USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > An authentic and comprehensive history of Buffalo : with some account of its early inhabitants, both savage and civilized ; comprising historic notices of the Six Nations or Iroquois Indians, including a sketch of the life of Sir William Johnson, and of other prominent white men, long resident among the Senecas ; arranged in chronologial order > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
The principal points of settlement dwelt upon by the Commissioners were to establish a boundary line by which suitable concessions of territory should be made, to
11
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
indemnify the State for the losses sustained and the debts incurred during the war, and the release of all prisoners. The Commissioners also gave assurances that upon mak- ing a satisfactory arrangement in respect to these two subjects, the State would guarantee the Six Nations in the peaceable possession of their lands ; they to give the State the pre-emptive right to purchase said lands when- ever they wished to sell them. In reply to the question of a cession of territory, the Indians said that they, as deputies of the several nations, had been "sent in order to make peace, and that we are not authorized to stipu- late any particular cession of lands." They, however, proposed to recommend it to their respective nations, as they (the deputies) thought it reasonable, and proposed to treat more particularly on that subject as soon as the treaty with the Commissioners of Congress was ended. They also informed the Commissioners that they had al- ready determined that when a general peace was con- cluded, that all prisoners should be liberated and re- stored. The Commissioners then informed the Indians that they intended to set out early in the morning to re- turn home, and therefore now adjourned the Council Fire. The deputies of the four nations, by Capt. Abeel, then made a speech, returning the Commissioners their thanks for the candor, civility and attention with which they had been treated. Major Philip Schuyler was deputed by the Commissioners to remain and attend the council to be held on the 20th with the Commissioners of Congress. He was instructed to "take notes of the daily proceeding ; to find out the objects in view, and where he thought those objects detrimental to the inter- ests of the State, to use his influence to counteract and
12
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
frustrate them." After the adjournment of the council with the New York Commissioners, the Commissioners of Congress, having arrived, proceeded to hold a council with the Six Nations. The Commissioners of Congress were Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler and Arthur Lee. No public or official minutes of the proceedings of this council, it was for a long time supposed, had been pre- served, although the treaty itself became a subject of re- ference and remark oftener than any other treaty ever concluded with the Six Nations, and was made a subject of complaint by the Six Nations, particularly the Sene- cas, ever after, until, through the exertions of Corn- planter, Big Tree and other chiefs, some modification of the terms of it was obtained from President Washington. It is very evident that there was a little friction in the new machinery of government, so far, at least, as In- dian affairs were concerned, at this time ; and there seems to have been no concert of action or unity of feel- ing between the Commissioners of the State, and those of the United States.
In the absence of any official record of the proceed- ings of the treaty at Fort Stanwix held by the Commis- sioners of Congress, it is not entirely clear what chiefs or sachems of the Seneca Nation were present. It has been stated that Red Jacket was one of the representa- tives of the Senecas ; but his name does not appear in the record made by the New York Commissioners at the council with the Six Nations, held at the same time and with the same parties, where the names of the delegates appear in full; but Red Jacket's name is not among them ; and, in the absence of proof on the subject, it is fair to as- sume that he he was not present as one of the deputies
13
LETTER OF THE U. S. COMMISSIONERS.
at the treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1784. It is certain that his name does not appear on the records at that time, while that of Cornplanter and others does ; nor does the name of Sa go ye-wat-ha, or Ska-go-yegh-wat-ha, (Red Jacket) appear upon any record, as a chief or sachem, prior to that date, nor until some years after-say 1789 ..
