USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 52
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A String.
" Brethren :
"You have informed us that you are sent by the Governor and wise Men of Pennsylvania, to hear whatever may pass at this Coun- cil; We are glad to hear you say you had made the Road clear and smooth as you came along, and that you have brought to us the Chain of Friendship in your Hands, from our Brethren, the wise Men of Pennsylvania. This has dispersed the dark Clouds of Night which hung over our Heads on account of many late Mis- fortunes which have happened, and brought to us the light of the clear Day. You have, no Doubt, heard of many bad Reports of Mischief, which have made an ill impression on your Minds against us; we now remove them quite away, and make your Hearts easy like those of your wise Forefathers. We also clear the Road on our Parts, that when you set off you may travel it back with Plea- sure to your Council House at Philadelphia, which I Likewise sweep clean, that your wise men, when you return, may sit down in it with satisfaction and Comfort, and look back upon us, their Brethren, remembering that we have not forgot our antient Friendship.
" Brethren :
" We have now, on all sides, cleared and made smooth the Road between you and us, and we desire you on your parts to be strong, and not suffer any of your Soldiers to Travel it, who carry sharp edged Weapons with them, as that may injure the Friendship sub- sisting between us."
A Belt.
Mr. Croghan then acquainted the Indians that the Commissioners of Pennsylvania and he would take the above Speeches into con- sideration, and Answer them to-Morrow.
N. B .- This Afternoon fourteen Canoes arrived here containing thirty-eight Munsies and Mohickons, exclusive of Women and Children, who reside on the Heads of the West Branch of Susque- hanna.
At a Conference held with the Indians at Fort Pitt, on Wednes- day the fourth of May, 1768, P. M.
PRESENT : the same as before.
Thonissahgarawa, a Chief of the six nations, rose up, and ad- dressing himself to the Gentlemen and several Nations present, apologized for some difference which happened this morning among themselves, as it was the Means of preventing our Meeting them
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in the Forenoon, and desired that their Brethren, the English, and the Tribes of Indians present, would take no Notice of it.
A String.
The same Chief then spoke as follows :
" Brethren :
" I am sorry to hear what our Brethren, the Shawanese, said to you yesterday, as we did not expect that they would have made any mention of your keeping Possession of the Forts you have taken from the French, for it was agreed upon by the six Nations, as well as all other Indians, that the French should be driven out of this Country, and the Possession of all their Forts and Towns put into the Hands of our Brethren, the English, and the Road of Peace was opened, from the Sun rising to the sun-setting, for all Nations to Travel in.
A String.
Then Kayashuta, a Chief of the Senecas, got up, and laying down a Copy of the Treaty of Peace made by Colonel Broadstreet with the Indians in the year 1764, spoke as follows :
" Brethren :
" What our Chief has just now mentioned to you is very true, and you will see by this Paper, that during the late unhappy Dif- ferences between us, we held a Treaty with Colonel Broadstreet, by which we agreed that you had a right to build Forts and tra- ding Houses where you pleased, and to Travel the Road of Peace from the Sun-rising to the Sun-setting. At that Treaty the Shawa- nese and Delawares were with me, and know all this well, and I am much surprized that the Shawanese should speak to you in the Manner they did yesterday.
"The Commissioners then addressed themselves to the Six Nations, and spoke as follows :
" Brethren of the Six Nations :
" It gave us great Pleasure to hear what you said the other Day to your Brother Onas, and We thank you in his Name for the readiness you discovered in brightening and making Strong our antient Chain of Friendship. This will be very agreeable to him, as we know he is sincerely determined to continue to do the same on his Part.
" Brethren :
" We esteem it a Strong Mark of the Sincerity and Goodness of your Hearts, that you have opened them to us so freely and fully, as your Brother Onas earnestly desired you, that he might know what ever lay still concealed within your Breasts, which gave you any uneasiness.
" Brethren :
" You have candidly and publickly told us that you are now easy with respect to all former Losses you have suffered by our Means, and that you will take no further Notice of such Things.
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This entirely corresponds with your strong professions of Friend- ship.
A String.
