USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV > Part 77
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Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
Canassatego in return spoke as follows :
"Brother Onas, Assaraquoa, and Tocarry-ho-gan-
"We return you thanks for your several Speeches, which are very agreeable to us. They contain matters of great moment; that we propose to give them a very Serious consideration, and to an- swer them Suitably to their Worth and Excellence, and this will take till To-morrow Morning, and when we are ready we will give you due Notice.
" You tell us you beat the French; if so you must have taken a great deal of Rum from them, and can the better spare us some of that Liquor to make us rejoice with you in the Victory."
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The Governor and Commissioners order'd a Dram of Rum to be given to each in a smal Glass, calling it A French Glass.
In the Court House at Lancaster, July the 4th, 1744, A. M. PRESENT :
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esq"., Governor, &ca.
· The Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia.
The Honourable the Commissioners of Maryland.
The Deputies of the Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser, Interpreter.
Canassatego, Speaker.
" Brother Onas :
"Yesterday you expressed your satisfaction in having been In- strumental to our meeting with Our Brethren of Virginia and Maryland. We in return assure you that we have great Pleasure in this Meeting, and thank you for the Part you had in bringing us together in order to create a good Understanding and to clear the Road; and in token of Our Gratitude We present you with this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
" Brother Onas :
"You was pleased Yesterday to inform us 'That War had been Declared between the Great King of England and the French King; that two Great Battles' had been fought, one by Land and the other at Sea, with many other particulars.' We are glad to hear the Arms of the King of England were Successfull, and take part with you in your Joy on this Occasion. You then came nearer home and told us ' You had left your House and were come thus far on behalf of the whole People of Pennsylvania to see us, to renew our Treaties, to brighten the Covenant Chain, and to confirm your Friendship with us.' We approve this Proposition; we thank you for it. We own with Pleasure that the Covenant Chain between Us and Pennsylvania is of Old Standing, and has never Contracted any Rust; we wish it may always continue as bright as it has done hitherto; and in token of the Sincerity of our Wishes we present you with this Belt of Wampum."
Which was received with the Jo-hah.
" Brother Onas :
" You was pleased Yesterday to remind us of Our Mutual Obli- gation to assist each other in case of a War with the French, and to repeat the Substance of what we ought to do by Our Treaties with you; and that as a War had been already entered into with the
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French, you called upon us to assist you, and not to suffer the French to March through our Country to disturb any of your Set- tlements.
" In answer, We assure you We have all these particulars in our Hearts ; they are fresh in our Memory. We shall never forget that You and we have but one Heart, one Head, one Eye, one Ear, and one Hand; We shall have all your Country under our Eye, and take all the care we can to prevent any Enemy from coming into it ; and in proof of our Care, we must inform you that before we came here we told *Onantio, our Father, as he is called, that neither he nor any of His people should come through our Country to hurt our Brethren the English, or any of the Settlements belong- ing to them ; there was room enough at Sea to fight ; there he might do what he pleased, but he should come upon our Land to do any Damage to Our Bretheren, And you' may depend upon our using our utmost care to see this effectually done ; and in token of our Sincerity we present you with this Belt of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
After some little time the Interpreter said, Canassotego had for- got something Material, and desired to mend his Speech, and to do so as often as he should omitt any thing of Moment, and thereupon he added :
"The Six Nations have a great Authority and Influence over sundry Tribes of Indians in Alliance with the French, and particu- larly over the Praying Indians, formerly a part with ourselves, who stand in the very gates of the French, and to shew our Further care, we have engaged these very Indians, and other Indian Allies of the French, for you. They will not join the French against you. They have agreed with us before we set out. We have put the Spirit of Antipathy against the French in those People. Our In- terest is very Considerable with them and many other Nations, and as far as ever it extends we shall use it for your Service."
The Governor said, Canassatego did well to mend his Speech; he might always do it when ever his Memory should fail him in any Point of Consequence, and he thank him for the very agreeable Addition.
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" You told us Yesterday that all Disputes with you being now at an End, you desired to confirm all former Treaties between Vir- ginia and Us, and to make our Chain of Union as bright as the Sun.
