. The general boundary line between the land of the United States, and the lands of the said Indian tribes, shall begin at the mouth of Cuyahoga river, and run thence up the same to the portage between that and the Tuscarawas branch of the Musk- ingum; thence down that branch to the crossing place above Fort Lawrence; thence westwardly, to a fork of that branch of the great Miami river, running into the Ohio, at or near which fork stood Laramie's store, and where commences the portage between the Miami of the
309
Cession of Lands.
Ohio and St. Mary's river, which is a branch of the Miami which runs into Lake Erie; thence a westerly course to Fort Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wabash; thence southwesterly, in a direct line to the Ohio, so as to intersect that river opposite the mouth of Kentucky or Outtawa river. The said Indian tribes do also cede to the United States the following pieces of land, to wit:
"I. One piece of land six miles square, at or near Laramie's store, before mentioned. 2. One piece, two miles square, at the head of the navigable water or landing, on the St. Mary's river, near Girty's town. 3. One piece, six miles square, at the head of the navigable waters of the Au Glaize river. 4. One piece, six miles square, at the confluence of the Au Glaize and Miami rivers, where Fort Defiance now stands. 5. One piece, six miles square, at or near the confluence of the rivers St. Mary and St. Joseph, where Fort Wayne now stands, or near it. 6. One piece, two miles square, on the Wabash river, at the end of the portage from the Miami of the Lake, and about eight miles westward from Fort Wayne. 7. One piece, six miles square, at the Ouatanon, or Old Wea- towns, on the Wabash river. 8. One piece, twelve miles square, at the British fort, on the Miami of the Lake, at the foot of the rapids. 9. One piece, six miles square, at the mouth of the said river, where it empties into the lake. 10. One piece, six miles square, upon Sandusky lake, where a fort formerly stood. II. One piece, two miles square, at the lower rapids of Sandusky river. 12. The post of Detroit, and all the lands to the north, the west and the south of it, of which the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or grants to the French or English governments; and so much more land to be annexed to the District of Detroit as shall be comprehended between the Raisin on the south, and Lake St. Clair on the north, and a line, the general course whereof shall be six miles dis- tant from the west end of Lake Erie and Detroit river. 13. The post of Michilimackinac, and all the land adjacent of which the Indian title has been extinguished
310
Little Turtle Visits Philadelphia.
by gifts or grants to the French or English govern- ments; and a piece of land on the main to the north of the island, to measure six miles on Lake Huron, or the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan, and to extend three miles back from the water on the lake or strait; and also the Island de Bois Blanc, being an extra and voluntary gift of the Chippewa nation. 14. One piece of land, six miles square, at the mouth of Chicago river, emptying into the the southwest end of Lake Michigan, where a fort formerly stood. * 15. One piece, twelve miles square, at or near the mouth of the Illinois river, emptying into the Mississippi. 16. One piece, six miles square, at the old Peorias, fort and village, near the south end of the Illinois lake, on said Illinois river. And for the same considerations, and with the same views as above mentioned, the United States now deliver to the said Indian tribes a quantity of goods to the value of $20,000, the receipt whereof they do here- by acknowledge; and henceforward every year forever, the United States will deliver, at some convenient place northward of the river Ohio, like useful goods, suited to the circumstances of the Indians, of the value of $9, 500, reckoning that value at the first cost of the goods in the city or place in the United States where they shall be procured."
The treaty was signed, August 3d, 1795, and hushed the wilderness to peace, till the great events in which the continental wars of Europe had developed issues which were felt even on the frontiers of America, and which had much to do in again entangling the Indians in an issue between themselves and the Americans, as will be told in future chapters.
After the treaty, Little Turtle did all in his power to induce his people to adopt the modes of the white man, and with this end in view, visited Philadelphia to solicit congress and the benevolent Society of Friends to assist him in this laudable undertaking. Here he had an introduction to the celebrated French travelers, Vol- ney and Kosciusko, which is described as follows by Drake:
* The fort alluded to, was a fort built by Durantaye in 1785.
31I
Volney's Interview with Little Turtle.
"At the time of Mr. Volney's interview with him for information, he took no notice of the conversation while the interpreter was communicating with Mr. Volney, for he did not understand English, but walked about, pluck- ing out his beard and eyebrows. He was dressed now in English clothes. His skin, where not exposed, Mr. Volney says, was as white as his; and on speaking upon the subject, Little Turtle said: 'I have seen Spaniards in Louisiana, and found no difference of color between them and me. And why should there be any? In them, as in us, it is the work of the father of colors, the sun, that burns us. You white people compare the color of your face with that of your bodies.' Mr.
Volney explained to him the notion of many, that his race was descended from the Tartars, and by a map showed him the supposed communication between Asia and America. To this Little Turtle replied: 'Why should not these Tartars, who resemble us, have come from America? Are there any reasons to the contrary ? Or why should we not both have been born in our own country ?' It is a fact that the Indians give themselves a name which is equivalent to our word indigene, that is, one sprung from the soil, or natural to it. *
" When Mr. Volney asked Little Turtle what prevent- ed him from living among the whites, and if he were not more comfortable in Philadelphia than upon the banks of the Wabash, he said: 'Taking all things to- gether, you have the advantage over us; but here I am deaf and dumb. I do not talk your language; I can neither hear, nor make myself heard. When I walk through the streets, I see every person in his shop employed about something; one makes shoes, another hats, a third sells cloth, and every one lives by his labor. I say to myself, Which of these things can you do? Not one. I can make a bow or an arrow, catch fish, kill game, and go to war; but none of these is of any use here. To learn what is done here would require a long time. Old age comes on. I should be a piece of furniture useless to my nation, useless to the whites, and useless to myself. I must return to my own country.
