USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 3
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" A Committee was then named to prepare the joint Speech to be delivered by the Governor of New York. When it was prepared we were to meet again to consider the same.
" It was two Days after this before the Speech was ready ; and in the mean time the Governor and Council of New York made In- quiry concerning the Alarm which happened the last Winter among the Mohawks, occasioned by a Report spread amongst them that the English were coming to cutt them off. To this purpose the Governor of New York sent for the Mohawks, and let them know that the String of Wampum which had been sent him by them, not to make any further Enquiry concerning that Affair, he could not accept of; that it was necessary the Authors of this false Rumour should be known and punished ; and therefore he insisted they would discover all they knew concerning the Authors; and if they had any other cause of uneasiness, to communicate it to him; And thereupon he delivered back the String of Wampum sent him. The Mohawks agreed to return their Answer the next Day. Some of the Mohawks accordingly attended the Governor of New-York
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the next Day, and named to him a Person who they said was the Author of this false Alarm. The Person being sent for, owned his - having heard and mentioned the Report, but denyed his being the Author of it.
" After the strictest Enquiry and Examination, the Governor and Council seemed to blieve him Innocent, and that the Rumour had been raised and spread by means of one or more of the Mohawks themselves.
" On the Tenth of October the Speech proposed to be delivered to the Indians by the Governor of New-York being prepared, we were desired to meet the other Commissioners and hear the same read. Accordingly, about Ten of the Clock in the forenoon we met them ; the Speech was read, after which it was objected on the part of Pennsylvania that it contained a Narrative of many Facts to which we were altogether Strangers, and therefore were not proper to be made Parties in the Relation; That it pressed the Indians on making of War, which we thought might be attended with mis- chevious Consequences to all the Colonies ; That as we were to treat seperately, and they had already heard our Reasons against a War, they must judge for themselves how far it would be prudent in them to press it. The Result was, the Commissioners of the other Colonies agreed to the Speech as it had been prepared; and in the afternoon of the same Day the Deputies of the United Nations were desired to attend the Governor of New York. They came accord- ingly, and the Governor, in behalf of his Government, and those of the Massachussetts and Connecticut, and in the presence of the Com- missioners from thence read the Speech agreed on, which was Inter- preted to the Indians : A Copy whereof was delivered to Us, and follows in these Words, viz. :
"' Brethren :
""' Here are present upon the occasion of this Interview Commis- sioners from the Governments of the Massachusetts Bay and Con- necticut, conven'd with me on the same righteous Intention of Renewing, Bright'ning, and Strengthening the Covenant Chain which has tied you and his Britannick Majesty's several Colonies on this Continent in the firmest Engagements to each other for Sup- porting and Maintaining our Common Cause.
""'We are glad to see so many of our Brethren, and we bid You welcome here; at the same time that we heartily condole the ab- sence of our Brethren the Senecas and the Calamities which have occasioned it ; may the Almighty comfort them under their griev- ous Afflictions, and soon wipe off all Tears from their Eyes.
"' We do with you our Brethren, and with you as their Repre- sentatives, ratify, confirm, and extablish all former Engagements enter'd into by us and our Brethren of the Six United Nations ; and,
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assure You that we shall ever hold them invioble, and we doubt not of the same from You.'
"A Belt.
" 'Brethren :
"' The Rumour which last Winter gave an Alarm to our Brethren the Maquas, and was from thence spread to the other Nations, now appears to have been without Foundation ; and I cannot help ob- serving on this occasion that you ought not for the future to suffer any such Idle Tales to be raised or propogated among You, as they not only tend to seperate your and our Affections each from the other, but also to make us Jealous of our own People without suffi- cient Grounds for it.'
" A String of Wampum.
"'Brethren :
"""' It must be further observed to You that we hear several of the Cheifs and others of our Brethren of the Six Nations have, con- trary to our Inclinations, & against our express advice, had an In- terview with the Governor of Canada this Summer at Montreal ;
"' And that your pretence for holding this Correspondence with our Declared Enemies was for the public Good and the Preservation of the House at Oswego;
"" To tell the Governor of Canada that they must not make any Attempt or Attack upon that Place, for that our Brethren are re- solved to defend it; and that it shall remain a Place of Peace and Trade.