" We agree very Heartily with you in these Propositions; we thank your good Inclinations ; we desire you will pay no regaird to any Idle Stories that may be told to our Prejudice, and as the Dis-
*Onantio, the Governor of Canada.
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pute about the Lands is now entirely over, and we perfectly recon- ciled, we hope for the future we shall not Act towards each other but as becomes Brethren and Hearty Friends.
" We are willing to renew the Friendship with you, and to make it as firm as possible for us and our Children, with you and your Children to the latest Generation, and we desire you will imprint these Engagements on your Hearts in the Strongest manner; and in confirmation that we shall do the same we give you this Belt of Wampum."
Which was received with Jo-hah from the Interpreter & all the Nations.
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" You did let us know yesterday that tho' you had been dis- apointed in your Endeavours to bring about a Peace between us and the Catawbas, yet you would still do the best to bring such a thing about. We are well pleased with your Design, and the more so as we hear you know what sort of People the Catawbas are-that they are spitefull and Offensive, and have Treated us Contemptuously. We are glad you know these things of the Catawbas. We believe what you say to be true, that there are, notwithstanding, some amongst them who are Wiser and better; and, as you say, they are your Brethren and belong to the Great King over the Water, we shall not be against a Peace on reasonable Terms provided they will come to the Northward to Treat about it. In Confirmation of what we say, and to encourage you in your Undertaking, we give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremonys.
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" You told us likewise you had a Great House Provided for the Education of Youth, and that there were several white People and Indian Children there to learn languages and to write and read, and invited us to send some of our Children among you, &ca.
" We must let you know we love our Children too well to send them so great a way, and the Indians are not inclined to give their Children learning. We allow it to be good, and we thank you for your Invitation ; but our Customs differing from your's you will be so good as to excuse us.
" We hope Tarachawagon* will be preserved by the Good Spirit to a good old age. When he is gone under Ground it will then be time enough to look out for another; and no Doubt amongst so many Thousands as there are in the World one such Man may be found who will serve both Parties with the same Fidelity as Tarachawagon does ; while he lives there is no room to complain. In token of our
* Tarachawagon, Conrad Weiser.
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Thankfulness for your Invitation we give you this String of Wam- pum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
"Brother Tocarry-hogan :
"You told us yesterday that since there was now nothing in Con- troversie between us, and the Affair of the Land was Settled to your satisfaction, you would now brighten the Chain of Friendship which hath Subsisted between you and us ever since we became Brethren. We are well pleased with the Proposition, and we thank you for it. We also are inclined to renew all Treaties and keep a good Corre- spondence with you. You told us further, if ever we should perceive the Chain had Contracted any Rust to let you know and you would take care to take the Rust out, and preserve it bright. We agree with you in this, and shall, on our Parts, do every thing to preserve a good Understanding, and to live in the same Friendship with you as with our Brothers Onas and Assaraquoa; in Confirmation whereof we give you this Belt of Wampum."
On which the usual Cry of Yo-hah was given.
" Brethren :
" We have now finished our Answer to what you said to us Yes- terday, and shall now proceed to Indian Affairs that are not of so General a Concern.
" Brother Assaraquoa :
"There lives a Nation of Indians on the other side of your Country, the Tuscaroraes, who are our Friends, and with whom we hold Correspondence; but the Road between us and them has been stopped for some time on Account of the Misbehaviour of some of Our Warriors. We have open'd a New Road for our Warriors and they shall keep to that; but as that would be inconvenient for Mes- sengers going to the Tuscaroraes we desire they may go the old Road. We frequently send Messengers to one another, and shall have more Occasion to do so now that we have concluded a Peace with the Cherikees. To enforce our Request we give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Cry of Approbation.
"Brother Assaraquoa :
" Among these Tuscaroraes there live a few families of the Conoy Indians who are desirous to leave them and to remove to the rest of their Nation among us, and the Straight Road from them to Us lyes through the Middle of your Country. We desire you will give them free passage through Virginia, and furnish them with Passes; and to enforce our Request we give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Cry of Approbation.