" Brethren :
" You have also freely, and without Reserve, informed us that the only Grievance which you now have Reason to complain of, is the Settlement made on your Lands. We are glad, Brethren, we have now so good an Opportunity of acquainting you, as well. as the several Nations present, with the Mind of your Brother Onas, and the endeavours which have been used to do you Justice in this Respect.
" Brethren :
" We can assure you that nothing has given him more Concern than to find a Number of foolish People should dare to seat them- selves on Lands in this Province, which your good Friends the Pro- prietors have not as yet purchased from you. Governor Penn, therefore, as well from his own sincere and earnest inclinations to remove this Injury done you, as by the express Commands of Our great King George, issued Proclamations near Two Years ago, or- dering all Persons whatsoever, who had settled on your Lands, to remove without delay, and forbiding others from taking the least Possession of any under the severest Penalty of the Law. " Brethren :
"As the People who have settled on your Lands came chiefly from Virginia, the Governor of that Province likewise issued Proclama- tions and orders to the same Purpose. The King's General too, (His Excellency General Gage,) hath twice sent up Parties of Sol- diers to the People living on Red-Stone Creek and the Mononga- hela to warn them off your Lands, and threatened them with seizing their Persons and Effects if they refused to move away. But Brethren, we are sorry to tell you that none of these Measures have had the desired Effect, and therefore, Governor Penn and his As- sembly,having still your Interest greatly at Heart, passed a Law in February last inflicting the Penalty of Death on all Persons who should continue on your Lands after the first Day of June next, and in order that the People who were settled on them might have timely and proper Notice of that Law, Governor Penn, near two months ago,sent to them four prudent and honest Men to distribute ' Copies of it among them, with a Number of Proclamations com- manding them to obey it strictly under the Penalty of Death, and also to read and explain them fully to the People.
" Brethren :
" Those four Men have lately returned home and reported to the Governor of Pennsylvania that they had executed his orders, but that they were told by the People settled at and near Red-Stone Creek, that they had been encouraged by the Indians themselves to continue on those Lands; that, however, they are determined to
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obey the Law, and move off without delay. But, Brethren, we are sorry to tell you that, as soon as the Men sent by the Governor had prevailed on the Settlers to consent to a compliance with the Law, there came among them eight Indians who live at the Mingo Town down this River, and desired the People not to leave their Settlements, but to sit quiet on them 'till the present Treaty at this Place should be concluded. The People, on receiving this advice and encouragement, suddenly changed their Minds, and determined not to quit their Places 'till they should hear further from the Indians."'
The Indians then delivered to the Men sent by the Governor a String of Wampum, and a Speech, which they desired them to carry to the Governor. The Speech was this : "You are sent here by your great Men to tell these People to go away from the Lands, which you say is ours, and our great Men have sent us, and we are glad to meet here the same Day. We tell you the White People must Stop, and we Stop them 'till the Treaty, and when George Croghan and our great Men shall speak together, we will tell them what to do."
" Now, Brethren, we cannot help expressing to you our great Concern at this Behaviour of those Indians, as it has absolutely frustrated the Steps the Governor was taking to do you Justice, by the immediate removal of those People from your Lands. . And we must tell you, Brethren, that the Conduct of those Indians appears to us very astonishing, and we are much at a Loss to account for the Reason of it at this Time, when the Six Nations are complain- ing of Encroachments being made on their Lands. You, your- selves, Brethren, must be very sensible that while any of the Indians encourage the People to stay on their Lands, it will inevitably de- feat all our Measures to remove them. But, Brethren, all that we have now to desire of you is, that you will immediately send off some of your Prudent and wise Men with a Message to the People settled at Red-Stone, Youghoghainy, and Monongahela, to contra- dict the advice of the eight Indians from the Mingo Town, and to acquaint them that you very much disapprove of their continuing any longer on their Settlements, and that you expect they will quit them without Delay.
"If you agree to this, we will send an honest and discreet White Man to accompany your Messengers ; and, Brethren, if after receiving such Notice from you, they shall refuse to remove by the Time limited them, you may depend upon it the Government will not fail to put the Law into immediate Execution against them."
A String.
