USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 53
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" As we find there is no late Intelligence of a material change in the state of these Affairs, We hope the Presents lately sent to the Indians at Ohio will be received by them as Proofs of our Friend- ship, and may (if properly distributed by the Persons appointed to deliver them) have the desired good effect of confirming them in their Alliances with us. We doubt not the Governor has given the necessary Instructions to those who are entrusted therewith ; and as the Interest of the Province is essentially concerned in the con- duct of the Persons employed on these Occasions, we shall readily concur with the Governor in any measures necessary to prevent them from entering into any Engagements further than his Instruc- tions shall Warrant.
" As we do not apprehend our joining in the intended Treaty at Albany to be necessary at this time, we request the Governor to direct Conrad Weiser to meet the Six Nations there with the small Present provided for them, and a Message of Condolence on the Death of Canassatego and their other chiefs who were our steady Friends, and if on the Intelligence we may receive at our next Meeting any further measures should appear to us proper to enter into, we shall chearfully concur in doing what may be most condu- cive to the Peace and Tranquility of the Province.
"Signed by order of the House.
" ISAAC. NORRIS, Speaker. " May 9, 1751."
The House having agreed to all the Amendments made by the Governor to the Hospital Bill, except the seventh, which was with- drawn, the Bill was returned with a Message that his Honour would pass it when presented to him for that Purpose; that there- upon the amended Bill had been engrossed and compared, and the Governor had appointed the House to wait on him this Morning in the Council Chamber in order to enact it into a Law, which was accordingly done, and a Committee appointed to see the Great Seal affixed to it and the Law deposited in the Rolls Office.
The House, with the Governor's Consent, adjourned to the twelfth of August next.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday the 29th of June, 1751.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Thomas Lawrence,
Thomas Hopkinson,
Robert Strettell,
William Logan,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Richard Peters,
Esquires.
Joseph Turner,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
Information having been lately transmitted of his Royal High- ness' Death on the - Day of March last, together with his Majestie's Order in Council for a General Mourning, it was unanimously agreed to address his Majesty on that truly sorrowful Event in the words following :
"TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
" The Humble address of the Lieutenant Governor and Council of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.
" Most Gracious Sovereign :
" As no Affliction can befall your Majesty of which your re- motest Subjects do not partake, Permit us, with Hearts full of Grief, humbly to condole with your Majesty on the inexpressible Loss Your Majesty and the Nation have sustained in the Death of his late Royal Highness the Prince of Wales-A Loss by so much the more to be lamented as that excellent and most amiable Prince possessed so many shining Qualities and uncommon Virtues; nor can this melancholy Event admit of any Consolation but in our Hopes of the Continuance of your Majestie's Health, which we most sincerely rejoice to hear is perfectly re-established.
" If the fervent Prayers of all good Men may prevail, we have the strongest reason to hope that your Majestie's precious Life will long be spared as a Blessing to your Dominions and for an Ex- ample of Instruction to the Young Prince, who having the inesti- mable advantage of being formed by Your Majestie's wise Counsel and Direction, cannot fail to imbibe those just Maxims of Govern- ment, by the Practice whereof Your Majesty has so successfully promoted the true Interest of Your People and are so deservedly the object of their warmest Gratitude and Affection.
"We pray God to comfort and support Your Majesty under this heavy Affliction, Alleviate Your Sorrow, and shower down on Your Royal Person and every Branch of Your Royal Family the choicest of his Blessings."
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The above was signed by the Governor and all the Members present, and sent to the Proprietor to be presented to his Majesty.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 12th of August, 1751.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Thomas Lawrence,
Robert Strettell, 2 Esqrs.
Joseph Turner,
William Logan,
Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
A Petition from the Captain, Officers, and Sailors on board a French Vessel called the " Dauphin," now in the River Delaware, was read, setting forth " That the Sloop was bound from St. Domingo to Louisburg, and in her Voyage sprung a Leak off of the Capes of Delaware which filled the Vessel so fast that they cou'd not get the better of it with continual pumping, owing as they think to the bad careening of the said sloop, and further, that their Casks were bad and leaked, which reduced them to a necessity of putting into this which was the first Port, and praying Leave to enter and refit so as to be put into a condition of proceeding on their Voyage."
