USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 10
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"Gave a Belt.
""Brethren :
""' As to the Encroachments of the French and what You have said to Us on that Article in the Behalf of the King our Father, as. these Matters were laid before Us as of great Importance so We have made a strict Enquiry amongst all our People, if any of them have either sold or given the French Leave to build the Forts You mention, and We cannot find that either any Sale has been made or Leave has been given, but the French have gone thither without our Consent or Approbation, nor ever mentioned it to Us.
""'Brethren :
""' The Governor of Virginia and the Governor of Canada are both quarrelling about Lands which belong to Us; And such a Quarrel as this may end in our Destruction. They fight who shall have thé Land. The Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania have made Paths thro' our Country to trade, and built Houses without acquaint- ing Us with it. They should first have asked our Consent to build there, as was done when Oswego was built.'
" Gave a Belt.
""'Brethren :
""'It is very true, as you told Us, that the Clouds hang heavy over Us, and it is not very pleasant to look up, but We give You this Belt (giving a Belt) to clear away all Clouds that We may all live in bright Sunshine and keep together in strict Union and Friend- ship, then We shall become strong and nothing can hurt Us. " 'Brethren :
"""This is the antient Place of Treaty where the Fire of Friend-
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always Used to burn, and it is Now three Years since We have been called to any Public Treaty herc.
""' It is true there are Commissioners here, but they have never invited Us to smoke with them (by which they mean the Commis- sioners had never invited them to any Conferences), but the Indians of Canada come frequently and smoke here, which is for the Sake of the Bearer; but We hate them (meaning the French Indians), We have not as yet confirmed the Peace with them; It is your Fault, Brethren, that We are not strengthened by Conquest, for We would have gone and taken Crown Point but You hindered Us. We had concluded to go and take it, but We were told it was too late, and that the Ice would not bear Us. Instead of this You burnt your own Fort at Saraghtoga and run away from it, which was a Shame and a Scandal to You. Look about your Country and see you have no Fortifications about You; no, not even to this City. It is but one step from Canada hither, and the French may easily come and turn You out of your Doors.
" 'Brethren :
""'You desired Us to speak from the Bottom of our Hearts, and We shall do it. Look about You and see all these Houses full of Beaver, and the Money is all gone to Canada; likewise Powder, Lead, and Guns, which the French now make Use of at Ohio.
""'Brethren :
"'The Goods which go from hence to Oswego go from thence to Ohio, which further enables the French to carry on their Designs at the Ohio.
"" Brethren :
""' You were desirous that We should open our Minds and our Hearts to You. Look at the French, they are Men; they are for- tifying every where. But We are ashamed to say it, You are all like Women, bare and open without any Fortifications.'
" Here Hendrick ended his Speech. His Brother Abraham then rose up and said :
" ' Brethren :
"' We would let You know what was our Desire three Years ago when Col. Johnson laid down the Management of Indian Af- fairs, which gave Us great Uneasiness. The Governor then told Us it was not in his Power to continue him, but that he would con- sult with the Council at New York, that he was going over to Eng- land, and promised to recommend our Desire that Col. Johnson should have the Management of Indian Affairs to the King, that the new Governor might have Power to reinstate him. We long waited in Expectation of this being done, but hearing no more of it We embrace this Opportunity of laying this Belt (and gave a Belt) before all our Brethren here present, and desire them that Col.
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Johnson may be reinstated and have the Management of Indian Affairs, for We all lived happy whilst they were under his Management, for We love him and he has always been our good and trusty Friend.
"' Brethren :
" ' I forgot something. We think our Request about Col. John- son which Governor Clinton promised to carry to the King our Father is drowned in the Sea. The Fire here is burnt out, and (turning his Face to the New York Commissioners of Indian Affairs at Albany, who were there present) desired them to take Notice of what he said.'
" Which answer from the Indians was debated Paragraph by Paragraph, and those Gentlemen who were appointed a Committee to prepare a general Speech the 19th Ultimo were now appointed to draw up a Reply.
" Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 o'Clock."
-
" At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, Wednesday, 3d July, 1754, A. M.
"PRESENT :
"John Chambers &
" William Smith, Esquires, of the Council of New York.
" Samuel Wells,
" John Chandler, & Esquires, Commissioners for Massachusets
" Oliver Patridge, Bay.