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"Brother Onas, Assaraquoa, and Tocarry-hogan :
"At the close of your respective Speeches Yesterday you made us very handsome Presents, and we should return you something suitable to your Generosity; but, alas, we are poor, and shall ever · remain so long as there are so many Indian Traders among us. Their's and the white People's Cattle have eat up all the Grass, and made Deer Scarce. However, we have Provided a Small Present for you, and tho' some of you gave us more than others, yet as you are all equally Our Brethren, we shall leave it to you to divide it as you Please." And then presented Three Bundles of Skins which were received with the usual Ceremony from the three Govern- ments.
" We have one thing further to say, and that is We heartily re- commend Union and a Good Agreement between you our Brethren. Never disagree, but preserve a strict Friendship for one another, and thereby you as well as we will become the Stronger.
" Our wise Forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations ; this has made us formidable, this has given us great weight and Authority with our Neighboring Nations.
"We are a Powerfull confederacy, and by your observing the same Methods our wise Forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh Strength and Power; therefore, whatever befalls you, never fall out with one another."
The Governor replied :
" The Honourable Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland have desired me to Speak for them, therefore I, in behalf of those Gov- ernments as well as of the Province of Pennsylvania, return you thanks for the many Proofs you have given in your Speeches of your Zeal for the Service of your Brethren the English, and in particular for your having so Early engaged in a Neutrality the Several Tribes of Indians in the French Alliance. We do not Doubt but you will faithfully Discharge your Promises. As to your Presents, we never estimate these things by their Real Worth, but by the Disposition of the Giver. In this Light we accept them with Great Pleasure, and put a high value upon them. We are obliged to you for Recommending Peace and Good Agreement amongst ourselves. We are all Subjects as well as you of the Great King beyond the Water, and in Duty to his Majesty and from the good Affection we bear to each other, as well as from a regard to our Interests, we shall always be inclined to live in Friendship."
Then the Commissioners of Virginia presented the Hundred Pounds in Gold, together with a Paper containing a Promise to re- commend the Six Nations for further favor to the King, which they received with Yo-hah, and the Paper was given by them to Conrad Weiser to keep for them. The Commissioners likewise Promised that their publick Messengers should not be Molested in their Pas-
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sage through Virginia, and that they would prepare Passes for such of the Conoy Indians as were willing to remove to the Northward.
Then the Commissioners of Maryland presented their Hundred pounds in Gold, Which was likewise received with the Yo-hah.
Canassatego said, " We mentioned to You Yesterday the Booty you had taken from the French, and asked you for some of the Rum, which we supposed to be part of it, and you gave us some, but it turned out unfortunately that you gave us it in French Glasses, we desire now You will give us some in English Glasses."
The Governor made answer, "We are glad to hear you have such a Dislike for what is French. They cheat you in your Glasses as well as in every thing else. You must Consider we are at a Dis- tance from Williamsburg, Annapolis, and Philadelphia, where our Rum Stores are, and that altho' we brought up a good quantity with us, you have almost drank it out; but notwithstanding this, we have enough left to fill our English Glasses, and will Shew the Difference between the Narrowness of the French and the Generosity of the English towards you."
The Indians gave in their Order five Yo-hahs, and the Honourable Governor and Commissioners calling for some Rum and some mid- dle-Sized Wine Glasses drank Health to the Great King of England and the Six Nations, and put an End to the Treaty by three loud Huzza's, in which all the Company Joined.
In the Evening the Governor went to take his leave of the In- dians, and presenting them with a String of Wampum he told them that was in return for one he had received of them, with a Message to desire the Governor of Virginia to suffer their Warriors to go through Virginia unmolested, which was rendred unnecessary by the Present Treaty.
Then presenting them with another String of Wampum, he told them that was in return for their's, praying him that as they had taken away one Part of Conrad Weiser's Beard, which frightned their Children, he would please to take away the other, which he had ordered to be done.
The Indians received these two Strings of Wampum with the usual Yo-hah.
The Governor then asked them what was the reason that more of the Shawanaes from their Town on Hohio, were not at the Treaty? But seeing that it would require a Council in Form, and perhaps another day to give an answer, he desired they would give answer to Conrad Weiser upon the Road on their Return Home, for he was to Set out to Philadelphia the next Morning.
