USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 10
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Thus far I have thought fit to let you Know my Sentiments on the Behaviour of your Indians, and what might have been Expected from the Persons you employ to confer wt them. It remains that I now tell you what the Resolutions of this Government are, Notwith- standing I press'd, as tho' I were a Stranger to all that I have now remonstrated to you, yet I could not prevail either upon our Council or Assembly to be at the Expence of sending again to Albany to re-
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new the Covenant Chain with your Indians there ; but not the con- trary, They have advised that the Militia of all our Frontier Counties should be more frequently disciplined, and kept in a Readiness to act and to oppose your Indians in case they attempt to march through and annoy our Settlements any more ; So that if your Indian War- riours will continue their Insolence they may soon meet with a Re- buff, for I do assure them they will have to encounter 8 or 900 Men of our Frontier Counties, without bringing any of the Low Land Counties to the Action, and when once the Blow is struck, and We are involved in a Ware with the five Nations, I leave you to consider whether his Majesty will allow your province to stand Newter and carry on your Trade with them.
No man need put me in mind of the ill Consequences which a War is like to bring upon the Out Settlements of all these Governments. I am dreadfully enough possessed with the apprehensions thereof, and for that Reason have now taken the pains to state our Case thus particularly to you, and do earnestly exhort and intreat you heartly to interpose your good offices to put a stop to the dangerous Courses of your Indians this way. I, for my part, shall do my utmost to put off the evil Day, having given Express orders to the Officers of our Militia to endeavour by all fair means to perswade them to march clear of our in habited Plantations, and to be very cautious that our People act not otherwise then upon the defensive; But, You are to understand that in an affair of this Nature, a Governour of Virginia has to steer between Scylla and Charybdis, either an Indian or a Civil War, for the famous Insurrection in this Colony called Bacon's Rebellion, was occasioned purely by the Governour and Council re- fusing to let the People go out against the Indians, who at that time annoyed the Frontiers, and it seems as if the same Humour was again arising in Virginia, for I have this year received divers Remonstrances signed by great numbers of our Inhabitants, wherein they display a multitude of Injuries they daily receive from the Northern Indians, and pray that measures may be taken for repelling their Insolency.
I could add a great deal more Reasoning upon the general Interest of the English with respect to the Indians on the Back of all his Majesty's Plantations on this Continent, and might argue how destructive this Conduct of the ffive Nations is to that Ballance of Power which we Christians ought to preserve among our neighbour- ing Heathen; but I hope I have said enough at this time to induce you to exert the Power which I'm satisfied you must have over your Indians, and to restrain them from infesting these parts any more. So no longer to tire you with this subject, I conclude wt. much Respect,
Sir, your most obedt. humble Servant,
A. SPOTSWOOD.
Then the Governour presented to the Board the Draught of an Answer to the Presidt. of New York's Letter and Propositions above mentioned, in behalf of this Colony, which being read, was with
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some Additions agreed to be a proper Answer on the part of this province, and is as follows :
At a Council held At Philadelpia, March the 22d, 1719.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Governour.
Richard Hill,
Anthony Palmer,
William Trent,
Jonathan Dickinson,
Isaac Norris,
James Logan, Secretary.
Samuel Preston,
Present also David Lloyd, Esqr., Chief Justice at the Govrs. Desire.
The Governour acquainted the Board of his Design to visit the Counties of New Castle, Kent & Sussex upon Delaware, and that He had called the Council together, at this time, to know if any thing occurred to any of the Members of the Board, that might be necessary to be done before his Departure from hence upon his in- tended Journey.
The Governour also desired the Opinion of the Board, whether seeing upon the late Repeal of the Laws for Constituting the Courts of Quarter Sessions, Common Pleas, and of the Supreme or provin- cial Court, it was judged necessary by this Board that new Commis- sions should be issued for holding the said Courts of Quarter Sessions & Common Pleas, and that the time when the said Supreme or pro- vincial Court was appointed to be held by the Law lately repealed was now at hand, it might be necessary to issue new Commissions to the Justices of the said Court ? Which being fully considered and debated, it was the Opinion of the Board, that the Governour should issue new Commissions to the Justices of the said Supreme or pro- vincial Court, authorizing and requiring them to hold a Supreme Court of Law, on the same Days on which the said Court way ap- pointed to be held by the Law lately repealed, And the Chief Justice, at the Governours desire, undertook to prepare a proper Form of such Commissions. Then the Council was adjd.
