USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 70
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The Governor in answer told him, " Brother, you know that this is quite a new Method, and was never practised before.
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"Brother, it is True," replied Teedyuscung, "you are right, this was not formerly practised, it never used to be so. Don't you see that I aim, by having a Clerk of my own, to exceed my Ancestors by having everything for the best. I endeavor, according to my Ideas, to look to those that have the Authority ; as for Instance, if they take up a handful of Corn or Pebbles, if they drop any, even one Grain, I will take notice, and will speak of it that they may take it up."
The Governor then applied to Mr. Croghan to know whether this has ever been practised in any Treaty. Mr. Croghan said it never was, and turning to the King said, " Brother, this is quite a new Method, and what was never before practised. I well know that the Indians have good Memories, and can remember what was transacted twenty years ago, as if Yesterday. I therefore shou'd be glad the King wou'd repeat himself what he has to say, as we are only . treating with him." Then Teedyuscung replied " well Brother, the Governor, what we have consulted and concluded on this morning, is this. I remember you told me last night, that what was transac- ted last Fall was laid before the King's Ministers; and we took particular Notice that you told us, that some time before you came from Philadelphia, you fully intended to make all Satisfaction to me at this Treaty about Lands and Deeds ; but that you received a Letter, or Letters from the King, or Proprietaries, I am not certain which, you know best, in consequence of which, you told us that you could not act in this Affair, but that Sir William Johnson was appointed to transact Indian Affairs, and Mr. Geo. Croghan was appointed to act in his name. We remember very well when we had a private Conference with you at your Dwelling, and that you and Mr. Croghan rose up, shook Hands with me, and you told us this was the very man that was appointed to act between the English and Indians ; now in Consideration of these things, why should we be obliged to go to Sir William Johnson to have the Proof of Lands and Deeds examined by him, when there is nothing in the way, the Land Affairs not be compared with the great work of Peace, and should not be any Hinderance to our making a League of Friendship.
" Now I will give you my reasons for not going.
" In the first place I do not know Sir William Johnson ; he may be an honest and sincere Man. We do understand that he treats his Indians very well ; but we are sensible that some of the Nations are there that have been instrumental to this Misunder- standing in selling Lands in this Province, having in former Years usurped that Authority, and called us Women, and threatened to take us by the Foretop and throw us aside as Women. But, after a long space, I believe it is evident ; nay, there are Witnesses present who can prove that it is otherwise. Also when I have considered these several Particulars, as You told us there was nothing in the
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way to hinder us from confirming a durable and lasting Peace. I at present desire nothing at all of my Brethren, the English, for my Lands ; I only want, for the Satisfaction of the Indians of the Ten Nations present, and also of all other Indians, that the Deeds may be produced and well looked into; and as you have told me that Mr. George Croghan was the Man that would settle Affairs for our Peace, here he is; I want nothing but to see the Deeds fairly looked into, and true Copies of them taken and put with these Minutes now taken. And, after they have been fairly taken down, if you agree to this, then I shall, by two Belts tied together, take you by the Hand, and, with my Uncles, confirm a 'lasting Peace with you ; and if it please the Governor and Mr. Croghan, let the Copy of the Deeds be sent to Sir William Johnson, and to the King, and let him judge. I want nothing of the Land till the King hath sent Letters back; then if any of the Lands be found to belong to me, I expect to be paid for it, and not before. Brother, another reason for going is, if we cannot agree to settle this Affair here, I am afraid the Nations that are watching and looking into what is done here, will have Reason to think we have not acted an honest Part, as they expect a real, true, and lasting Peace will be settled here. I am also concerned on account of our Women and Children back, and of our Brethren, the English, on the Frontiers. For these now present, who it was expected would go home with great joy, will go home with their Finger in their Mouth, as every Body expected this would be the Time of confirm- ing a real and lasting Peace. I told you I would proclaim with a loud voice, and those present are Witnesses to what I sayd, and will not be easy if this is not done. I think nothing hinders us at all.
"As you told us you had Letters from the King or Proprietaries, I desire they may be produced and read, and put down with the minutes. Now this is the Conclusion, and in Confirming of what I have said, I give you this Belt."
Gave a Belt.
The King further said, " I desire also that a Copy of what passed in private between you and me, may be given to be entered with these minutes, and that it may be read in Publick at our next Meeting."