"' You declared your Intent was good, and that the Governor of Canada should never prevail upon You in any thing hurtful to your Brethren the English, who you know did not like your going thither ; that yet upon your return from thence, your Brother the Governor of New York should know all that passed between them and the Governor of Canada.
"'We will tell our Brethren what we hear was done whilst they were with the Governor of Canada ; and we expect the whole Truth from them according to their Promise, and whether what we hear is true or not.
" ' We hear that whilst our Brethren were with the Governor of Canada the French Indians took up the Hatchet against the Eng- lish, which we believe to be true for Reasons you shall hear by and by ; and thereby the Treaty of Neutrality concluded between you and them is become vain.
"' We hear, likewise, that our Brethren of the Six Nations there present were so far prevailed upon by our Enemies the French, as to accept of the Hatchet upon Condition to carry it home to their Council to deliberate upon, and then to return the Governor of Canada their Answer, which we cannot believe to be true till we have it from our Brethrens' own Mouths.
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"' We expect a plain and full Answer from our Brethren concern- ing these Matters that the way may be cleared for wiping off all stains from the Covenant Chain, and that we may preserve it Bright, firm, & inviolable, as long as the Sun shall shine.'
" A Belt.
" ' Brethren :
"' We must now acquaint you of some Things relating to the War, the Success of His Majesty's Arms against the French in this part of the World, and the rise and occasion of our Attacks upon the Enemy in this quarter.
"When You were here last Summer you were told that War was Declared between the Crowns of Great Britain and France. The Events that have since happened are too numerous to relate particu- larly.
"'His Majesty's Subjects in this Country lay still the last Sum- mer without attempting any Thing against the French Settlements; But the French first Attack'd and Destroyed a small Place belong- ing to Us call'd Canso, about Twenty five Leagues from Cape Breton.
" ' Afterwards they laid Seige to Annapolis Royal, but therein they proved unsuccessful.
"' They then agreed to make another Trial for that Place next Spring, and in the mean time they sent to France, hoping to obtain some of the King's Ships to facilitate the Reduction of it.
""' They having proceeded thus far, Mr. Shirley, the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, thought it high time to do something to curb the Insolence of that haughty People, and did therefore raise a small Army, which was joined by a number of Men from the Governments of Connecticut and New Hampshire, and sent them early last Spring against Louisbourgh.
""' They were likewise joined by a number of His Majesty's Ships of War, and after about Seven Weeks' Seige that Important and strong fortified Place was, through the goodness of Divine Provi- dence, delivered up to our Forces.
"' Whereupon the rest of the Inhabitants of the Island of Cape Breton, together with those that were Settled in parts adjacent, surrendered themselves Prisoners to the English.
"' And during the Siege and since many French Ships were taken, and divers of them of great value, and the Design of the French against Annapolis Royal was frustrated.
" ' We have in this part of the Country lain still, both the last Summer and this, hoping that our Neighbours in Canada would either be quiet or carry on the War in a manly and Christian-like Manner.
"' And to induce them thereto, a Message was sent from this Place
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to the Government of Canada last Summer, by which he was as- sured that if he should renew their former vile Practice of treating His Majesty's Subjects inhumanly, the several Governors, together with the Six Nations, would join and make Reprisals on them.
"' And at the same time You publickly declared that if any of His Majesty's Subjects in any of his Governments should be killed by any Indian, you would immediately join in the War against them and the French.
" ' You likewise sent Your Delegates last Summer to the Eastern Indians to warn them not to engage in the War against the English, threatening them in case they should do so.
"'Notwithstanding these Things, divers Hostilities have been committed.
" 'Some Months ago the Eastern Indians, who had formerly ac- knowledged their Subjection to the Crown of Great Britain, entred into Solemn Engagements with the King's Subjects, and had been since treated by them with great Kindness.
"' But at the Instigation of the French, they have lately kill'd one Englishman and also great numbers of Horses and Cattle, burnt a Saw Mill and many Dwelling Houses, and attack'd an English Garrison.
"'Notwithstanding such outrageous Insults, the Governor of Mas- sachusetts-Bay was so tender of them that he resented it no further then to send a Message to them demanding the Delivery of the Murderers as they would avoid the Consequences of their Neglect.