The Commissioners then, addressing themselves to the Shawa- Dese, spoke as follows :
" Brethren :
"In the first part of your Speeches Yesterday, you acquainted us that it was very disagreeable to you to see a Fort continued at
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this Place, contrary to your Expectations, and that you were very sorry to find a Number of Batteaus building here, in order to go down the River. With Regard to these things we can only say it is not a little surprising to us that you should mention them at this Time, as we have always understood that this Matter was settled with the Six Nations and all other Indians, several Years ago, and their full Consent obtained for keeping Forts in your Country, as well as for going down this River to Trade. But, Brethren, as we came here to confer wth you on Subjects which only relate to the Province of Pennsylvania, we have no concern in this Business. It is an Affair of our great King of England, and as such we must refer you for a more particular Answer to Mr. Croghan, who, you know, is appointed by His Majesty to transact his Affairs with the Indians in this Country."
The Commissioners then spoke to the Delawares, Shawanese, Munsies, Mohickons, and Wyandotts, as follows :
" Brethren :
" We now return you thanks, in the Name of the Governor of Pennsylvania, and in behalf of the good People of that Province, for the kind Manner in which you have received his Messages by us. We assure you it gave us great Pleasure to hear you declare in this Public Council, your hearty Concurrence with him in keep- ing fast hold of the Chain of Friendship, and your Determination to preserve it bright; and not to suffer any little Accidents to make a Breach in it.
"Brethren :
" It is a strong proof of the sincerity of your Hearts, that you have resolved entirely to forget all the past Mischiefs and Injuries which have been committed by the folly of our Wicked and rash young Men, and we now hope these things will never interrupt our future Peace and Happiness.
"Brethren :
" We also thank you for making the Road smooth between you. and the People of Pennsylvania, by removing all the Obstructions that were in it, in such a manner that it may be travelled by all People with Ease and Safety.
" Brethren :
" It will give us much Pleasure when we return to Philadelphia, to communicate to the Governor all that has passed between us at these Conferences ; and to assure him of your friendly Dispositions and upright Intentions, which you may depend on we shall faith- fully do "
A Belt.
The Commissioners having finished what they had to say to the Indians, Mr. Croghan made them the following speeches :
" Brethren, the Shawanese :
" When you spoke yesterday to the Governor of Pennsylvania, you desired him to destroy this Fort, and not to pass down this
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River, as it was bloody ; and said that our Warriors passing through your country, gave you and all other Nations great uneasiness in your Minds. You are the only Nation that has mentioned this Circumstance, and I must tell you that this Fort was built by the King's Orders, and that your Brother, the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, has no concern in this matter.
" Brethren :
" I well remember that when the French built a Fort here, and passed up and down this River, you did not desire them to destroy their Forts and leave your country. We were at war with your old Fathers, the French, when we drove them away and took possession of this Fort; after that we conquered them, which you well know, and when we came here the Six Nations agreed to it, and came'with us and openeda Road of Peace through all this country, from the Sun- rising to the Sun-setting, both by land and Water, that we might talk in Peace with all Nations of Indians to the Westward; and we thought the Six Nations had a Right so to do, as we always under- stood that they were the Original Proprietors of this Country. " Brethren :
"When I was first going down this River, by Order of His Excellency General Gage, and the Honourable Sir William John- son, all the Nations now present agreed to it, and sent Deputies with me to promote the good Work of Peace with all Nations of Indians to the Westward, and to receive them into the Chain of Friendship subsisting between the King's Subjects, the Six Na- tions, and all others in Alliance with them, and to take them under His Majesty's most gracious Protection, which has been since done. It is very true, when we first went down, we met with a Misfortune from some of the Nations we were going to speak to, through the Instigation of the French, who then had an influence with those People to persuade them to do Mischief, but ever since that Time, those Nations have behaved well to their Brethren, the English ; and after that unhappy Accident, by which we were Sufferers, Captain Murray and Mr.McKee condoled with your Nation for your Losses, agreeable to the antient Custom of our Fore-fathers, and buried the Bones of our Deceased Brethren, whose Loss gave me great Pain of Mind; and I did not expect to find their Bones Raked out of the Ground and brought into Council at this Time, especially as you must know that we were struck by the very Hatchet you yourselves put into their Hands to strike the English with.