LETTER OF ARTHUR LEE AND RICHARD BUTLER, UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS, TO THE SACHEMS AND WARRIORS, &c., OF THE ONEIDAS AND TUSCARORAS, ALLIES OF THE. UNITED STATES, AND TRIBES OF THE SIX NATIONS :
BRETHREN :- The late troubles in which we have been mutually involved being happily ended, Congress have thought proper to appoint us Commissioners to transact all kinds of public business between the United States and our brethren, the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, and to. settle a general peace with all the Indian Nations from the Ohio to the great Lakes. We now inform you, by the hand of our messenger and Brother Samuel Kirk- land, and Mr. James Dean, the interpreter and servant of Congress, that we are making every preparation and exertion to expedite a meeting with you. We have late- ly heard that you are called to a treaty by the Governor of New York. We know nothing of his intention or meaning, he not being authorized by Congress. Yet should you be set out to attend that treaty, it would be hard to give the fatigue of another journey ; and, al- though it was our intention that the great council fire of Congress with the Six Nations should be held at Niaga- ra, we will, in order to accommodate you, meet you at
14
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
Fort Stanwix, on the 20th day of September next, where we expect you will certainly. attend.
We are your friends, ARTHUR LEE, RICH'D BUTLER.
NEW YORK, August 18th, 1784.
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
From Col. Butler's Journal.
The site of Rome, in New York, was the scene of a highly important negotiation between Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler and Arthur Lee, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the representatives of the Six Nations, which continued from the 3d to the 22d of October, when the treaty was signed.
On the first day, the Commissioners met several of the Indians from the different nations present at the council- place, and announced their official character and purpose. The usual formula was varied so far as to add that they " proposed to give peace and good council to those who have been unfortunately led astray by evil advisers." It was stated that the head men and warriors of the western nations would attend in a few days, when they would speak more fully. Meanwhile, the Indians were desired to hearken to the voice of Kaayenla, the Marquis Lafayette, a great man among the French, one of the head warriors of the great Onondio, &c. The reply of Kayenthogla, an Allegany chief of the Senecas, was dig- nified and courteous, responding appropriately to every topic of the Commissioners' address, except the sugges-
15
TREATY WITH THE U. S. COMMISSIONERS.
tion that the Indians had been " unfortunately led astray by evil advisers."
Most of the time till the 11th of October was occupied by efforts to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors to the Indians. The Commissioners directed Lieut. John Mercer, who attended them with a detachment of New Jersey troops by resolution of Congress, to seize and store all spiritous liquors until the conclusion of the treaty. For the execution of this order, a writ from the court of Montgomery county was issued for his (Lieut. Mercer's) arrest, but the Commissioners would not suffer any compliance with its mandate.
Another collision, which might have been more seri- ous, took place before the Indians were fully assembled. The State of New York had already manifested a dispo- sition to expel the Six Nations from their country within the bounds of the State, which had not been ceded by them previous to the war. This state of feeling had created much concern in Congress and elsewhere, and the Commissioners were probably prepared for some an- noyance, if not opposition, in the discharge of their duties. In a letter to the President of Congress, dated Fort Stanwix, Oct. 5th, they state that, notwithstanding due notice to the Governor of New York that he might transact any business with Indians under the patronage of the United States, the Governor chose to hold a separate treaty with the Six Nations. This procedure is contrasted with the course of Pennsylvania, whose Com- missioners were in attendance with credentials entirely satisfactory to the Continental Commissioners.
It happened that a Mr. Peter Schuyler was present at Fort Stanwix, andy soon attracted the attention of the
16
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
Commissioners. He also assumed an official character, and was notified, on the 6th of October, to desist from all interference with the Indians.
Schuyler produced a paper to the Secretary of the Commission, of which no particulars are given, except that it was without seal or signature, and directed the said Peter Schuyler, together with one Peter Rightman, (Ryckman) as an interpreter, to attend at Fort Stanwix during the time of the Commissioners of the United States holding their treaty with the Indians, to observe the conduct of the said Commissioners, and to oppose and frustrate any of their proceedings which might eventually effect the interests of the State of New York. After this was discovered, particular care was taken to include Messrs. Schuyler and Rightman in the liquor ordinance, and to exclude them from the councils.