* See Volney's Travels, ut supra.
312
The British Evacuate the Western Posts.
"At the same time [1797], among other eminent personages to whom this chief became attached in Philadelphia, was the renowned Kosciusko. This old Polish chief was so well pleased with Little Turtle, that when the latter went to take his final leave of him, the old 'war worn soldier' and patriot presented him with a beautiful pair of pistols, and an elegant robe made of sea otter's skin, of the value of 'several' hundred dollars." *
After this successful issue of General Wayne's cam- paign, Spain made a treaty with the United States, dated March 3d, 1796, in which the free navigation of the Mississippi was guaranteed to the Americans, but she was very tardy in the fulfillment of its stipulations.
At that time there were strong Spanish forts at Natchez and Vicksburg, then called Walnut Hills, and although the treaty bound her to give them up, she still held possession of them, greatly to the perplexity of the Americans. Meantime this faithless government con- tinued her intriguing with the western people to induce them to set up a government for themselves indepen- dent of the Union; and as an incentive, sent a Mr. Powers as a secret agent among them, with instructions to offer them the free navigation of the Mississippi, besides $ 100, 000 in cash.+
No substantial encouragement was given to this scheme, and on the 5th of October, 1798, Spain reluct- antly retired from the posts she had unjustly held on the east bank of the Mississippi, and American vessels could now pass to the sea unmolested. In July, 1796, the British evacuated all the posts which they held on American soil in the west. Detroit, the most impor-
* Little Turtle died in the spring of 1812, at his residence, but a short time before the declaration of war against England by the United States. His portrait, by Stewart, graces the walls of the war office of our nation. The following notice appeared in the public prints at the time of his death: "Fort Wayne, 21st July, 1812. On the 14th inst. the celebrated Miami chief, the Little Turtle, died at this place, at the age of 65 years. Perhaps there is not left on this continent one of his color so distinguished in council and in war. His disorder was the gout. He died in a camp, because he chose to be in the open air. He met death with great firmness. The agent for Indian affairs had him buried with the honors of war, and other marks of distinction suited to his character."
t State Papers, Vol. II, p. 103.
313
The Connecticut Land Company.
tant of them all, was immediately taken possession of by a detachment under Captain Porter. On retiring from the posts, the British, regardless of the courtesies for which they are generally exemplary, acted the part of a malicious tenant on leaving a house.
The wells of the fort were filled with stones, the windows of the fort broken, the gates locked, and the keys left in custody of an aged negro, * who, with fidelity to his trust, promptly gave them to the Ameri- cans, and the old fort passed out of the hands of its tenacious occupants, with its glorious memories giving place to painful regrets, as they took their departure down the clear waters of the straits, bidding good-bye to their dusky friends, who had so many years hung around the place in hope of alliance against the aggres- sive Americans.
The state of Connecticut, in 1795, disposed of a por- tion of the Western Reserve, to a company known by the title of the Connecticut Land Company, of which Moses Cleveland+ was one of the directors. The next year, he with a party of surveyors started for the new country in April. Their route was chosen through Albany, thence to Oswego. Here they arrived the 3d of June, a month before the British had evacuated the western posts, and these punctilious sentinels still guarded Oswego with the watchfulness of picket men on the eve of a battle. The party, therefore, durst not pass the British fort at the mouth of the Oswego river without permission, lest the commander should give their bateaux a cannon shot as they paddled past its frowning battlements. On being asked permission to do this, with dogged resolution the British commander refused it, and the American party were obliged to carry their bateaux circuitously around the fort by land, and launch them below the British fort, beyond the reach of their guns. Thence, coasting along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, they arrived at Buffalo, where they remained several days, to hold a council with the Seneca and Mohawk chiefs, for the purpose of
* Lanman's Mich., p. 167.
t His name was spelled with an "a" in the first syllable.
314
Red Jacket's Caustic Speech.
purchasing any interest they might claim in the lands composing such portions of the western reserve as the Connecticut Land Company had purchased .*
The celebrated Brant and Red Jacket were the principal deputies on the part of the Indians. These able men saw with regrets the inevitable downfall of their power, and all they could do was to make pro- vision for the creature comforts of their tribes, while they yet had a being. After several days spent in parleying, $2,500 worth of goods were accepted as pay for their interest in the lands, the land on which the present city of Cleveland now stands being included in the tract. This offer was accepted, not without some bitter reproaches on the part of Red Jacket, who said.
"You white people make a great parade about religion; you say you have a book of laws and rules which was given you by the Great Spirit, but is this true? Was it written by His own hand and given to you? No, it was written by your own people. They do it to deceive you. Their whole wishes center here [pointing to his pocket]; all they want is the money. It hap- pened there was a priest in the room at the same time, who heard him. ] He says white people tell them, they wish to come and live among them as brothers, and learn them agriculture. So they bring on imple- ments of husbandry and presents, tell them good stories, and all appears honest, but when they are gone all appears as a dream. Our land is taken from us, and still we don't know how to farm it."
Having successfully executed this important business, the party embarked on Lake Erie for their destination. This was the first introduction of the New Englanders to the waters of the lakes for the purposes of permanent settlement. For more than a century the French had been here, and for the past thirty years the English had held the shores of these waters exclusively to them-
* NOTE .- The original home of the Mohawks and Senecas was in eastern New York, but they had extended their dominions into Ohio by right of conquest. But at the treaty of Greenville, when these lands were ceded to the United States by the western tribes, the Mohawks and Senecas were not present; hence the necessity to confer with them to prevent any future trouble as to the validity of these titles.
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