" Theodore Atkinson & Richd. Wybert, Esq's, Comm" from N. Hampshire.
" The Commissioners from Connecticut.
" Martin Howard, Esquire, a Commissioner from Rhode Island.
" All the Commissioners from Pennsylvania.
" Benjamin Tasker, Esqr., One of the Com"s. from Maryland.
" A Draught of the Reply proposed to be made to the Speech of the Six Nations of the First Instant, which the Committee ap- pointed Yesterday Afternoon had drawn up, was read. Mr. Cham- bers desired to carry it to his Honour the Lieutenant Governor for his Opinion, which was agreed to.
" Took their Seats at the Board,
" His Honour the Lieutenant Governor.
"Joseph Murray and William Johnson, Esquires, of the Council of New York.
" Thomas Hutchinson and John Worthington, Esquires, Commis- sioners for Massachusets Bay.
" Mesheck Wear and Henry Sherburne, Esquires, Commissioners for New Hampshire.
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" Stephen Hopkins, One of the Commissioners from Rhode Island.
" Abraham Barnes, Esquire, One of the Commissioners from Maryland.
" His Honour laid before the Board certain Matters which he proposed to be inserted in the Reply to be made to the Six Na- tions, which, together with the Draught from the Committee, was read and debated.
" The Commissioners from Pennsylvania also laid before the Board an Addition in Behalf of their Province, and proposed it to be added to the Reply. The Commissioners from Massachusets, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, proposed also some Additions.
" These several Draughts being read and considered, the follow- ing Reply to the Six Nations was agreed upon by the Board : "' Brethren :
"' It gives Us great Pleasure to see You so ready to renew and brighten the antient Chain of Friendship. We wish the further Extension of it, and shall not fail joining our utmost Endeavours for that Purpose.
""' Brethren :
"' We are sorry that any Neglect has been shown to You, and We hope that nothing of that Kind will happen hereafter or any Misunderstanding arise between You and any of his Majestie's Governments. You are our old and Steady Friends. We assure You not one Thought has ever come into our Minds of rejecting You. Our Hearts have ever been warm towards You, and We now gladly meet and open our Hearts to You ; the Covenant is renewed, the Chain is brightened, the Fire burns clear, and We hope all Things will be pleasant on both Sides for the Future.'
" A Belt.
"'Brethren :
""' We gladly understand that You gave no Countenance to the French who went to Ohio and have entered on your Lands; they are always your and our open or secret Enemies. You did put this Land under the King our Father. He is now taking care to pre- serve it for You. For this End, among Others, He has directed Us to meet You here, for altho' the Land is under the King's Govern- ment, yet the Property or Power of selling it to any of his Majes- tie's Subjects having Authority from him, We always considered as Vested in You.
" 'Brethren :
"' You say that the Governors of Virginia and Canada are fight- ing about Lands belonging to you, and that the Governors of Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania have opened new Roads and built Houses at Ohio.
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"' What You say is a great Surprize to Us. We all know that for Five Years past in the Face of all the Six Nations, in open Day Light the French have been marching Troops into that Country, which We ever did and do still acknowledge to belong to You, tho' within your Father the King of Great Britain's Dominions, and under his Protection. And the French did publish every where their Designs to build Forts and drive away the English Traders, and they did carry them into Execution by seizing the Traders, And did last Year actually build Two Forts in that Country. But . we never heard, notwithstanding these open Hostilities of the French, that ever Virginia or Pennsylvania sent one Soldier or built one House for their and your Protection till this present Year.
"' It is fortunate that Mr. Weiser, who transacts the publick Business of Virginia and Pennsylvania with your Nations, and is one of your Council and knows these Matters well, is now present. Hear the account he gives, and that will set this matter in a true Light.'