On the 12th of October, the Commissioners made an address to the sachems and warriors, in which they asserted their authority from the Congress of the United States to treat with the Indian Nations, and that the lat- ter should not listen to any overtures made by any per- son or body of men, or by any particular State not au- thorized by Congress ; exhibiting the definitive treaty between the United States and the King of Great Brit- ain ; expressing the readiness of Congress to give peace to the Indian Nations, upon just and reasonable terms, and to receive them into the friendship, favor and pro- tection of the United States. They also called particular attention to the article whereby the King of Great Brit- ain " renounces and yields to the United States all pre- tensions and claims whatsoever of all the country south and west of the great northern rivers and lakes, as far as
17
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
the Mississippi, making no reservation in favor of any Indian nation, but leaving those tribes to seek for peace with the United States, upon such terms as the United States shall think just and reasonable ; " and after im- pressing upon them that the delivery of all prisoners, white and black, was essential to any peace, the Com- missioners closed by asking the tribes present at the council to propose such a boundary line between the United States and themselves as would be just for them to offer and the United States to accept. It was inti- mated to the American allies, the Oneidas, the Tuscaro- ras and Caughnawagas, that the foregoing address was not intended for them.
2
CHAPTER II.
" At the opening of the session, Capt. Aaron Hill, a Mohawk, who had but just arrived, explained that his tribe had frequent messages from the Governor of New York to meet him in council, but they were unwilling to partake in any but a continental treaty ; and the message of the Commissioners of the United States had been re- ceived so recently that it was difficult for many to attend, and impossible to deliver the prisoners at this time ; but Capt. Brant would instantly collect and send down the latter. He added that numbers of their brothers to the westward, the Wyandots in particular, had returned home, by reason of the advanced season of the year, after coming as far as Niagara, so that themselves and their brothers, the Shawnees, were present. Capt. O'Bail was then recognized by the Commissioners as authorized to transact business with the United States, on behalf of six towns.
"It was not until the 17th of October that the assembled Indians were ready to reply. Capt. Aaron Hill first spoke.
SPEECH OF CAPT. AARON HILL, A MOHAWK, AT THE TREATY OF FORT STANWIX, OCTOBER 17TH, 1784.
" After intimating that they could not answer so fully
19
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
and satisfactorily as they might do if a copy of the Commissioner's speech had been furnished them, allu- sion was made to the statement that the council fire was kindled for the purpose of settling all differences and disputes between the United States and the Indian nations. The speaker begged attention to the words of the warriors, and thus proceeded :
"The words of the warriors are strong. They are persons who have so traveled through the world, and borne all the difficulties of the war, that it is in their power to make a lasting peace. You told us that it was solely on us to make peace, but we apprehend it is mutually dependant upon both parties. I speak in the name of the Six Nations, and not only in their name, but also in the name of all the other tribes ; my voice is therefore strong. Our minds are deep and persevering, and our wish for peace is great. We are neither haughty nor proud ; nor is it our disposition of ourselves to com- mence hostilities. Our adherence to our covenant with the Great King drew us into the late war, which is a great proof to the Commissioners of our strict observ- ance of our ancient covenant with the white people ; and you will find the same attachment to the covenant now to be made, as that which signalized our conduct during the late war. We are free and independent, and at present under no influence. We have hitherto been bound by the Great King, but he having broken the chain and left us to ourselves, we are again free and in- dependent." Recapitulating, without dissent, the points of the Commissioner's speech, in respect to their exclu- sive authority to conclude a treaty, and the terms of peace between the United States and Great Britain, the
20
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
orator feelingly remarked : "You also assured us that the Great King, in settling this peace with the United States, made no mention of us, but left us to treat for ourselves. Certainly, the Great King did not look to the Great Spirit, which he had called as a witness to that treaty; otherwise, common justice would not have suffered him to be so inattentive as to neglect those who had been so faithful and just to him ; and we think that our brothers of the United States did not think of the Great Spirit ; otherwise, they would have mentioned to the Great King those persons who had been so faithful to him, when they found he had entirely neglected them." The speaker claimed that the Indians present were adequate to treat upon and conclude a peace, not only on the part of the Six Nations, but also on that of the Ottawas, Chippewas, Hurons, Potowatomies, Massa- sagas, Miamis, Delawares, Shawnees, Cherokees, Chick- asaws, Chocktaws and Creeks ; and said : "You ac- quainted us that the King of France had ceded to the United States all claim and title to any lands within their boundary. We have only to thank the Great Spirit for putting it into the mind of the King of France to make this cession, as it is well known that he is ex- tremely saving of his lands, and that the United States are in great want of them.