"' This Proposal was rejected by them, and since that time they have killed two or there others; whereupon the Governor of the Massachusetts declared War against them.
"' And we are informed the English have killed two of them, and taken another Prisoner.
"'About three Months since some of the Canada Indians killed two Englishmen near Connecticut River; the Body of one of them was treated in a most barbarous manner, by which they left a Hat- chet of War, thereby daring Us to take it up and return it.
"' There has likewise been several other Parties that have attempted to destroy His Majesty's Subjects of New England, but have hitherto been prevented.
"' These Facts plainly shew that the French are still acted by the same Spirit that they were formerly governed by; and they seem never pleased but when they are at War, either with the English or some of the Tribes of the Indians; and if they had it in their Power they would doubtless destroy all about them.
"' It is likewise Evident that the most Solemn and Sacred En- gagements are broken through by those Indians that have commit- ted the late Murders.
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""' The Belts of Wampum will not bind them to the performance of their Promisses.
"'That we are Slighted, and you Contemned, as though they thought you not worthy to be regarded.
"'But now the French and their Indians, by the little Regard they have shewn to your threatnings or to the Covenants they have made with you, do declare that they think you do not intend to per- form what you have threatned, or that they do not fear your Dis- pleasure ; both which do reflect equal dishonour on You.
"'It is high time for Us & You to exert ourselves and vindicate - our Honour; and although it is well known that we delight not in the Destruction of our Fellow creatures, but have chosen rather to suffer ourselves to be abused, yet we cannot think ourselves obliged any longer to bear their Insults and evil Treatment.
"'Therefore, since neither our peaceable Dispositions nor Exam- ples, nor any methods we have been able to use, have been sufficient to prevail upon them to forbear their barbarous Treatment of us, but they will force our Resentments, in the Name of God we are resolved not only to defend ourselves, but by all proper Ways and Methods to endeavour to put it out of their Power to misuse and evil Treat us as they have hitherto done.
"' And we doubt not of your ready and chearful Concurrence with Us, agreeable to your solemn promise made in this Place last Sum- mer, in joining with us against our Enemies the French, and such Indians as are or shall be instigated by them ; for we esteem them enemies to God, as well as to all their Fellow-creatures who dwell round about them.'
" A large Belt with the Figure of a Hatchet hung to it.
"The Publick Affairs of my Government have prevented my Meeting you sooner.
"'I was apprehensive I should not have been able to meet You this Fall, and it was determined upon a sudden, so that there could not be timely Notice sent to the rest of His Majesty's Governments, or, I doubt not, they would likewise have sent Commissioners to be present at this Interview.
""'We are all Subjects to the same Prince, united in the same Bonds of duty and Allegiance to the Great King our Common Father, and in Friendship and Affection to each other; and in this Union consists that Strength that makes us formidable to our Ene- mies, and them fearful of our Resentments.
"' We are all united with You in the same Covenant-Chain, which as long as we preserve it free from Rust, must remain impregnable : And you on your parts have declared that you will preserve it so strong and bright that it shall not be in the Power of the Devil himself, with all his Wiles and Art, to break or dirty it.
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"'You are also united with all the far Nations of Indians in League with our Great King, with whom we recommended to You to preserve strict Friendship aud hold frequent Correspondence.
" 'That yourselves, who many of you live scattered and dispersed, should dwell in Bodies closer together, as you have heretofore pro- mised to do.
"' And we advise you to keep your Young Men at home, and within Call, excepting such as may be sent from Time to Time a Hunting or against our Enemies ; and you may depend upon the most ready and effectual Assistance from us in all Times of Danger.'
" A Belt.
" The Indians of the United Nations promised to call a Council the next morning, and, if they could, to return their Answer to this Speech the same Day.
" The next Day we waited on the Governor of New York, and de- livered to him, according to our agreement, the Speech we propos'd to make to the Indians of the United Nations, in order for his perusal, and then to be returned us; which he promised to do by the next Morning.
