USA > Kentucky > A history of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 36
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On the 6th of May, 1768, the Six Nations made a speech at
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Fort Pitt, to the King's Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and said: "Brother, it is not without grief that we see our country settled by you, without our knowledge or consent, and and it is a long time since we first complained to you of this grievance." They subjoined, "The settlers must be removed from our lands, as we look upon it, they will have time enough to settle them, when you have purchased them, and the country become yours."
On the 31st of May, 1768, the General Assembly of Virginia being met, the President of his majesty's Council (John Blair, Esq.) opened the sessions with the following speech:
"Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses: Our late worthy Governor having designed to meet you here at this time, the reasons of that his intention having been reconsidered by me in council, and the objects for your consideration he had to lay before you, having been judged to be of such importance to the honor and service of his majesty; to the security, ease, and happiness of the people, that I was advised (as the administration devolved on me) to renew the proclamation for your meeting.
"By letters from his excellency General Gage, Commander in Chief of his majesty's forces, and from Sir William Johnson, Superintendant of Indian Affairs, ( which I shall cause to be laid before you,) it will appear, that a set of men regardless of the laws of natural justice, unmindful of the duties they owe to society, and in contempt of royal proclamations, have dared to settle themselves upon the lands near Red-stone Creek and Cheat River, which are the property of the Indians; and notwithstanding the repeated warnings of the danger of such lawless proceedings, and the strict and spirited injunctions to them to desist, and quit their unjust possessions; they still remain unmoved, and seem to defy the orders and even powers of government."
As soon as Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, Esqs. received the foregoing instructions from the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, (on preceding page) they waited on the British Secretary of State, and showed the necessity of immediate orders being sent to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, for finishing the boundary line which had been begun in the year 1764.
In the spring of the year 1768, Sir William Johnson received the King's commands and instructions to complete the purchase of the lands from the Allegany Mountain to the River Ohio, &c., and accordingly he gave the carhest notice thereof to the govern- ments of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, &c., and to the Six Nations and the Delawares, and other Indians residing upon the river Ohio, and appointed a Congress to be held with them in the autumn, (for the purpose of carrying the king's orders into execution,) at Fort Stanwix, in the province of New York.
In December, 1768, Arthur Lee, Esq., late commissioner to the Court of France, from the United States of North America, presented a petition to the king of England in Council, praying, in the following words, on behalf of himself and forty-nine other
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gentlemen: "That your majesty would grant to his petitioners, to be fifty in number, by the name of the Mississippi Company, two millions and five hundred thousand acres of land, in one or more surveys, to be located or laid off between the thirty-eighth and forty-second degrees of north latitude, the Allegany Mountain to the eastward, and thence westward to the dividing line, (the run- ning of which your majesty has been lately pleased to order,) and that your petitioners shall have liberty of holding these lands twelve years or any greater number that your majesty shall approve (after survey of them be made and returned) clear of all imposition money, quit-rents or taxes; and that your petition- ers shall be obliged to seat the said lands within twelve years, with two hundred families at least, if not interrupted by the savages or some foreign enemy, and return the survey thereof to such ofice as your majesty shall be pleased to direct, otherwise to forfeit the grant.