As soon as the Meeting was over, I told the Governor the Good of his Majesty's Service required that Teedyuscung's request of having the Deeds and private Conferences read, and Copies of them given him, with a Copy of so much of the Proprietaries' Letters as relates to have the Enquiry made by Sir William Johnson, should be granted. ยท
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At a Council held at Easton, the 2nd Day of August, 1757, A. M. PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
James Hamilton,
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner, Esquires.
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
Mr. Weiser having held a private Conference with Teedyuscung and his principal Counsellors in the presence of Mr. Croghan, agreeable to what was ordered at last Council, the Minutes then taken by Mr. Croghan were read, and are as follows, Vizt :
"Teedyuscung, with three Nanticokes, who arrived Yesterday, and three of his Council, came to Mr. Weiser's Lodgings, and de- sired he would hear what these Nanticokes had to say ; Upon which the Nanticoke Chief made the following Speeches :
"'Brother :
"""'The Chief man of the Nanticokes has sent me here to see the Governor and You, and desired me, in his Name, to wipe the Tears from your Eyes which those Troublesome times may have occasioned, and I do it with this String of Wampum.'
" A String.
"""Brothers :
""'You may have swallowed, since these Troubles arose, some- thing bitter, which has given your Heart some uneasiness. I, with this String of Wampum, remove all Grief from your Hearts, that your Minds may be as easy as they were in Times of Peace.'
" A String.
"'Brothers :
"' I see a great deal of Blood spilt. I, with this String, clean the Blood from off your Beds, that you may sleep easy, and from off your Council Seats, that you may sit with pleasure in Council with your Brethren, & with this Feather I open your Ears, which the great high Winds may have stopped, that you may hear what your Brothers may say to you.
"' Brothers :
"""'We must consider and think it was not the good spirit that has occasioned this Disturbance; no, it was the evil Spirit that surely occasioned all this Mischief, and I hope God will direct us to do every thing in our Power to assist in the good work of Peace, that we may be once more united together and live in Friendship as the Good Spirit has ordered us.
"' Brothers :
""'I am come here to this Council Fire with our Cousins, the Delawares, and you, to give all the Assistance I can to the good
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Work of Peace, and to join my Cousin Teedyuscung, and the six Nations, to gather up the Dead Bodies and Scattered Bones together, and will join in Prayer to the good Spirit to hide them, and when the Peace is confirmed I will put both my Hands into the Chain of Friendship with you and our Cousins, the Delawares, and the Six Nations ; to confirm my Words I give this String of Wampum.',
" Gave a String.
" This morning Teedyuscung sent Samuel Evans for Mr. Cro- ghan, to go to him at Col. Weiser's Lodgings, who immediately went there and found him with five of his Council.
" Mr. Weiser told him he wanted to speak with him; he then asked if it was by order of the Governor. Mr. Weiser said it was by Consent of the Governor and Council.
" He then asked Teedyuscung whether he wanted to see all the Deeds of the Province from the first purchase, or those only relat- ing to the back Lands where we are; he said the Reason of his asking was that he believed the whole of the Deeds was not brought up, but such as was thought necessary on account of the Complaint and those late purchases ; To which Teedyuscung answered, ' I should be well pleased to have seen all, as the Country to the Sea Shore was first our's, But if there be the Deeds of those Back Lands which are the main Points, I will be contented, so that I see them and have Copies of them, and of the Letters from the King's Ministers or Proprietors. As soon as that is done I will not say one Word more about the Differences or Lands, but confirm the Peace as soon as that is done.'
"GEORGE CROGHAN ..
" Examined with the original Minute in Mr. Croghan's Hand- writing, and is a True Copy, 2nd August, 1757.
" @ CONRAD WEISER, "WM. PETERS."
"The Council took into Consideration the Answer to be given to Teedyuscung's Speech at the Conference Yesterday, and a Draught being prepared was now carefully read, considered, settled, and approved by the Governor and Council (except Mr. Peters, who objected and declared himself against producing any of the Proprie- taries' Deeds) and the said Draught was afterwards read to Mr. Croghan, the King's Deputy Agent, who was called in for that pur- pose, and after some alterations was approved by him.
The Governor at three o'Clock this afternoon sent a Message to Teedyuscung that he would be at the place of Conference at five o'Clock, and then give an Answer to his Speech of Yesterday. Notice was likewise sent to the Speaker and Commissioners that the Governor would be at the place of Conference at Five.