" October the Twelfth, in the Morning, we received a Message from the Governor of New York, with the Speech he proposed to make to the Mohiggans of River Indians, which we perused and return'd to the Secretary without making any objections against what was proposed to be said to them. Some time after we received a second Message desiring us to be present when the Governer delivered this Speech, and at the receiving the Answer of the Six Nations to the Speech. made to them.
" We attended accordingly. The Commissioners for the Massa- chusetts and Connecticut also attended; And the Speech prepared for the River Indians was read by Paragraphs, and translated to them, a Copy of which was delivered us, and is as follows :
"' Children :
""'I am glad to see You here, and bid you welcome. I sent for you to meet me at this Place, that I might have an opportunity to renew and confirm the Covenants and Engagements made from time to time between us. And I do now publickly promise that nothing shall be wanting on my Part, but that the Covenant Chain shall . remain bright and strong for ever.
" 'Children :
"'I must put you in mind of what you promised me last Year. You engaged that you would keep your People at Home, which I am informed you have not done; but many of your People have lately left Schahkook and are gone to Canajoherie, and some to Attowawie. I want to know for what Reason they have left their
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habitations, and charge You to send for them back as soon as you can ; and that you would live together a together a Schahkook.'
" A String of Wampum.
" 'Children :
"'Last Year I acquainted you that War was declared between the Great King your Father and the French King, and told You what I expected of you. You answered me that in all Things re- lating to the War you would take the Six Nations for an Example, which I expect you will do.'
" A Belt.
"To this Speech the River Indians the same Day returned their Answer, of which with what further past between them and the Governor of New York we obtained a Copy, which follows in these Words :
"'Father :
"'We are glad to see you here in Health. Your Children here present bid you all welcome.
"'Father :
""'You have renewed the Covenant, and have assured us that you will keep it inviolable. We do now likewise assure you that nothing shall be wanting on our Parts, but that we will keep the Covenant Chain clear and free from Rust.
" 'Father :
"'When we were here last you told us that you was glad to see .so great a number of us together ; and now you ask us what is the reason so many of Us left Schahkook and are gone to Canajoherie and Attowawie, and that you are sorry so many of Us left our Habitations.
"'Father :
"' You have told us that War is proclaimed between the English and French, and that you designed to go and Fight the French. You told us that we should do as our Uncles the Six Nations did with respect to the War.
" ' Father :
"You told us that you would keep the Covenant, and we are resolved to do the same; as a token whereof we give you this Belt.
"' Father :
""'You must not be surprized that so many of our People have left Schahkook. They are not gone to a strange Country, but are only among our Uncles the Six Nations, with whom we are united in Covenant.'
" A String of Wampum.
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" ' Father :
" ' Respecting the War with the French we will do as the Six Nations and our Fathers, and will take them for Examples in all Things relating thereto.'
" A Belt.
"'Father :
"""We are glad the Six Nations design to send some of their Peo- ple to Canada to treat with the Indians there. We have been two or three times to the Carrying Place to treat with some of those Indians, in order to keep Peace, and design to send some of our People to Canada to speak with some of the Indians there upon the same Business.'
" Gave some Skins.
"His Excellency recommended to them that they should use their Endeavours to prevail upon the Aschicanhook Indians, and all the rest of the Indians who have left their old Dwelling Place to return to Schakook.
"They answered they would.
" The Indians of the United Nations then delivered their Answer to the Speech made to them, Canasatego being Speaker: A Copy of which, with what ensued, as we received it, follows in these Words :
" 'Brethren :
"'Two Days ago you spoke to Us, and we are now come to give you our Answer. You must not expect that we can answer par- ticularly to the several Heads you mentioned to Us, but only to the principal Articles. You have renewed to Us the Covenant Chain, and we do now renew the same on our Parts; and it is impossible that it can ever Rust, for we daily wipe off the Rust and Dirt and keep it clean, which we will ever continue to do.'
" A Belt.
" ' Brethren :
"""You thought fit to mention to us that there had been an Uproar among Us last Winter, and told us we ought not to entertain any such Notions of you our Brethren, especially as we had no Grounds to believe any such Thing. It is true, Brethren, there was such a Rumour among us, but it was immediately buried and forgot, and we did not expect that our Brethren would have mentioned any thing concerning that Affair to Us at this Interview; and we desire You think no more of it. We are always mindful of the Cove- nants between us and our Brethren, and here is a Certificate*
* They here produc'd a Certificate under the Seal of the Massachusetts. VOL. V .- 2.