" Mr. Weiser was then to say as follows:
" ' Brethren :
" 'The Road to Ohio is no new Road, it is an old and frequented Road ; the Shawonese and Delawares removed thither above thirty Years ago from Pennsylvania, ever since which that Road has been travelled by our Traders at their Invitation, and always with Safety, until within these few Years that the French with their usual Faithlessness sent armies there, threatned the Indians, and ob- structed our Trade with them. The Governor of Virginia observ- ing these Hostilities in Time of full Peace, sent his Majesty an Account of them. His Majesty was pleased to order his Governor to hold an Interview with the Six Nations to consult measures with them how to put a Stop to these French Proceedings, equally. injurious to them as to his Subjects. And that they might better know them it was thought the Interview might best be held at some Place near the Country where these hostile Proceedings were carried on. His Majesty likewise ordered a Present to the Six Nations as a further Token of his affection for them. Accordingly Mr. Weiser in 1750 was sent to Onondago by the Governor of Virginia, and invited the Indians to come and treat at Fredericksburg, in that Province, and receive the King's Present, but could not pre- vail. The Governor of Virginia finding the French still continuing their Hostilities, sent Commissioners in 1751 to the Indians at Ohio and delivered them the King's Present, and by a Belt of Wampum proposed that a strong House might be built near the mouth of Mohongialo for their mutual Protection. The Indians made answer that they were well pleased with the Proposal, and would send that Belt to Onondago and join one of their own to it. Nothing was heard of this Belt, and the last Year the French invaded
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the Country of Ohio with a strong hand, whereupon the Indians re- siding there, your Flesh and Blood, sent repeated Messages to the Governor of Virginia to send his Young Men to their Assistance. But he being a Person of great Forethought and Prudence still forbore to do it, and instead thereof sent two Messages by Mr. Andrew Montour to Onondago for your Advice how to act. It happened that no Council could be called at either Time. The Chiefs of Onondago desired Mr. Montour to tell their Brother the Governor of Virginia to act cautiously, and let the French strike the first Blow.
"'The French then coming nearer and nearer, Tanacharisson (otherwise called the Half King) was sent to them by the United Nations at Ohio, together with the Shawonese and Delawares, to forewarn them off their Land. In the mean time other Chiefs of these several Nations came to Virginia and Pennsylvania and told Us what they had agreed upon in Council, vizt: that they the Rest of the Chiefs should come to Us and desire Us to call our People from over the Allegheny Hills, to prevent Bloodshed between the English and French. But when these Indians returned and found that the French paid no Regard to their Warning, but told them positively that if they opposed their taking Possession of that Country they would cut them off, they sent repeated Messages to the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia to apprize them of their, the Indians' immediate Danger, telling them they would find nothing but the Ashes of their Houses and their Bones if they did not forthwith send Warriors and build them a House to fly to. Having a late Example before their Eyes in that the French had fallen upon their Brethren the Twightwees on a sudden and killed them in their Houses, as well as some English who were there trading with them.
"' On this melancholy News, the Governor of Virginia, agreeable to the Request of the Indians, sent People to build an House at the Mouth of Mohongialo; but before they had finished it the French came down the River with a Thousand Men and 18 Cannon, and told the People who were building it, and were but 44 in Number, that they must either fight or give up Possession, which last they were obliged to do on Account of the superior Force of the French. " ' Brethren :
"' This is the Truth, which We have thought proper to relate so particularly that the prudent and cautious Conduct of Virginia might be known to the Six Nations. As to Pennsylvania, they have never sent a Warrior or built a Fort at Ohio. This Belt is given to confirm what is said and that you may remember what has now been related to You.'
".A Belt.
" Here Mr. Weiser's Relation ends.
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"'Brethren :
"' You tell Us We are open and defenceless. We are consulting how far it will be necessary to fortify our Frontiers. At the same time We expect You will take Care to keep your People from going over to the French. We are able when united with you to resist any Force the French and their Allies can bring against Us.'
" The following Paragraphs were to be spoken by the Governor of New York in his own Name :
"' Brethren :
""' You have told me that this is the Place of Treaty; that it is now three Years ago since You were asked to smoke a Pipe here ; that there are Commissioners, but they have never invited You to smoke with them.
"' It was their Duty on their Appointment to acquaint You with it, and to invite You to smoke with them and to rekindle the Fire, which was then almost extinguished; and if they had done it earlier and before I sent them Directions, it would have been very agreeable to me.