"Your petitioners humbly hope, that your majesty may be graciously pleased to grant these fovorable terms, in considera- tion of the heavy charges, great expense, dangers, hardships, and risks they must necessarily incur in the exploring, surveying, and settling this distant country; and because it appears from reason and experience, that large tracts of land taken up by companies, may be retailed by them to individuals much cheaper than the latter can obtain them from the crown, embarrassed as such individuals must be with the charges arising from the solicitation of patents, making surveys, and other contingent expenses, together with the difficulty the poorer sort are under from their ignorance of the proper methods to be pursued, as well as their inability to advance ready money for such purposes; whereas from companies they have only to receive their conveyances without any previous expense, and are indulged with credit till their industry enables them to make payments; a method 60 encouraging, that it cannot fail of answering the intention of speedily populating this your majesty's territory, so as to be profit- able to the crown, and useful to the state. And though attempts to settle in this way, have sometimes failed in the hands of gentlemen possessed of affluent fortunes, in consequence of an indolence and inattention frequently attending persons in such circumstances, especially when not excited by the prospect of immediate and considerable profit; yet the greater part of the present adventurers being of good families, and considerable influence in the countries where they live, though possessed of but moderate estates, are induced, from the goodness of the soil, and climate of the country beyond the mountains, to believe, that by a proper application of their money and industry, they shall acquire a sure and happy provision for their children: which pleasing prospect, animated with a view of public utility, will conduct all their affairs with that spirited assiduity, which, only in matters of danger and difficulty, can ensure success. In pursuance of this, several of the members are determined to be themselves among the first settlers; the dearness and pre-occu-
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pancy of the lands, within their respective Colonies, rendering it impracticable to make a proper landed provision for their numer- ous families; a circumstance which begins already to restrain early marriages, and therefore speedy population. In considera- tion of the reasons here offered, your petitioners most humbly pray your majesty will be graciously pleased to grant their humble request, and as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
The Hon. Presley Thornton. Henry Fitzhugh.
The Hon. Benedict Calvert.
Samuel Washington.
Thomas Ludwell Lee.
W. Fitzhugh, of Marmion.
Thomas Cumming.
William Brent.
Francis Lightfoot Lee.
W. Fitzhugh, of Somerset.
Capt. William Fitzhugh.
Richard Parker.
Fran cis Thornton.
William Booth.
Stephen Sayre.
Rey. Henry Addison, A.
Richard Henry Lee.
Col. George Washington.
Col. Adam Steven.
Bernard Moore.
Ralph Wormely.
Warner Lewis, jun.
William Borekenborough.
Anthony Stuart.
John Alexander.
William Lee.
Cuthbert Bullitt.
Arthur Lee, M. D. F. R. S.
Henry Royer.
John Turberville.
Arthur Lee, Agent.
On the back of this petition is endorsed these words and figures: 16th December, 1768. Read and referred to a Committee, 9th March, 1769. Read at the Committee. and referred to the Board of Trade.
We shall make but one short observation upon this petition. It speaks for itself, and shows, that the respectable petitioners (mostly Virginians) were not of the number of those gentlemen in Virginia, who now, without the least reason of justice, assert, that the "distant country," over the Allegany Mountain, is within that government.
On the 24th of October, 1768, the Congress at Fort Stanwix was opened. Present-
The Honorable Sir Wm. Johnson, Baronet, his majesty's Su- perintent of Indian Affairs.
His Excellency Wm. Franklin, Esq., Governor of New Jersey. Thomas Walker. Eso., Commissioner for the Colony of Virginia. Hon. Frederick Smith, Chief Justice of New Jersey.
Richard Peters, and James Tilghman, Esqs., of the Council of Pennsylvania.
George Croghan, and Daniel Claus, Esqs., Deputy Agents of Indian Affairs.
Robert Woodrop.
John Baylor.
Thomas Simpson.
William Flood.
Mann Page.
J. Augustine Washington. December, 1768.
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Guy Johnson, Esq., Deputy Agent, and acting as Secretary; with several gentlemen from the different Colonies.
John Butler, Esq.
Mr. Andrew Montour,
Interpreters for the Crown. Philip Philips.
Indian Chiefs present.
Mohawks. Tawashughts, &c
Abraham.
Cajugas.
Kanadagaya.
Tagaaia.
Kendrick.
Shanarady.
Aroghiaecka.
Atrawawna, &c.
Kayenqueregoa.
Shawnese.
Tobarihoga.
Benevissica.
Anohario, &c.
Senecas
Oneidas.
Gaustrax.
Ganaghquieson.
Nicholasera,
Odengot, &c.
Senughsis.
Tuscaroras.
Gajuheta.
Saquareesera.
Tagawaron, &c.
Kanigot.
Onandagoes.
Tyagawehe, &c. Delawares.
The Bunt.
Tewaruir.
Killbuck.
Diaquanda.
Turtleheart.
The whole assembly being seated, Mr. Walker rose, and delivered to Sir Wm. Johnson his authority to sit and act as Commissioner for Virginia.
"John Blair, Esq., President of his majesty's Council, and Com- mander in Chief of the Colony and Domnion of Virginia, "To Thomas Walker, Esq.