A Committee was appointed to examine into the Facts, and on their Report that they found what was set forth in the Petition to be true Leave was given to the Captain to refit.
The Assembly having met last Night, and given notice thereof by two of their Members to the Governor, his Honour laid before the Board the Proceedings of Mr. George Croghan at Ohio, and like- wise a Letter from the Justices of Cumberland County complaining of Great Disorders being committed by abundance of Persons con- cerned in the Indian Trade, and likewise Mr. Weiser's Journal of his Proceedings at Onondago which were all read, and the following Message drawn thereupon and sent by the Secretary to the House :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" You will herewith receive Messieurs Croghan's and Montour's Account of their Proceedings at the Delivery of the Present voted by you last Fall to the Indians at Ohio, and I am in hopes you will find it arrived very seasonably and has had a good Effect.
" By the Speech inserted in Mr. Croghan's Journal (said to have been made by Monsieur Ioncaire by order of the Governor of Can- ada) to the Indians assembled in Council, and by a Letter of the said Ioncaire to me of the sixth of June last, which I have ordered
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
to be laid before you, you will perceive the Extensiveness of the French Claims on this Continent; That they are not content with enjoying the Benefits of a free and unmolested Commerce them- selves without making it at the same time exclusive of all others, and to that Purpose have used their utmost Endeavours to prevail on those Indians to drive away our Traders from amongst them and to discontinue any further Intercourse with them on Pain of incur- ring the Displeasure of the French Government. But as their Men- aces have not as yet had the desired Effect, it is not unreasonable to suppose that when the last answer of the Indians upon that head shall be reported to the Governor of Canada, it will put him upon measures to obtain by Force what has hitherto been denied to every other Kind of Sollicitation, in which should he succeed a very valu- able Branch of Trade will be entirely lost to this Province. The Indians themselves are so apprehensive of the Consequences of their refusing to comply with the French Demands, that they have ear- nestly requested this Government to erect a strong Trading House on the River Ohio for the Protection of their Wives and Children in case they should be obliged to engage in a war on that account, and to serve likewise as a Place of Security to our Traders, without whose assistance they say they cannot live ; and as I have it in charge from the Honourable Proprietaries to recommend this matter to you and to make such an offer of contributing to the expence of erecting and supporting it as I am perswaded you will think very generous, I cannot excuse myself from desiring you to give it a very serious Consideration, and to come to such Resolution there- upon as the present favorable Oopportunity seems to point out.
"By a Letter herewith delivered you which I have lately received from the Justices of Cumberland County, You will see that great Complaints are made of the Irregularities of many of the Persons concerned in the Indian Trade, and of the Difficulties that attend the bringing offenders to Justice in countries so remote from the Inhabitants, whence it should seem our Laws in that respect stand in need of some Alterations or Additions to render them effectual for the good Purposes intended by them. Whenever, therefore, you shall think fit to take that Subject into consideration I shall readily concur with you in any measures that may tend to the better inforcing the Laws already in being, or in making such new Provi- sions as may be thought necessary for the more regular and orderly carrying on that Trade.
" Mr. Croghan has been at a considerable Expense in bringing some Criminals to their Tryal and in supporting the Witnesses on their Journey, of which he has delivered in his Account, which you. will please to inspect and discharge.
" Mr. Montour is expected in Town by my order, to receive a Re- compence for his Services, which you will find have taken up a great deal of his Time, and as I must do him the Justice to say that (by VOL. V .- 34.
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MINUTES OF THE
what appears to me) he has well performed what was intrusted to him, I hope you will pay him to his Satisfaction.
"Mr. Weiser is likewise expected in Town, and will relate to you his Proceedings in the Execution of my Instructions respecting the Delivery of the Present to the Six Nations at Albany.
"JAMES HAMILTON.
"August 13th, 1751."
" An Account of the Proceedings of George Croghan, Esquire, and Mr. Andrew Montour at Ohio, in the Execution of the Governor's Instructions to deliver the Provincial Present to the several Tribes of Indians settled there:
" May the 18th, 1751 .- I arrived at the Log's Town on Ohio with the Provincial Present from the Province of Pennsylvania, where I was received by a great number of the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese, in a very complaisant manner in their way, by firing Guns and Hoisting the English Colours. As soon as I came to the shore their Chiefs met me and took me by the Hand bidding me wel- come to their Country.