" You informed us that it was indispensably essential to the making of peace that all the prisoners should be delivered up, and that nothing could be done therein until that should be the case. We would propose to the Commissioners that, for this purpose, they should depute persons of their own nation to go and collect them ; lest, if it should rest with us, the Commissioners might ap-
. 00
21
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
prehend that they were not all brought ; and, for this purpose, we will give them all the assistance in our power."
On the following day, the 18th, Cornplanter, or Capt. O'Bail, resumed and closed the speech in behalf of the Six Nations.
After an unsatisfactory attempt to explain the conduct of his own tribe, the Senecas, in joining the British, after their repeated pledges to observe a neutrality, Corn- planter approached the boundary question, which he treated with consummate tact. That entire portion is here given :
" BROTHERS, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES :- You have allotted to me the task of drawing a line between us to your satisfaction. I feel the weight of it. I feel for many of my brothers who will be left destitute of any lands; and have therefore taken care of my deliberations, to mark out the line which will give peace to both our minds. I hope that in our present ne- gotiations, nothing but friendship will prevail; and I am fully sensible that you will never conduct yourselves toward us as the King of Great Britain has in throwing us away. Brothers, Commissioners of the Thirteen States, now hearken : When we shall have drawn the ' line between us, whatever shall remain within the boundary allotted to us shall be our own ; it shall con- tinue forever, as the sun rolls over from day to day.
" Brothers, Commissioners of the Thirteen United States, let us go on with this business of peace with ten- derness and caution, as it is of the utmost importance ; and should what I now say not meet with a kind recep- tion into your breasts, it will greatly distress me ; for I,
22
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
who stand before you, am a warrior; and should it not meet your approbation, inform me whilst I am here.
"Brothers, I have several times repeated the words, to proceed tenderly in this business ; for I regard future generations, and to them I attend while engaged in mak- ing peace with you. Our fires will be a considerable distance from each other, when I come to describe the boundary line between us. This will tend to our mutual peace.
"I think, brothers, that we warriors must have a large country to range in, as, indeed, our subsistence must de - pend on our having much hunting ground ; and, as it will also bring in money to you, will tend to our mutual advantage. Now, brothers, I am about to draw the line. This we Senecas do for ourselves, as the land be- longs solely to us. Let it begin at Tioga, and run thence by a straight line, inclining a little to the north, to Ohigee, and when it strikes the Ohio River, let it go down its stream to the old boundary on the Cherokee River. As to the territory to the westward of that, you must talk respecting it with the western nations toward the setting of the sun ; they must consult of what part they will cede to the United States.
" Brothers, should you approve of this boundary, you will direct your people not to trespass upon our territory, or pass over the line; and should any of our nation at- tempt to pass over or intrude upon your lands, let us know it; we will take care to reprimand them and pre- vent it.
" Brothers, by this belt you now see my mind. If what I have mentioned be approved by you, lay it along the Tioga, as I have said ; if not, again I request you to inform me."
23
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
On the 20th of October, the Commissioners replied to Hill and Cornplanter. No part of this speech is omitted :
"SACHEMS AND WARRIORS :- We are now going to re- ply to the answer you made to our speech ; therefore, open your ears and hear :
"You informed us that your words were not the words of the Six Nations only, but those of all the western nations of Indians. This surprises us. We summoned the Six Nations only to this treaty. That nations not called should send their voices hither is extraordinary. But you have not shown us any authority, either in writing or by belts, for your speaking in their names. Without such authority, your words will pass away like the winds of yesterday, that are heard no more.
" You have complained that we refused you a copy of our speech, which might lead you into errors. When we refused it, we gave our reason, which was this : that having explained our minds publicly and clearly to you all, and given belts and strings to remind you of every proposition, we did not choose you to be deceived, and our meaning to be misrepresented by the few persons among you who understand English, and might have explained our speech, if we had given a copy of it, as they pleased. We knew there were such persons among you, who wished to deceive you, and under the direction of those who led you into the war against us, were planning to mislead you again for their own purposes. We did not wish to put you into the power of such per- sons, but to clear your eyes and understanding. We ex- plained, at your desire, over and over again, our speech
ยท
24
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
to "you, and the strings and belts, which accompanied every part of it.