"By virtue of the power and authority to me committed, as President of his majesty's Council, and Commander in Chief in and ver this colony and dominion of Virginia, I do hereby appoint you, the said Thomas Walker, to be Commissioner of Virginia, to settle a boundary line between this colony and the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the several nations of Indians concerned. You are required to attend at a Congress to be held for that purpose, under the direction of Sir William Johnson, agreeable to his majesty's instructions, when you are to pay a due regard to the interest of his majesty, and such instructions as you shall receive from me.
"Given under my hand and seal of the colony at Williamsburg, this 17th of June, and in the eighth year of his majesty's reign. anno domini, 1768.
JOHN BLAIR."
Messrs. Peters and Tilghman were likewise admitted as Com- missioners for Pennsylvania.
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Sir Wm. Johnson then, by Abraham. a Chief of the Mohawks, addressed the Indians in the following manner:
Brethren -- I take you by the hand, and heartily bid you all welcome to this place, where I have kindled a council fire for affairs of importance. The Governor of New Jersey, and the Commissioners of Virginia and Pennsylvania, do likewise wel- come you here. Lieutenant Governor Penn came hither, and waited a considerable time, but was at length, by business, obliged to return home, leaving these gentlemen Commissioners on behalf of Pennsylvania.
Brethren-Hearken to me, who have good words to speak to you, such as are for the benefit of your whole confederacy, and of your children vet unborn.
You all remember that three years ago I signified to you his majesty's desire to establish a boundary line between his people and yours; and that we then agreed together, how some part of that line should run, whenever the same came to be settled.
You all, I am hopeful, recollect the reasons I then gave you for making such a boundary; nevertheless, I shall again repeat them. You know, brethren, that the encroachments upon your lands have been always one of your principal subjects of com- plaint; and that, so far as it could be done, endeavors have not been wanting for your obtaining redress. But it was a difficult task, and generally unsuccessful; for, although the provinces have bounds between each other, there are no certain bounds between them and you; and thereby, not only several of our people, ignorant in Indian affairs, have advanced too far into your country, but also many of your own people, through the want of such a line, have been deceived in the sales they have made, or in the limits they have set to our respective claims. This brethren is a sad case, which has frequently given us much trouble, and turned many of your heads; but it is likely to con- tinue so, until some bounds are agreed to, fixed upon, and made public between us. The great, the good king of England, my master, whose friendship and tender regard for your interests I wish you may ever hold in remembrance, has, amongst other instances of his goodness, after long deliberation on some means for your relief, and for preventing future disputes concerning lands, at length resolved upon fixing a general boundary line between his subjects and you, and that in such a manner as shall be most agreeable to you: in consequence of which, [ have received his royal commands to call you together for the establishment thereof; and after conferring with the governments interested hereupon, you now see before you the Governor of the Jerseys, the Commissioners on behalf of Aseregoa. Governor of Virginia, and Commissioners from Pennsylvania, in order to give you the strongest assurances on behalf of their respective govern- ments, of their resolutions to pay due regard to what shall be now entered into: the presence of so many great men will give a sanction to the transaction, and cause the same to be known as far as the English name extends. His majesty has directed me
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to give you a handsome proof of his generosity, proportioned to the nature and extent of what lands shall fall to him. Upon the whole, I hope that your deliberations will be unanimous, and your resolutions such as his majesty may consider as proofs of your gratitude for all his favors. A fine new belt.
Brethren-The importance of the affairs now before us, requires the most serious attention. I will not burthen you with any other subject until this is generally settled; and there- fore we shall adjourn, that you may have time to think of it, and come fully prepared to give an agreeable answer.
Then Abrahain, a Chief of the Mohawks, after repeating what Sir William Johnson had said, addressed him thus:
Brother-We give you thanks for what you have said to us at this time. It is a weighty affair, and we shall, agreeably to your desire, take it into our most serious consideration. We are glad that so many great men are assembled to bear witness of the trans- action; and we are now resolved to retire and consult on a proper answer to be given to all you have said; and so soon as we have agreed upon it, we shall give you notice, that we may again assemble and make it known to you; and we are all much obliged to you, that you have directed us to attend to this great affair alone at this time, that our minds might not be burdened or diverted from it by attending to any thing else.