Canassatego in Conclusion spoke as follows :
"We have been hindred by a great deal of Bussiness from wait- ing on you to have some private Conversation with you, chiefly to
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enquire after the Health of Onas beyond the Water; we desire you will tell them we have a grateful Senso of all their Kindness for the Indians. Brother Onas told us when he went away he would not stay long from us; we think it is a great while, and want to know when we may expect him, and desire when You write You will re- commend us heartily to him ;" which the Governor promised to do, and then took his leave of them.
The Commissioners of Virginia gave Canassatego a Scarlet Camblet Coat, and took their leave of them in form, and at the same time delivered their Passes to them, according to their Request.
The Commissioners of Maryland presented Gachradodow with a Broad Gold-laced Hat, and took their leave of them in the same manner.
At a Council held at Philadelphia the 31st July, 1744. PRESENT :
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Clement Plumsted,
Thomas Laurence,
Samuel Hasell,
Ralph Assheton, Esqrs.
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved.
The Governor laid before the Board the Draught of a Message to the Assembly, which was read and approved, and is as follows :
" Gentlemen-
"Since your last adjournment, his Majesty's Declaration of War against the French King has, by his Command, been published here, and a Proclamation been issued by me, with the Advice of the Council, requiring all Persons under my Government able to bear Arms forthwith to provide themselves with them, that they may be in a good condition not only to defend this his Majesty's Province, their own Persons, Families, and Estates, but to attack the Enemy in case it shall be required of them. Lists of such as are thought the best qualify'd in the several counties to discipline the Inhabit- ants, are preparing, and Commissions will be made out for them with all convenient dispatch. This my Journey to Lancaster to meet the Indians prevented my doing sooner, and is all that is at present in my Power to do. The providing a Magazine of Arms and Ammu- nition to be ready for all exigencies, lies upon the Assembly, and it is the Duty of the Legislature to render the Strength we have useful to the King, our neighbours, and ourselves, by a Law for settling and regulating a Militia agreeable to the Practice in all other His Majesty's Colonies. Without a Law for this Purpose, my Com- missions will carry no authority with them (if Persons should be VOL. IV .- 47.
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found to accept of them), as the Inhabitants will not appear at any certain stated times for their Instruction in Military Discipline, nor provide themselves with Arms or Ammunition. Nor without such a Law will it be possible to draw them together to repel an Invasion upon this Province, or to send Assistance to New York, or any other of our Neighbors, in case they should be attacked. We have not now the Slothful Spaniard only to deal with. The French are an active, enterprizing Enemy, and however quiet we are at present, or how- ever secure we may now think ourselves, it is not to be doubted but they are Meditating a Blow to be struck where they think it may be done with the least Danger and most advantage to themselves. But whether this be so or not, it is right to Suspect them, and the best Policy to be always upon our Guard. I, for my Part, shall be willing to pass any Bill that shall be laid before me for the pur- poses I have mentioned, and as readily agree to any Resonable Indulgence to such as are Religiously persuaded against bearing Arms.
" I have it likewise in Command from his Majesty to do every thing in my Power to encourage the fitting out Ships to act as Pri- vateers against the Enemy. This I have done from a Principle of Obedience ; but whoever reflects on the Increase of the French Trade in America, and at the same time on the Great Accession of People to His Majesty's Northern Colonies since the last War, and the Materials they are furnished with for Building and equip- ping Private Ships of War for distressing the French in their Set- tlements, Trade, and Commerce, will be convinced that His Majesty has well considered the Interest of his Subjects in these Orders, and that Success in the Execution of them may have great effects even towards bringing the Enemy to Reason, and the War to a Speedy end. I shall but just hint to you that our having a Number of Men and Vessels equipped for Service as Privateers, since some of them will probably be alwise in Port, may likewise be greatly for the Security of this City in case of an attempt upon it by the Privateers of the Enemy. This part of the King's Dispatches leads me to ask you, what is to be done with any French Prisoners that shall be brought hither? How are they to be maintained ? And how am I to be furnished with a Guard for Securing them in Prison here, or for escorting them to the Prisons in the Country ? For it will not be prudent or safe either to allow them to walk at Large, or to keep any number of them in the Prison of a Town Circum- stanced as this is. If you make a Provision for them at the Expence of the Publick, Some of them may be sent away by every Vessel Bound to England, or other Parts of Europe, and some re- served in different Prisons in the Country, for recovering the Liberty of such of our Country-men as may have the Misfortune to fall into the Enemies' Hands; But if you refuse to do this, our Privateers, to avoid the Expence of maintaining Prisoners here, will of Course set them on shore in some remote Parts of the French Settle-
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ments, where the Sailors of the French Merchantmen will com- mence Privateers upon his Majesty's Subjects, and our Country- men will languish in the French Prisons for want of French' Pri- soners to exchange for them. These are matters worthy of your most serious Consideration, and I hope you will enable me to Act in such a Manner as may be for the good of your fellow-subjects in general, and as may Conceal from an Observing Enemy the Weak. side of your own Country in particular.