" You next excuse your having taken up arms against us, by alleging that you were drawn into it by your an- cient covenant with the King of England. Where was your sense of covenants when, after solemnly covenant- ing with us in 1775, and again as solemnly in 1776 - receiving our presents to cover you, to comfort and to . strengthen you - immediately you took up the hatchet against us, and struck us with all your might? Could you have so soon forgotten your recent engagements with us, and yet be influenced by those long past with the King of England ? We asked you, we exhorted you, for you own sakes to remain neutre. Though, as living on the same ground with us, we had a right to expect your assistance against all invaders, you twice solemnly covenanted not to join in the war against us ; and with- out the smallest provocation on our part, you violated your covenants and spilt our blood.
"We should not have called to mind this conduct had you not attempted to justify it. You must not deceive yourselves, or hope to deceive us. To justify errors, may lead to a recommission of them ; and it will be more safe and honorable to repent of than to palliate a conduct which, though mischievous to us, has been fatal to you, and has left you at our mercy.
" Again, you are mistaken in supposing that, having been excluded from the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, you are become a free and independ- ent nation, and may make what terms you please. It is not so. You are a subdued people. You have been overcome in a war which you entered into with us - not
25
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
only without provocation, but in violation of most sacred obligations. The Great Spirit, who is at the same time the judge and avenger of perfidy, has given us victory over all our enemies. We are at peace with all but you. You now stand out alone against our whole force.
" We offer you peace on moderate terms ; we do it in magnanimity and mercy. If you do not accept it now, you are not to expect a repetition of such offers. Con- sider well, therefore, your situation and ours. Do not suffer yourselves to be again deceived, so as to raise our arm against you. You feel the sad effects of having re- fused this counsel before ; beware how you do it again. Compassionating your situation, we endeavor to make the terms on which you are to be admitted into the peace and protection of the United States, appear to spring from your own contrition for what you have done, rather than from a necessity imposed by us. We there- fore proposed to you to deliver up the prisoners, and to propose a boundary line such as it became the United States to agree to.
" On neither of these points have you given us the smallest satisfaction. You propose we should depu- tize people of our own nation to go and collect the pris- oners. This, you know from experience, is impractica- ble; that it would only provoke insults, and perhaps the murder of such deputation, by the persons who hold our fellow-citizens in bondage. You, only, can collect them ; must collect and deliver them up. Our words are strong, and we mean that you should feel them. With regard to the boundary line you have proposed, the lands to the north-west of it have almost all been sold to Onas, and all the land south-east of it, to the Cherokee
26
HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
River, was sold by you in the year 1768, at this place, and is all granted and settled by the white people. We shall now, therefore, declare to you the condition on which alone you can be received into the peace and pro- tection of the United States.
"The conditions are these: The United States of America will give peace to the Senecas, Mohawks, On- ondagas and Cayugas, and receive them into their pro- tection, upon the following conditions :
ARTICLES OF A TREATY CONCLUDED AT FORT STANWIX ON THE 22D DAY OF OCTOBER, 1784, BETWEEN OLIVER WOLCOTT, RICHARD BUTLER AND ARTHUR LEE, COMMISSIONERS PLENI- POTENTIARY FROM THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS AS- SEMBLED, ON THE ONE PART, AND THE SACHEMS AND WAR- RIORS OF THE SIX NATIONS ON THE OTHER.
The United States of America will give peace to the Senecas, Mohawks, Onondagas and Cayugas, and receive them into their protection, upon the following conditions :
ARTICLE I. Six hostages shall be immediately deliv- ered to the said Commissioners by the said Nations, to remain in possession of the United States till all the prisoners, white and black, which were taken by the said Senecas, Mohawks, Onondagas and Cayugas, or by any of them, in the late war, from among the people of the United States, shall be delivered up.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.