" May the 19th .- One of the Six Nation Kings from the Head of Ohio came to the Logstown to the Council, he immediately came to visit me, and told me he was glad to see a Messenger from his Brother Onas on the waters of Ohio.
" May the 20th .- Forty Warriors of the Six Nations came to Town from the Heads of Ohio, with Mr. Ioncœur and one French- man more in company.
" May the 21st, 1751 .- Mr. Ioncœur, the French Interpreter, called a council with all the Indians then present in the Town, and made the following Speech :
"' Children-
""'I desire you may now give me an answer from your hearts to the Speech Monsieur Celeron (the Commander of the Party of Two Hundred Frenchmen that went down the River two Years ago) made to you.' His Speech was, That their Father the Governor of Canada desired his Children on Ohio to turn away the English Traders from amongst them, and discharge them from ever coming to trade there again, or on any of the Branches, on Pain of incurring his Displea- sure, and to enforce that Speech he gave them a very large Belt of Wampum. Immediately one of the Chiefs of the Six Nations got up and made the following answer :
""'Fathers :
""'I mean you that call yourselves our Fathers, hear what I am going to say to you. You desire we may turn our Brothers the English away, and not suffer them to come and trade with us again ; I now tell you from our Hearts we will not, for we ourselves brought
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
them here to trade with us, and they shall live amongst us as long as there is one of us alive. You are always threatning our Brothers what you will do to them, and in particular to that man (pointing to me) ; now if you have anything to say to our Brothers tell it to him if you be a man, as you Frenchmen always say you are, and the Head of all Nations. Our Brothers are the People we will trade with, and not you. Go and tell your Governor to ask the Onondago Council If I don't speak the minds of all the Six Nations;' and then returned the Belt.
"I paid Cochawitchake the old Shawonese King a visit, as he was rendered incapable of attending the Council by his great age, and let him know that his Brother the Governor of Pennsylvania was glad to hear that he was still alive and retained his senses, and had ordered me to cloathe him and to acquaint him that he had not forgot his strict Attachment to the English Interest. I gave him a Strowd Shirt, Match Coat, and a pair Stockings, for which he gave the Governor a great many thanks.
" May the 22d .- A number of about forty of the Six Nations came up the River Ohio to Logstown to wait on the Council ; as soon as they came to Town they came to my House, and after shaking Hands they told me they were glad to see me safe arrived in their Country after my long Journey.
" May the 23d .- Conajarca, one of the Chiefs of the Six Na- tions, and a Party with him from the Cuscuskie, came to Town to wait on the Council, and congratulated me upon my safe arrival in their Country.
" May the 24th .- Some Warriors of the Delawares came to Town from the Lower Shawonese Town, and brought a Scalp with them; they brought an Account that the Southward Indians had come to the Lower Towns to War, and had killed some of the Shawonese, Delawares, and the Six Nations, so that we might not expect any People from there to the Council.
" May the 25th .- I had a conference with Monsieur Ioncœur ; he desired I would excuse him and not think hard of him for the Speech he made to the Indians requesting them to turn the English Traders away and not suffer them to trade, for it was the Governor of Canada's Orders to him, and he was obliged to obey them altho' he was very sensible which way the Indians would receive them, for he was sure the French could not accomplish their designs with the Six Nations without it could be done by Force, which he said he believed they would find to be as difficult as the method they had just tryed, and would meet with the like Success.
" May the 26th .- A Dunkar from the Colony of Virginia came to the' Log's Town and requested Liberty of the Six Nation Chiefs to make on the River Yogh-yo-gaine a branch of Ohio, to which the Indians made answer that it was not in their Power to dispose
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MINUTES OF THE
of Lands; that he must apply to the Council at Onondago, and further told him that he did not take a right method, for he should be first recommended by their Brother the Governor of Pennsylva- nia, with whom all Publick Business of that sort must be transacted before he need expect to succeed.