" Brethren :
"By the late Treaty of Peace between the King of Great Britain and the French King, the latter gave us Possession of all their Forts and Towns, as we had conquered them. You likewise took Notice Yesterday of our building Boats, and making Repairs to this Fort. I must tell you that the King, my Master, never made War on any Indian Nation in this Country ; on the Contrary,
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he has always promoted Peace among you; an Instance of which you see in the Peace brought about between the Six Nations and Cherokees. But you all well know that the French acted on dif- ferent Principles, by setting one Nation at War against another. This Conduct of theirs was not pleasing to the Six Nations; they, therefore, requested the English to go with them, and Sir William Johnson, to drive the French from Niagara, and put it into the Hands of the English, which you all well know they did; and since that Time our Warriors have passed through this Country from Fort to Fort, and back again, and no difference has happened between them and your People. I am, therefore, surprized, Breth- ren, to hear you want to stop the Road of Peace that hath been so long opened for all Nations, from the Sun rising to the Sun setting.
A Belt.
" Brethren of the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, Wyandotts, Munsies, and Mohickons, Give Attention to what I am going to say to you.
" It gives me great Pleasure to find that the Measures taken by the Governor of Pennsylvania, and the wise People of that Pro- vince, have proved so effectual and agreeable to your several Nations as to remove all Uneasiness from your Minds on Account of the many Accidents that have happened between your People and the King's Subjects in that Province, and that you have buried them so deep in the Earth that neither you nor your Children yet un- born, may ever call them to Rememberance.
" Brethren :
"Your Fore-fathers lived in the strictest Friendship with the worthy Founder of that Province and the good People that came with him, and you have now renewed and brightened that antient Chain of Friendship with the Governor's Commissioners, in behalf of the King's Subjects in that Government. I now recommend it to your several Nations to hold fast by that Chain, and Act on the same Principles your wise fore-fathers formerly did.
A String.
" Brethren :
" You have all heard what the Six Nations said to you by their Deputies, that they heartily repented of their own past ill Conduct towards their Brethren, the English, in Stealing Horses, and com- mitting other Abuses, and they have desired you, Brethren, to cast out all evil Thoughts from your Minds, and return any stolen Horses you may have amongst you, and think of Nothing for the future but promoting the good work of Peace between you and your good Brethren, the English.
" Brethren :
" The King of Great Britain, your Father, and my Master, takes Delight in promoting Peace among all Nations of Indians in this
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Country and his own Subjects, which you must be well acquainted with. You all Daily experience his Love towards You and his Pity for your Necessities, by the Favours you constantly receive from his Officers here and elsewhere, and I am sorry to say that your past Conduct shews a want of Gratitude in you to his Sub- jects.
" Whenever the King makes Peace with any Nation he never violates his Engagements, though he always has it in his Power to chastize any People who dares be so hardy as to disturb the Tran- quility of their Neighbors ; But I now trust, Brethren, that your future Conduct will be such as may merit His Majesty's Esteem and Protection.
" By this Belt, I now clear the Road of Peace and make it smoth and easy to Travel, from the Sun-rising to the Sun-Setting, that your Brethren, the English, and all Nations of Indians, may travel it with Pleasure, as one People, united in the strongest Chain of Friendship, that our Women and Children yet unborn, may mu- tually enjoy the Blessings of a lasting Peace.
" Brethren of the Six Nations, who are settled at the two Creeks :
" I am sorry to hear from some of your Brethren, the English, that whenever any of them pass by your Village you take Rum and other things from them. You must be sensible this Conduct is very wrong and a Breach of your Engagements to us ; I hope I shall hear no more of it ; you have been desired three Years ago, by the Six Nation Council, to remove up this River nearer to their Country, and I now desire you will take that Message into your most serious Consideration, and do as they have directed you, which will be very agreeable to all your Brethren, the English.".
A String.