FORT STANWIX, October 31, 1768.
A deputation from the Six Nations waited upon Sir William Johnson, and informed him, that a Chief and Warrior of each nation would attend him and deliver their final resolves, which should be made public to-morrow. A map being laid before them, they observed that what they had to say, were the final resolves of all the nations, and added that they would, agreeably to their just right, begin the line at the Cherokee river, &c. (Vide the boundaries in their grant to the King, p. 390.) This, they said, they delivered as their final determinations, subject to several conditions for the security of their possessions, and engagements entered into.
At a general Congress held at Fort Stanwix with the Six Nations and other Indians, on Tuesday, November the 1st, 1768. Present as at the former meeting.
The Indians being all seated, they desired to know whether Sir William was prepared to hear them; and, on being answered in the affirmative. the speaker stood up, and spoke as follows:
Brother-We are hopeful that you will not take it amiss that we have delayed till now our public answer on the subject you recommended to us. This was a great and weighty matter, requiring long deliberation, and should not be undertaken lightly. We have accordingly considered it. and are now come to give you our final resolutions thereon, to which we beg your attention.
Brother-We remember that on our first meeting with you, when you came with your ship, we kindly received you, enter-
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tained you, and entered into an alliance with you, though we were then great and numerous, and your people inconsiderable and weak; and we know that we entered into a covenant chain of bark with you, and fastened your ship therewith; but, being apprehensive the bark would break, and your ship be lost, we made one of iron, and held it fast, that it should not slip from us; but, perceiving the former chain was liable to rust, we made a silver chain to guard against it. Then, brother, you arose, renewed that chain, which began to look dull, and have for many years taken care of our affairs by the command of the great King; and you, by your labors, have polished that chain, so that it has looked bright, and is become known to all nations; for all which we shall ever regard you; and we are thankful to you, in that you have taken such care of these great affairs, of which we are always mindful, and we do now, on our parts, renew and strengthen the covenant chain, by which we will abide so long as you shall preserve it strong and bright on your part. . belt.
Then, after repeating all that had been said concerning the line, the speaker proceeded:
Brother-We have long considered this proposal for a boun- dary between us, and we think it will be of good consequence if you, on your parts, pay a due regard to it; and we, in conse- quence thereof, have had sundry meetings amongst ourselves and with you; and from all that you have said to us thereon, we have at length come to a final resolution concerning it, and we hope that what is now agreed upon shall be inviolably observed on your parts, as we are determined it shall be on ours; and that no further attempts will be made on our lands, but that this line be considered as final; and we do now agree to the line we have marked upon your map, now before you, on certain conditions, on which we have spoken, and shall say no more; and we desire that one article of this our agreement be, that none of the provinces or their people shall attempt to invade it. UNDER COLOR OF ANY OLD DEEDS, or other pretences whatsoever; for in many of these things we have been imposed on, and therefore we disclaim them all. Which bounds, now agreed to. we begin on the Ohio, at the mouth of the Cherokee river, which is our just right; and from thence we go up, on the south side of the Ohio, to Kitanning, above Fort Pitt; from thence a direct line to the nearest fork of the west branch of the Susquehannah; thence through the Allegany mountains, along the south side of the said vest branch, till we come opposite to the mouth of the creek called Tiadaghton; thence across the west branch, and along the east side of' that creek, and along the ridge of Burnet's hills, to a creek called Awandae; thenre down the same to the east branch of Susque- hannah, and across the same, and up the east side of that river to Oxegy; from thence eastward to Delaware river, and up that river to opposite where Tianaderrah falls into Susquehannah; thence to Tianaderrah, and up the west side thereof, and its west branch, to the head thereof; thence by a straight line to the mouth
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of Canada creek, where it empties itself into Wood creek, at the end of the long carrying place beyond Fort Stanwir. And this we declare to be our final resolves, and we expect that the con- ditions of this our grant will be observed. A belt,
Brother -- Now as we have made so large a cession to the King, of such a valuable and extensive country, we do expect it, as the terms of our agreement, that strict regard be paid to all our reasonable desires. We do now, in this case, on behalf and in the name of all our warriors of every nation, CONDITION, that our warriors shall have the liberty of hunting throughout the coun- try; as they have no other means of subsistence, and as your people have not the same occasions or inclinations: that the white people be restricted from hunting on our side of the line, to prevent contention between us, A belt.