" May the 27th .- Mr. Montour and I had a Conference with the Chiefs of the Six Nations, when it was agreed upon that the follow- ing Speeches should be made to the Delawares, Shawonese, Owen- datts, and Twightwees, when the Provincial Present should be de- livered them in the Name of the Honourable James Hamilton, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sus- sex, on Delaware, in Conjunction with the Chiefs of the Six United Nations On Ohio :
" A Treaty with the Indians of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shaw- onese, Owendatts and Twightwees,
" In the Log's Town on Ohio, Thursday the 28th May, 1751. "PRESENT :
" Thomas Kinton, Joseph Nelson,
"Samuel Cuzzens, James Brown,
" Jacob Pyatt, Dennis Sullavan,
Indian Traders.
" John Owens, Paul Pearce,
" Thomas Ward, Caleb Lamb,
" The Deputies of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawonese, Owen- datts, and Twightwees ;
" Mr. Andrew Montour, Interpreter for the Province of Pennsyl- vania ;
"Toanshiscoe, Interpreter for the Six Nations.
" George Croghan made the following Speech to the several Na- tions, when they were met in Council, in the Name of the Honour- able James Hamilton, Esquire, Governor of the Province of Penn- sylvania :
" ' Friends and Brethren-
"'I am sent here by your Brother the Governor of Pennsyl- vania with this Present of Goods to renew the Friendship so long subsisting between Us, and I present you these four strings of Wampum to clear your Minds and open your Eyes and Ears that you may see the Sun clear, and hear what your Brother is going to say to you.'
" Gave 4 Strings of Wampum.
" A Speech delivered the Delawares-in answer to the Speech they sent by Mr. Weiser three Years ago to his Honour the Governor to acquaint him of the Death of their Chief, King Oulamopess-by George Croghan :
₹
533
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"Brethren the Delawares-
" 'Three years ago some of the Chiefs of your Nation sent me a Message by Mr. Weiser to acquaint me of the Death of your King, a man well beloved by his Brethren the English. You told Mr. Weiser that you intended to visit me in order to consult about a new Chief, but you never did it. I have ever since condoled with you for the Loss of so good a Man, and considering the lamentable Condition you were in for want of a Chief I present You this Belt of Wampum and this Present to wipe away your Tears, and I de- sire you may choose amongst Yourselves one of your wisest Coun- sellors and present to your Brethren the Six Nations and me for a Chief, and he so chosen by you shall be looked upon by us as your King, with whom Publick Business shall be transacted. Brethren, to enforce this on your Minds I present you this Belt of Wam- pum.'
"Gave a Belt of Wampum, which was received with the Yo- hah."
" A Speech delivered the Shawonese from the Honourable James Hamilton, Governor of Pennsylvania, by George Croghan :
"'Brethren the Shawonese-
""'Three years ago when some of your Chiefs and some Chiefs of the Six Nations came down to Lancaster with our Brethren the Twightwees, they informed me that your People that went away with Peter Chartier was coming back, and since that I hear that Part of them are returned. I am glad to hear that they are com- ing home to you again that you may become once more a People, and not as you were dispersed thro' the World. I do not blame you for what happened, for the wisest of People sometimes make mistakes ; it was the French that the Indians call their Fathers that deceived You and scattered you about the Woods that they might have it in their Power to keep you poor. Brethren, I assure you by this Present that I am fully reconcil'd and have forgot any thing that you have done, and I hope for the future there will be a more free and open Correspondence between us; and now your Brethren the Six Nations join with me to remove any misunder- standing that should have happened between us, that we may hence- forth spend the remainder of our days together in Brotherly Love and Friendship. Now, that this Speech which your Brothers the Six Nations joyn with me in may have its full Force on your minds, I present you this Belt of Wampum.'
" Gave a Belt of Wampum, Which was received with the Yo-hah."
" A Speech delivered the Owendatts, from the Honourable James Hamilton, Governor of Pennsylvania, by George Croghan :
"' Brethren the Owendatts-
" ' I receiv'd a Message by the Six Nations and another by Mr. Montour from you, by both which I understand the French, whom
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the Indians call their Father, wont let you rest in your Towns in Peace, but constantly threaten to cut you off. How comes this ? Are you not a free and independent People, and have you not a. Right to live where you please on your own Land, and trade with whom you please ? Your Brethren, the English, always considered you as a free Nation, and I think the French who attempt to in- fringe on your Liberties should be opposed by one and all the Indians or any other Nations that should undertake such unjust pro- ceedings.