Mr. Croghan having finished what he had to say to the Indians, the Commissioners addressed themselves to all the Nations present, and said :
" Brethren :
" We are now to acquaint you that by order of the Government of Pennsylvania, we deliver to you a present of Goods, to be dis- tributed among the several 'Tribes present, to Cloath your Women and Children, and we desire you will receive them as a Testimony of the Affection and Regard which the Governor and good People of this Province have for you."
The Commissioners then delivered the Presents to the different Tribes, amounting to One Thousand and Fifty Pounds, Pennsyl- vania Currency, including the several private Presents made to the Chiefs and Warriors.
This Evening arrived here Twenty-five Six Nation Warriors on their return from the Cherokee Country, and brought with them two Prisoners.
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At a private Conference held at Fort Pitt on Friday the sixth day of May, 1768, with all the Chiefs and principal Warriors of the Delawares, Munsies and Mohickons.
PRESENT :
Mr. Croghan and the Commissioners.
The Beaver rose up and spoke as follows, in behalf of the Dela- wares, Munsies and Mohickons.
" Brethren :
" It gives us great pleasure that the Conferences are now ended, that the antient Chain of Friendship is now renewed and the Road made smooth between our several Tribes and our Brother, the Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania. Every Thing you have said respecting the Folly of our young People in stealing your Horses and committing other Abuses, we have laid to our Hearts, and will take Care to pre- vent any such Misconduct in them for the future, and we desire, Brethren, you will take Care that none of your Young People steal any Horses from us, which they have frequently done."
A Belt.
He then addressed himself to the Commissioners, and said :
" Brethren :
" We now speak to you on Account of Trade. The Traders who supply us with Goods come from your Province, and we do not take upon us to judge whether the Goods they sell us are Dear or not,as we are ignorant of what they cost them; but we are certain from our own knowledge, that they do not allow us the same Price for our Skins and Furs as they did formerly, and hope you will speak to them to allow us a sufficient Price for our Peltry.
A Belt.
" Brethren :
" The Country lying between this River and the Alleghenny Mountains, has always been our Hunting Ground; but the White People who have scattered themselves over it, have, by their hunt- ing, deprived us of the Game, which we look upon ourselves to have the only Right to, and we desire you will acquaint our Brother, the Governor, of this, and prevent their Hunting there for the future.
A String.
" Brethren :
"We have now done speaking on Business, and every thing has , been settled at this Conference to our Satisfaction, and We have agreed that two of our principal Warriors, named Quequedagduedo and Killbuck, shall accompany you to Philadelphia, in order to see the Governor, and bring us such Answers as he shall think proper to send Us respecting our Trade and Hunting Country."
A Belt.
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To which the Commissioners replied :
" Brethren :
" We have already communicated to you and the other Nations, the several Steps taken by the Government to do you all Justice with respect to the Encroachments on your Lands, and we shall carefully report to the Governor every thing you have now said to us on this Head, that he may take such Measures as may be judged most expedient to Satisfy you, and you may expect to receive his Answer As soon as a convenient Opportunity offers."
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At a Meeting held at Fort Pitt, on Saturday the 7th of May, 1768, with the Chiefs and Principal Warriors of the Shawanese.
PRESENT :
Mr. Croghan, and the Commissioners.
Kissinaughtha, a Chief of the Shawanese, addressed himself to the Commissioners, and said :
" Brethren :
" When you spoke to us from the Governor, you desired us to speak from our Hearts, and tell you what gave us any Uneasiness of Mind. We considered your Speeches, and did so, which we find by your Answer was not agreeable to you. You tell us what we spoke to you did not belong to the Governor of Pennsylvania, but to the King.
" Brethren :
" We assure you that we are as well disposed to live in Friend- ship with our Brethren, the English, as any other Nation in this Country, and will hold fast by the Chain of Friendship, now re- · newed and brightened by our Brother Onas, as long as the Grass Grows or Waters run, with all our Brethren, the English."
A String.
The same Speaker addressed himself to Mr. Croghan, and spoke as follows :
" Brother :
" We are all very sorry that we should have said anything, the other day to our Brother Onas, that should give you or his Com- missioners any Offence, or our Brethren, the Six Nations. But as the Governor of Pennsylvania, in his Speeches, desired us to open our Minds, and to tell every thing that gave us any uneasiness, we were determined to do so.
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