At a Council held at Philadelpia., June the 8th, 1720.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Governour.
Richard Hill, Jonathan Dickinson,
William Trent,
Colonel John ffrench,
Isaac Norris,
James Logan, Secretary.
Samuel Preston,
The Governour laid before the Board a Petition from several per- sons, Inhabitants on the South side of and adjacent to the River
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Schuylkill, to the Assembly of this Province, which Petition was referred by the Assembly to the Consideration of the Governour & this Board, and complains "That the Petitioners having been for- merly and are this present year rated by the Commissioners and Assessors of the County of Philadelphia, and that now a new De- mand is made upon them by the Officers appointed for collecting the County Rates and Levies within the County of Chester, and praying that a Division Line may be run between the said Counties, and that the Petitioners may be answerable for County Levies only in the County of Philadelphia as formerly," the said Petition was referred . to James Logan, Esqr., Secretary, and one of the Commissioners of Property, to inquire into the Situation and Case of the Petitioners, and to make a Report thereof unto the Board as soon as con- veniently may be. A Resolution of the House of Representatives, dated the 4th day of May last, was laid before the .Board, and read in these words.
May 4, 1720.
Resolved, that considering the present Circumstances of this pro- vince, this House is of opinion, that for the present the Governor be desired to open and hold a Court of Equity for this Province, with the assistance of such of his Council as he shall think fit, except such as have heard the same Cause in any inferiour Court.
A true Copy, Signed by Order,
MAURICE LISLIE, Ck. Synod.
And some Debates arising upon the subject matter of the said Re- solution, being of great Moment and Importance to the Inhabitants of this Colony, it was referred to further Consideration.
Then was read a Representation by the Commissioners and As- sessors or the County of Chester to the Justices of the said County, together with an Address of the said Justices to the honoble the Governour, submitting the Subject matter of the said Representation 'wholly to the Governour's Care and Conduct. The Representation sets forth, that the Commissioners and Assessors of the County of Chester, being by Law impowered to lay Assessments upon the In- habitants of the said County, for defraying the incumbent Charges thereof ; but that a considerable Number of Persons, whose names are thereunto annexed, called the adjacent Inhabitants of the Town- ships of New Garden, who used to be rated by the Commissioners & Assessors of the said County, and paid their respective proportions accordingly, do now refuse to pay the same, because of their being taxed in New Castle county, and threatened to be distrained upon by reason of the Refusal to pay the County Levies to the officers ap- pointed to collect the same within the said County of New Castle ;. and prays that Care may be taken for the Relief of the said Inhabi- tants from the Incursions like to be made upon them by the County of New Castle, in manner aforesaid.
There was also read a Petition of the Shop Keepers and others, Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia, setting forth the Loss they sustain through the practice of the present Master of the Vendue, in selling and retailing at public Vendue Shop Goods to the value
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of one Shilling and under, to the manifest prejudice of the Petition- ers, and praying Relief therein from the Gov. The Consideration of which Petition, because of the Governour's present Indisposition, was deferred till next meeting of the Council.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, July the 12th 1720.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr. Governour.