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whereby it appears that we are in Covenant with our Brethren of Boston.'
" A String of Wampum.
"'Brethren :
"'You spoke to us concerning our going to Canada, and told us that the Commissioners of Indian Affairs had last Winter told us not to go there, but some of us went. As to what you tell us, that we had taken up the Hatchet against our Brethren and promised to consider of it at Home, it is not so. The Mohawks and Tuscaro- roes, at their Return, gave the Commissioners of Indian Affairs an Account of all that passed there, and we are convinced that that Account is true."
" A Belt.
"' Brethren :
1
" 'You have thought fit to relate to us several Particulars concern- ing the War between you and the French, and what Reason You had for taking up the Hatchet against the French and their Indians. We thank you for giving Us a particular Account of the Provoca- tions and Inducements you had for declaring War against them. You have also mentioned to us that we are one Body and Flesh, and that if one of us is touched or hurt the other is likewise; and you have informed us that you were molested and attacked by the Enemy, and had therefore taken up the Hatchet against them, and desired, as we are one Flesh with you, that we would also take up the Hatchet against the French and those under their influence, in Conjunction with You. We Six Nations accept of the Hatchet and will keep it in our Bosom. We are in Alliance with a great number of far Indians, and if we should so suddenly lift up the Hatchet without acquainting our Allies, it would perhaps disoblige them ; we will, therefore, before we make use of the Hatchet against the French or their Indians, send four of our People, who are now ready, to Canada, to demand Satisfaction for the wrongs they have done our Brethren ; and if they refuse to make Satisfaction, then we will be ready to use the Hatchet against them whenever our Brother the Governor of New York orders us to do it.'
" A Belt.
"His Excellency ask'd them what time they thought necessary to see whether the French Indians would make such Satisfaction ?
"They answered two months.
"His Excellency asked them, That if in case the Enemy should commit any further Hostilities in the mean time, Whether they would then, upon his Commands, immediately make use of the Hatchet ?
"They answered Yes.
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""'Brethren :
""' You desired us to gather together our People who are scattered and to settle in a Body, especially as it is very uncertain how soon we may have occasion for them. Your Request is very reasonable, and we will use our Endeavours to that End.'
" A Belt.
"'Brethren :
"'We have now finished our Answer, and have nothing further to say but only one Request to make to You all, which is, That you our Brethren should be all united in your Councils, and let this Belt of Wampum serve to bind you all together; and if any thing of Importance is to be communicated to us by any of you, this is the place where it should be done.'
" A Belt.
"The answer thus delivered by the United Nations was received with the Approbation of the Governor of New York, the Commis- sioners of the Massachusetts only expressed their Diss-atisfaction; for that, as they alledged, the Indians the last Year had engaged that if any Hostilities were committed against the English, they would in such Case declare War; That Hostilities had been since committed, and therefore by those Engagements the Six Nations ought now to Declare War with the French and Indians.
"This Day we proposed to have Delivered our Speech to the In- dians, but the time being too far spent, & this the last Day of the Week, we were obliged to post pone it until the beginning of the next. .
" The fourteenth of October being the time we appointed for Speak- ing with the Indians, we gave Directions to Conrad Weiser to give them notice to attend. But before they came to the place appointed, we re- ceived a Message from the Governor of New York that he was then met in Council, and desired to speak with us. We went accordingly. When we came to the Governor's, besides himself and his Council there were present the Commissioners from the Massachusetts, who then presented to the Governor Letters that they had received by an Express, giving an Account that a Party of French and Indians had a few Days before made an Attack on the Great Meadow Fort, about Fifty Miles, as we are informed, from Albany. That they had taken Prisoner a Person whom they found at some Distance from it. That two others coming down a Creek near that Fort were shot at, one killed the other made his Escape. The Number of French and Indians was not mentioned. On reading of these Letters, the Commissioners for the Massachusetts were requested to be explicit in what they desired on this Occasion. They thereupon represented, that their Government thought it unreasonable the whole Burden
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