Brother-By this belt we address ourselves to the great King of England, through you, our superintendent, in the name and in behalf of all the Six Nations, Shawnesse, Delawares, and all other our friends, allies, and dependents; we now tell the King, that we have given to him a great and valuable country; and we know, that what we shall now get for it must be far short of' its value: we make it a condition of this our agreement concerning the line, that his majesty will not forget or neglect to show us his favor, or suffer the chain to contract rust; but that he will direct those who have the management of our affairs to be punctual in renewing our ancient agreements: That as the Mohawks are now within the line which we give to the King, and that these people are the true old heads of the whole confederacy, their several villages, and all the land they occupy, unpatented about them, as also the residences of any other of our confederacy affected by this cession, shall be considered as their sole property, and at their disposal, both now and so long as the sun shines; and that all grants or engagements they have now or lately entered into, shall be considered as independent of this boundary ;* so that they, who have so little left, may not lose the benefit of the sale of it; but that the people, with whom they have agreed, may have the land. We likewise further condition, on behalf of all the Six Nations, and of all our allies. friends, and nephews, our dependents, that as we have expe- rienced how difficult it is to get justice, or to make our com- plaint known, and that it is not in the power of our superinten- dent to take care of our affairs in different places without the King's help, that his majesty will give him help and strength to do us justice, and to manage our affairs in a proper manner. We all know the want of this, and we make it a point of great consequence, on which this our present agreement is to depend, and without which affairs will go wrong, and our heads may be turned.
Brother-We likewise desire, that as we have now given up a great deal of lands within the bounds that Mr. Penn claimed a
ยท Thie related to landa on the Susquehannab. &c.
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right of buying, that he may, in consequence of the agreement* now entered into between us, enjoy what we have given within those limits. . And as we know, that Lydius of Albany did, in the name of several persons, lay claim to lands in Pennsylvania, which we know to be unjust; and that the deeds he pretends a right to, were invalid, we expect that no regard will be paid to them, or any such claims, now or hereafter; as we have fairly sold them to the proprietors of Pennsylvania, to whom alone we shall sell lands within that province; and we shall now give- them a deed for that and other lands there. And in order to shew that we love justice, we expect the traders, who suffered by some of our dependents in the wars five years ago, may have a grant for the lands we now give them down Ohio, as a satis- faction for their losses. And as our friend, Mr. Croghan, long ago got a deed for lands from us, which may now be taken into Mr. Penn's lands; should it so happen, we request that it may be considered, and that he may get as much from the King somewhere else, as he fairly bought it. And as we have given enough to shew our love for the King, and make his people easy, in the next place, we expect, that no old claims, which we disavow, or new encrouchments, may be allowed of.t
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Brother-We have now gone through this matter, and we have shewn ourselves ready to give the King whatever we could reasonably spare; we, on our parts, express our regard for him, and we hope for his favor in return. Our words are strong, and our resolutions firm; and we expect that our re- quests will be complied with, inasmuch as we have so gene- rously complied with all that has been desired, as far as was consistent with our interest. A belt.
At a general congress held at Fort Stanwix, with the Six Nations, and other Indians, &c., on Friday, November 4, 1768, Sir William Johnson, addressing himself to them, spoke as follows:
Brothers-I am glad the boundary is at length agreed upon; and as I have great reason to think it will be duly observod by the English. I recommend it to you to preserve it carefully in remembrance; to explain it fully to those that are absent; and to teach it to your children, &c. I now give you this belt, to strengthen, ratify, and confirm the boundary, and all transac- tions necessary thereto. . } belt.
Brothers-I consider your good intentions towards the traders who sustained the losses, and your desire to fulfill all your engagements, as instances of your integrity. I wish that you may, on your parts, carefully remember and faithfully observe
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