" 'Brethren :
""'You say the Houses here are full of Beaver. This is a Trading Place, and the Merchants have a Right to traffick for Beaver or other Skins, which they sometimes pay for in Goods and sometimes in Money. But as to what You say about Guns and Powder being sold to the French, I have made all the Enquiry I could into this Matter and am assured you are misinformed, for that neither Guns nor Powder are sold by any Persons here to the French. " 'Brethren :
" You tell me that whilst Col. Johnson had the Management of Indian Affairs You all lived happy ; that You loved him, and he You, and that he has always been your good and trusty Friend. I am very sensible You had good Reason to look upon him in this Light, and fully convinced that he is still your Friend ; but as this is the Place where the antient Fire was kindled, which was nearly burnt out, and as Col. Johnson for some Reasons declined the Management of Indian Affairs, it was thought proper to rekindle the Fire here by appointing Commissioners, whom I shall direct to receive and consult with You upon all Business that may concern our mutual Interests ; and I expect that You will for the future apply to them, according to the Custom of your Forefathers, to tell your News, and in Return to receive from them what shall be thought necessary to be imparted to you, and I will give them Directions that they treat You with the Affection due to You as Brethren. I will make Tryal of them another Year, and if You do not meet with the kind Treatment You have a Right to expect, complain to this Gov- ernment and effectual measures shall be taken for your Satisfac- tion.'
.
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" Gave a Belt.
"The following was to be spoke by Mr. Kellogg, Interpreter, from Massachusetts Bay :
"'Brethren :
"'We have agreed to tell all News and take Council together. We cannot part till we have told you the News from England, tho' at a considerable Distance from You. The French have the same bad designs there as well as at Ohio. They are very fond to get Kennebeck River. We have News of their beginning a Fort at the Head of that River. A Priest of theirs has built a House a great way down that River. Governor Shirley has raised 800 Men and is gone down to drive them away, and to build an English Fort at the Head or far up the said River Kennebeck. We have News also that the French are building a Fort up Connecticut River Northward of Cowass. The Governor of New Hampshire has now sent a Company of Men up that River to enquire into the Fact, and if true to drive them immediately off. In another Part of the Government of New Hampshire a number of the St. Francis' Indians have lately taken a Family, consisting of a Man and his Wife and three Children, and carried them into Captivity from an Out Settlement on Merrimack River, and this contrary to their solemn Engagement at a Treaty held with them.
"' We have also News that a number of Indians have murdered twenty-one English Fishermen at Canso, and had carried their Scalps to Cape Breton, where they were well received, and it is said rewarded.'
" The Board then adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 o'Clock.
-
" At a Meeting at the Court House in Albany, Thursday, July 4th, 1754, A. M.
" PRESENT :
"The Four Gentlemen of the Council of New York, and all the Commissioners of the several Governments.
" The Plan for a Union of the Colonies was debated, but nothing was finally determined on.
" Adjourned till three O'clock this afternoon.
" At a Meeting as above, Thursday the fourth July, 1754, P. M. " PRESENT :
" All the Commissioners for the several Governments.
" The Plan for a Union was further considered, but no Resolves made thereupon.
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"The Board receiving a Message from his Honour the Governor of New York that the Indians were seated in order to speak to his Honour and the Commissioners, the Board adjourned to nine o'Clock to-morrow morning and waited upon the Governor.
" At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, Friday, July 5th, 1754, A. M.
"PRESENT :
" All the Commissioners for the several Governments.
" The Rejoinder of the Six Nations, spoke yesterday Afternoon, was read to the Board and Ordered to be minuted as follows :
("The following Speech is chiefly a Rejoinder to the Reply made to the Six Nations on the third Instant :)
"'Brother of New York and Brethren of the several Govern- ments : We on our Sides are equally rejoiced as You have expressed yourselves on the renewing and brightening the antient Covenant Chain between all his Majestie's Governments on the Continent and Us of the Six United Nations.
"'As to what the Governor of New York told Us yesterday, re- lating to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs at Albany, We are much obliged to him for his Promise to direct them to take Notice of Us for the future, that he will try them for one Year longer, and for giving Us Leave to acquaint this Government if they do not treat Us as Brethren.
"'Brethren, We have told the Governor of New York how Col. Johnson has behaved to Us and our Opinion of him, and the Dan- ger we thought Ourselves in by his leaving off the Management of Indian Affairs. If he fails Us We die. However, We agree to what the Governor has proposed to Us. He is Master of all to do what he pleases, and We submit the whole Affair to him.'
" Gave a Belt.