" I have now something more agreeable to lay before you, the Treaty with the Indians of the Six Nations at Lancaster. You will see that they have made a Solemn Renewal of their Friendship with us, and have given me the strongest assurances that they will not suffer the French or any Indians in Alliance with them to march through their Country to disturb any of our settlements, and that they will give us notice of any Designs that may be formed against us by the Enemy, so as they shall come to the Knowledge of them. They have likewise promised to send down some of the Delaware Chiefs with the two Indians present at the Murder of Armstrong and his two Men, for their Examination. Their differences with Virginia and Maryland are also happily accommodated, which must be a very sensible pleasure to every man in the Province, consider- ing that otherwise we should have been unavoidably involved in the Quarrel. The Invitations to the Treaty having been from those two Governments, I did not think it reasonable that any Part of the Expence of Entertaining the Indians should fall upon Pennsyl- vania. As to the Expence of my Journey, they were such as be- came the Character I was to maintain; I should have been better pleased if I could have lessened them with Credit to the Province.
Observing that there was but one of the Shawonese from their principal Town upon Ohio at the Treaty, I set a-foot an Enquiry into the Reason of it; and I have been since informed that the Six Nations and the Shawonese are far from being on Good Terms, and that the latter have been endeavouring to draw the Delawares from Shamokin to Ohio, from whence the Six Nations entertain a Jealousy of some ill designs; and it is Whispered amongst them, that should they be obliged to take part in the War between us and the French, they will have the Shawonese and perhaps the Delawares also to Oppose them. As our Influence may have some effect on the Delawares to prevent their Removal to Ohio, it is for- tunate that some of their Chiefs are coming down. The Shawonese sent me word the two last summers that they designed me a Visit ; but altho' I returned them a very kind Invitation in writing by the same Messengers, they did not come. And indeed it is ob- servable that the Closer our Union has been with the Six Nations the greater distance they have kept from us. I wish any method could be fallen upon to secure them effectually to the British In- terest, as they lie upon one Part of our Frontiers, and our most
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valuable Trade for Skins is with them; but considering their Fre- quent intercourse with the French and their Inconstancy, I almost despair of it.
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" I cannot but be apprehensive that the Indian Trade as it is now carry'd on will involve us in some fatal Quarrel with the Indians. Our Traders in Defiance of the Law carry Spirituous Liquors amongst them, and take the Advantage of their inordinate Appetite for it to cheat them of their Skins and their Wampum, which is their Money, and often to bebauch their Wives into the Bargain. Is it to be wondered at then, if when they Recover from the Drunken fit they should take severe Revenges. I shall do all that lies in my Power to prevent these Abuses by ordering a Strict Observance of the Law relating to Licenses, and the rigidest Prosecutions against such as shall be discovered to Sell Rum to the Indians. But I am Sensible these will avail but little, the ill practices of these people being carry'd on in the Woods, and at such a Distance from the Seat of Government that it will be very difficult to get Evidences to Con- vict them. If I am Rightly informed, the like abuses of the Traders in New England were the principal Causes of the Indian Wars there, and at length Obliged the Government to take the Trade into its own Hands. This is a matter that well deserves your Attention, and perhaps will soon require your imitation.
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