" ' Brethren :
"' I am sorry to hear of your Troubles, and I hope you and your Brethren the Six Nations will let the French know that you are a free People and will not be imposed on by them. To assure you that I have your Troubles much at heart I present you this Belt and this Present of Goods to cloathe your Families.'
" Gave a Belt of Wampum, which was received with the Yo-halı."
" A Speech delivered the Twightwees from the Honourable James Hamilton, Esquire, Governor Pennsylvania, by George Croghan : "' Brethren the Twightwees-
"' As you are an antient and renowned Nation I was well pleased when you sent your Deputies now three years ago to sollicit our Al- liance; nor did we hesitate to grant you your Request, as it came so warmly recommended to us by our Brethren the Six Nations, Dela- wares, and Shawonese. At your further Request we ordered our Traders to go amongst you and supply you with Goods at as reason- able rates as they could afford. We understand that in obedience to our Commands our Traders have given you full Satisfaction to your Requests. In one of your Towns about three Months ago Mr. George Croghan likewise informs us that some more of your Tribes earnestly requested to become our Allies. He and Mr. Mon- tour did receive a writing from you Certifying such your Request, and containing your Promises of Fidelity and Friendship, which we have seen and approve of. Brethren: We have recommended it to our Brethren the Six Nations to give you their advice how you should behave in your new Alliance with us, and we expect that you will follow it, that the Friendship now subsisting between Us, the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawonese, Owendatts, and you, may become as Strong as a great Mountain which the Winds constantly blow against but never overset. Brethren, to assure you of our hearty Inclinations towards you I make you this Present of Goods ; and that this Speech which I make you now in Conjunction with the Six Nations may have its full Force on your minds, I present you this Belt of Wampum."
" Gave a Belt, which was received with the Yo-hah."
" A Speech made to the Six United Nations by George Croghan in behalf of the Honourable James Hamilton, Esquire, Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania :
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"'Brethren the Six Nations, hear what I am going to say to you. Brethren : it is a great while since we, your Brothers the English, first came over the great Water (meaning the Sea) ; as soon as our ship struck the Land you the Six Nations took hold of her and tyed her to the Bushes, and for fear the Bushes would not be strong enough to hold her you removed the Rope and tyed it about a great Tree ; then fearing the winds would blow the Tree down, you re- moved the Rope and tyed it about a great Mountain in the Country (meaning the Onondago Country), and since that time we have lived in true Brotherly Love and Friendship together. Now, Brethren, since that there are several Nations joined in Friendship with you and Us, and of late our Brethren the Twightwees : Now, Brethren, as you are the Head of all the Nations of Indians, I warmly recom- mend it to you to give our Brethren the Twightwees your best ad- vice that they may know how to behave in their New Alliance, and likewise I give our Brethren the Owendatts in charge to you, that you may Strengthen them to withstand their Enemies the French, who I understand treat them more like Enemies than Children, tho' they call themselves their Father.
" 'Brethren : I hope we, your Brothers the English, and you the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawonese, Owendatts, and Twightwees, will continue in such Brotherly Love and Friendship that it will be as strong as that Mountain to which you tyed our Ship. Now, Brethren, I am informed by George Croghan that the French ob- struct my Traders and carry away their Persons and Goods, and are guilty of many outrageous Practices, Whereby the Roads are ren- dered unsafe to travel in, nor can we ask our Traders to go amongst you whilst their Lives and Effects are in such great Danger. How comes this to pass ? Don't this proceed from the Pride of Onontio, whom the Indians call their Father, because they don't see his ill Designs ? The strong houses you gave him Leave to erect on your Lands serve (As your Brethren the English always told you) to im- poverish You and keep your Wives and Children always naked by keeping the English Traders at a Distance, the French well knowing the English sell their Goods cheaper than they can afford, and I can assure You Onontio will never rest while an English Trader comes to Ohio; and indeed if you don't open your Eyes and put a Stop to his Proceedings he will gain his Ends. Brethren : I hope you will consider well what Onontio means or is about to do. To enforce what I have been saying to you on your minds, I present you this Belt of Wampum.'
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