" 'Brethren :
"' We are very thankful to the King, our Father, for ordering Commissioners from so many Governments to meet here in order to enquire into all Matters relating to Us, and to put every thing on a right Footing. We rejoice that We have opened our Hearts to each other, and We return the Governor and all the Commissioners from the several Governments our thanks for the same. "' Brethren :
" 'Some time ago the King, our Father, sent a Present to the Governor of Virginia, who sent a Messenger to the Six Nations that We should come down and receive it, but we cou'd not come. We have since been informed that the Present was sent to Ohio.'
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" The Speaker then proceeded to repeat the Substance of what was said to them yesterday on the Part of Pennsylvania by their Inter- preter Mr. Weiser :
"' We allow that the Road from Pennsylvania to Ohio is no new Road, but has been travelled there thirty Years by the Traders.
" We thank the Governor of Virginia for assisting the Indians at Ohio, who are our Relations and Allies; and We approve of the Governor of Pennsylvania not having yet intermeddled in the Affair. He is a wise, a prudent Man, and will Know his own Time.
"'We return the Governor of New York and all the other Governments our most hearty thanks (here the Speaker made Bows to his Honour and all the Commissioners) for the Promise of Pro- tection given Us of our Lands and the Acknowledgment that the Right of settling it is in Us.'
" Gave a Belt.
""'Brethren :
""' We put You in Mind in our former Speech of the defenceless State of your Frontiers, particularly of this City, of Schenectady, and of the Country of the Five Nations. You told Us Yesterday You were consulting about securing both yourselves and Us. We beg You will resolve on something speedily ; You are not safe from Danger one day. The French have their Hatchet in their Hands both at Ohio and in two Places in New England. We don't know but this very Night they may attack Us.
"""One of the principal Reasons why We desire You will be speedy in these Matters is that since Col. Johnson has been in this City there has been a French Indian at his House who took Measure of the Wall round it, and made very narrow Observation on every Thing thereabouts.
" We think him (Col. Johnson) in very great Danger because the French will take more than ordinary Pains either to kill him or take him Prisoner on account of his great Interest among Us, and being also one of the Five Nations [Col. Johnson is One of their Sachems ].'
" Upon this they gave Four Strings of Wampum.
" The Board then proceeded to consider the Plan for a Union, but did not get thro' with it.
" Adjourned to nine O'Clock to-morrow morning.
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" At a Meeting held in the Court House at Albany, Saturday, July 6th, 1754, A. M.
"PRESENT :
" All the Commissioners for Massachusetts Bay.
" William Pitkin & Roger Wolcot, Esquires, Commissioners for Connecticut.
" The Commissioners for Rhode Island.
"John Penn, Isaac Norris, & Benjamin Franklin, Esquires, Commissioners for Pennsylvania.
" The Commissioners for Maryland.
" His Honour the Lieutenant Governor sent to the Board the Speech he proposes to make to the River Indians, which the Board agreed to with a small Addition, which was sent in Writing to the Governor.
"The Board having been informed by Mr. Peters that the Lieu- tenant Governor of New York sent for him last Night, and told him his Provisions were expended, and he could no longer maintain the Indians, and he expected the Commissioners would maintain them, and gave him the List of what had been allowed + Day to the Five Nations exclusive of the River Indians.
" The Board hereupon resolved that they would take the Charge of supporting the Indians upon themselves.
" Mesheck Weare and Henry Sherburne, Esquires, Commissioners for New Hampshire took their Seats.
"The Committee appointed the first Instant to draw up a Re- presentation of the present State of the Colonies with relation to the French, delivered the same to the Board, which was read and ordered to lie upon the Table for the Consideration of the Com- missioners.
" The Secretary presented to the Board a Draught of the Speech which his Honour proposed to deliver to the Six Nations this Af- ternoon, and also the following Message from his Honour that the Board would please to send him any Alterations or Additions which they might think proper to be made to the same Draught; that his Honour intended when he made the Speech to the Indians to read to them the Act of the General Assembly of New York concerning the Sale of Rum to the Indians; and that he also recommended the Request of the Upper Castle of the Mohocks for a Church to the Board. The Secretary also brought back his Honour's Appro- bation to the small addition proposed to be made to the Speech intended to be made to the River Indians. Which Speech is as follows :
"' Brethren :
""' I have sent for you here to give you fresh assurances of the
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Great King our Father's Protection, and that we might, with the Commissioners whom You now see assembled here from the Gov- ernments of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, strengthen and brighten the Covenant Chain.
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