Richard Hill,
Jonathan Dickinson,
Isaac Norris,
James Logan,
Samuel Preston,
James Logan, Secretary, reported to the Board, That having late- ly acquainted the Governour that he had occasion to go towards the farther End of the Great Valley, on the Road to Conestogoe, the Governour had desired him not to fail to proceed to Susquehannah, and their discourse the Indians concerning their late message to him, excusing their not coming to Town as had been proposed by Reason of some Trouble they were under, through the Loss of some of their men slain by the Southern Indians; and thereupon desiring the Go- vernour to come up to them ; That accordingly he went, and finding the Indians desirous te speak with him, he appointed the 27th of last month, That the Chiefs of the Mingoes or Conestogoe Indians, the Sachim or Chief of the Shawanese, the Chief of the Ganawese, with several of their People, and some of the Delawares, met him on the said Day at John Cartlidges, and being all sate, Peter Bizallion and John Cartlidge, Interpreters, James Logan first spoke to the Indians telling them, That as they had been long expected at Philadelphia, in pursuance of their own Messages for that purpose, but instead of coming had lately sent to the Governour, desiring for some Reasons that he wou'd come up to them; He, their old Friend, with whom they had been acquainted in their Treaties for twenty years past, being now come upon Business into these parts was willing to hear from themselves, not only how it was with them, but the Occasion also of their delaying their Journey to Philadelphia so long, and at length sending the said Message to the Governour. They hereupon sate silent for some time without appearing ready to speak to any thing, and making no Return, the Secretary press'd them to answer him, telling them that he ask'd these Questions in behalf of the Go- vernour and Government, that they themselves had appeared desi- rous to speak to him, and that as they now had an Opportunity they ought to proceed and speak their minds freely. To which at Length they answered, that there had been lately killed by the Southern In- dians twelve men, ten of the Mingoes or five Nations & two Shawa- nese, about one hundred and sixty miles from that place, which was the Occasion of their sending that message. James Logan ask'd them whether these two Shawanese had been abroad hunting, They answered No ! They had gone out to War. He then demanded the Reason why they would offer to go to War, after their Solemn Pro-
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mises to our Government to the contrary. The Chief of the Sha- nawese replied that a Dispute arising among some of their young men, Who was the best man, to end it they resolved to make the Tryal by going out to War, that they could not be restrained, but took the opportunity of accompanying some of the five Nations that were going out and took their Road that way.
The Secretary told them he should have a great deal to say to them on these Heads, and that the Day being now far advanced he must desire them to meet him in the same place in the morning, and then treating them to some Drink they withdrew.
Next morning the same Persons attended, bringing some Bundles of skins with them, From whence it being conjectured that the In- dians designed. to begin a Discourse, All being seated, after some time spent in Silence, the Mingoes or Conestogoe Indians began, a Ganawese Indian, who called hin Captm. Smith, and is said to speak all the several Languages, viz : his own or the Ganawese, the Min- goe, the Shawanese & Delaware, to perfection, being appointed In- terpreter into the Delaware Tongue, and Peter Bizaillon & John Cartlidge interpreting that into English. They spoke as follows, viz :
That the last year Colonel French came to them on a Message from the Governour to inquire into their Health, and how it was with them, their Children and Grand children.
That they were not then ready to give an Answer to all that He said to them, but that now they would speak freely from the bottom of their Hearts, and their Friend might depend on not having words Only but their truest inward Sentiments without Reserve; And then they laid down a Bundle of undrest Deer Skins.
That Colonel French and those with him told them from the Go- vernour, that the message the Governour sent them and the Advice he gave them was from his Heart and for their Good, and they would as freely speak from their Hearts. The Governour advised them to go out no more to War, nor to joyn with any of the five Na- tions or others, that went out for that purpose, but to live at Peace with all People, and if any Prisoners were brought to their Towns, they should not suffer them to be burnt or tortured ; That tho' some of their People were Killed once or again, yet they should not go out but bear it, but the third time they might all go out as one man to- gether; That this they thought was somewhat too hard upon them, if they must be confined as Prisoners at home, and could not go to meet their Enemies that came against them.
That when Governour Penn first held Councils with them, he promised them so much Love and Friendship that he would not call them Brothers, because Brothers might differ, nor Children because these might offend and require Correction, but he would reckon them as one Body, one Blood, one Heart, and one Head; That they al- ways remembered this, and should on their parts act accordingly ; That few of the old men who were at those Councils were living ; These were removed, and those who were then very young are now grown up to succeed, but they transmitted it to their Children, and they and all theirs should remember it forever; That they regarded
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not Reports or what was said abroad, their Head was at Philadel- phia, and they were one with him, on him they depended that they should Know every thing that concerned them.
The Ganawese, in behalf of their People say, They are glad that they never hear any thing from the Govrmt., at Philadelphia, but good Advice and what is for their Advantage ; That their present Chief was once at a Council with William Penn before they removed into this province, and that since they came into it, they have al- ways lived quiet and in Peace, which they acknowledge, and are thankful for it That the Advice that is sent them is always so much for their good that they cannot but gladly receive it. When the Sun sets they sleep in Peace and in Peace they rise with him, and so continue while he continues his course, and think themselves happy in their Frienship, which they shall take Care to have con- tinued from Generation to Generation. . And that as it shall thus forever continue on their side ; So they desire the same may continue on the Governours part, and that if any Reports should be heard concerning them, They desire it may not be believed to their Dis- advantage, for they will still be true and the same they at first pro- fessed themselves, and then lay down a Bundle of Deer Skins. The Conestogoes say, That William Penn made a League with them to last for three or four Generations ; That he is now dead, and most of their ancients are also dead, but the League still remains, and they now take this Opportunity to renew and strengthen it with their ffriend, who has always represented William Penn to them since he left them; One Generation may die, and another may die, but the League of Friendship continues strong and shall forever continue so on their part. And this is not said on behalf of themselves, the Mingoes only, but of all the Indians on the River, And they give another Bundle of Deer Skins. Captain Civility throws down a small Bundle of ffurs and says, that they all joyn and send that as a present to the Gover- nour to make him a Beaver Hatt. They say in behalf of the Gana- wese, that they have no Writing to shew their League of Friendship as the others have, and therefore desire they may be favoured with one lest if they should transgress by Reason of Rum, which is brought to them in too large Quantities, they may be cast off and forgotten that ever they were in ffriendship with us.
The Indians being met again after some Refreshments, the Secre- tary spoke to them as follows :
It must be a great Satisfaction to all honest and good men, to find that the measures that great man, Wm. Penn, took to establish a firm Friendship with you has had such excellent Success. Your Prede- cessors and you always found him sincere in what he professed. He always ordered all those in power during his Absence to shew yon all the like Friendship and affection. Every Governour that came has been the same to you, and the present Governour, Colonel Keith, shewed the same Disposition immediately upon his arrival, by hast- ning up to you with his Council and many of his Friends as soon as he heard you were in Trouble.
You on your parts have been faithful and true to us, whatever Re-
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ports might be spread, yet the Chain was still preserved strong and bright. You never violated it. We have lived in perfect Peace and Unity above any other Government in America, And you renewing the Chain at this time upon the Decease of your great Friend, with us who remain alive, is so affectionate and kind that I shall not fail to represent it duly to the Governour and your good Friends in Phi- ladelphia. This Chain has been made near forty years agoe ; It is at this time strong and bright as ever, and I hope will continue so between our Children and your Children, and their Children's Chil- dren to all Generations, while the water flows or the sun shines in the Heavens ; And may the great Spirit who rules the Heavens and the Earth, and who made and supported us all, who is a ffriend to all good men who love Justice and Peace, continue the same Bless- ing upon it forever.
But my Friends and Brothers, as we are obliged to take Care of each other, and as the English have opportunities of seeing farther than you, I find myself obliged in behalf of our Governour and Go- vernment, to offer you some Advice that may be of great Importance to you, and which at this time is absolutely necessary.
You acquainted me yesterday with a Loss that you had sustained, viz: that twelve men, ten of the five Nations and two Shawanese, had been lately cut off by the Southern Indians not two hundred miles from this place, which grieves my exceedingly.
I am scarcely willing to mention the Cause of it lest I should trouble you, but I must do it for your good ; I should not be your true Friend should I forbear it.
You Know then, my Brothers, that the Cause is, that some of your young men have unadvisedly gone out to War in Company with others of the five Nations against these Southern Indians. Young men love to go sometimes to War to shew their manhood, but they have unhappily gone against Indians that are in friendship with the English. You know, that as of the five Nations some are called Isa- wandowaes, some Cayoogoes, some Onondogees, some Oneyookes, and some Connyingoes, yet they are all one People; So the English, tho' they have different Governments, and are divided into New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsilvania, Mary Land, Virginia and Carolina, yet they are All under one Great King who has twenty times as many Subjects as all these, and has in one City as many Subjects as all the Indians that we know in North America. To him We are all Subject and are all governed by the same Laws ; Therefore, those Indians who are in League with one Government are in League with all; Your Friendship with us recommends you to the Friendship of all other English Governments, and their Friends are our Friends. You must not, thereffore, hunt or annoy any of the English or any of their Friends whatsoever.
Those Southern Indians, especially the Tootelese, formerly made Friendship with you, and I believe it was they who lately sent you nine Belts of Wampum, to continue the League; They desired Peace, yet the five Nations, and some of your rash young men have set upon them ; pray remember, They are men as well as you, con-
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sider therefore, I request you, what you would think of yourselves should you suffer these or any other People to come year after year and cut off your Towns, your. Wives and Children, and those that escape should sit still and not go out against them, You would not then deserve to be accounted men; and as they, you find are men, it is no wonder if they come out to meet these young fellows, and endeavour to destroy those whose business is to destroy them and their Families.
I must further, your friend, lay before you the Consequence of your suffering any of your young men to join with those of the five Nations. They come through your Towns and bring back their pri- soners through your Settlements, Thus they open a clear path from these Southern Indians to your Towns, and they who have been wrong may follow that open path, and first come directly as the path leads to you. Thus you who have done but little, and by the Insti- gation and Advice of others may be the first that are fallen upon, while those of the five Nations are safe at home at a great Distance with their Wives and Children, and you may be the only sufferers.
They have hitherto come out to meet their Enemies who were going to attack them, and like mnen they fight them; but as I am your Friend, I must further inform you that these People would come quite up to your Towns to do the same to you that they have suffered, but your being settled among the English has hitherto pre- served you, for the Governours of Virginia and Carolina can no longer hinder them from defending themselves; They desired Peace, and would live in Peace if it might be granted them.
I must further inform you, as your Friend, that this whole Busi- ness of making War in the manner You do, is now owing to those who desire nothing more than to see all the Indians cut off, as well to the Northward as the Southward, that is the French of Canada, for they would have the five Nations destroy the Southern Indians, and the Southern Indians destroy you and the five Nations, the Destruction of all being their Desire. The Governour told you, by Colo. French, that they were your Enemies who put you upon War, and they are your truest ffrds., who would preserve you in Peace, Hearken to the Advice of your Friends and you will be preserved. You see how your numbers yearly lessen ; I have known above three score men belong to this Town, and now I see not five of the old men remaining.
What the Governour has said to you by himself, and by Colonel French, and what I now say to you is for your own advantage, and if you are your own Friends you will pursue the Advice that is given you. If any of the five Nations come this way in their going out to War, and call on any of you to accompany them, you must inform them as you are in League with us, and are as one People, you can- not break your Promises, and it cannot but be pleasing to them to see you live in such ffriendship with us. I have said enough on these Heads, and you I hope will lay it up in your Hearts and duly observe it; Let it sink into your minds, for it is of great weight.
ยท The Ganawese have behaved themselves well since they came
.
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amongst us, and they shall have what they desire. Your People of Conestogoe, about twenty years agoe, brought the Shawanese with them to Philadelphia, to see and treat with Governour Penn, and then promised the Governour that they would answer for the Shawa- nese that they should live peaceably and in ffriendship with us, but we find their Ears are thick, they do not hear what we say to them, nor regard our Advice.
The Chief of the Shanawese answered to this with a deep concern, that this was occasioned by the Young men who lived under no Government ; That when their King who was then living, Opessah, took the Government upon him, but the People differed with him ; he left them, they had then no Chief, therefore some of them ap- plied to him to take that Charge upon him, but that he had only the Name without any authority, and could do nothing. He coun- selled them, but they would not obey, therefore he cannot answer for them, and Diverse that were present, both English & Indians, con- firmed the Truth of this.
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