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Soon after this Message was delivered to Teedyuscung, Pump- shire, and James Davies, one of Teedyuscung's Counsellers, came to Mr. Croghan and Mr. Peters, and acquainted them that Teedy- uscung was in Liquor, and the Governor wou'd defer speaking to him till the morning, which being related to the Governor he agreed to it, and gave orders to Col. Weiser to discharge the guard which was waiting to attend him to the Conference.
About an hour after this, Charles Thompson came to the Gover- nor's Lodging, but he being gone out, 'Thompson told Mr. Mifflin and Mr. Peters that he was sent by Teedyuscung to the Governor to know why he did not speak to him this afternoon, that the King was very much displeased at it; On which Mr. Mifflin and Mr. Peters told him that the Meeting was put off at the particular Re- quest of Pumpshire and one of Teedyuscung's Council, who said he was too much in Liquor to attend the Conference that afternoon. To which Thompson answered that Teedyuscung was sober, and much displeased at this delay of Business, and that several of his People offended thereat were determined to go home. Thompson had scarce been gone a quarter of an hour when Pumpshire and Davis came back again, and asked if Thompson had been there with a Message from 'Teedyuscung to the Governor, to desire he would give his answer that Afternoon; they were told that he had been at the House with such a Message, but did not see the Governor ; on which they said they were glad of it, for that the King and many of the Indians were very drunk, and it would not be proper to meet this Afternoon.
At a Council held at Easton, Wednesday the third day of August, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
James Hamilton,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew,
Lynford Lardner, Esquires. John Mifflin,
The Governor laid before the Council a Letter he had received from the Comissioners in Answer to his Letter relating to their Remonstrance, which was read in these Words:
" EASTON, August 1, 1757.
" Sir :
"We are by no means found of entering into a Controversy with you respecting our Right of remonstrating, whether it be as Com- missioners, Representatives of the People, or as Freemen of the Province ; but your late Letter to us is of such a nature that we should be wanting to ourselves, our Posterity and Country, should we omit asserting the indisputable priviledges that inseperably ap-
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pertain to these several Characters, and vindicating our Conduct in presenting the Remonstrance.
" This Remonstrance was made from an indispensible Obligation we were under to avert from a People already too much distress'd the Insupportable ill-consequences of a Continuance of the Indian Incursions & Massacres which were threaten'd by Teedyuscung, and in all probability must have ensued had you persisted in refusing him a Demand which all Impartial Persons must think reasonable, and which appears to be so from your granting it. No ill effect cou'd proceed from allowing this Demand, but many from a denial of it-Jealousy and Distrust on the part of the Indians ; a break of the Peace 'solemnly settled' by you att the last Treaty held at this place ; a general dissatisfaction of the Natives; and of Course a Continuance of the Devastations and Murders of our distressed frontier inhabitants ; and a total Allienation of the affections of the Indians from His Majesty's Interest.
" And yet you are pleased to declare that 'our taking upon us to remonstrate agst a Measure pregnant with these Mischiefs is illegal, unconstitutional, introductive of the greatest Confusion, and the highest Invasion of the Rights of the Crown. We have often found that charges against Men, and a Misrepresentation of their Actions, are easier made than supported and justified. You will be pleased to remember that we have as Commissioners a joint power with you in the Disposition of publick money, and are in duty bound to see it appropriated for the benefit of the People we represent; And if we apprehend any Steps are taking which are inconsistent with the Welfare of the Province, We are not only oblidged to remonstrate against them, but to refuse to defray the Expence of them.
" As a Committee of Assembly and Representatives of the Pro- vince we also claim a right to address you on any Occasion what- ever for the Publick Good ; And we must inform you we desire the same Right from the Characters of the Englishmen and Freemen whose Lives and Properties are immediately concerned in the Event and Success of this Conference.
" The first Proprietor in Consideration that our Forefathers wou'd leave their native Land and become joint Adventures with him in settling a Wilderness covenanted to Indemnify them from all In- dian Claims. To enable him to do which an Act was passed giving him the sole Power of purchasing Lands of the Natives, and as yet we find that Indian purchases have been so managed that the Na- tives now claim those very Land, insist they have been defrauded of them, and that those Frauds have been one of the Causes of the Destruction of Multitudes of our Fellow Subjects.
" To settle those matters of Property only is the Business of the present Conference ; and if our Attendance on it, the Place being Solemnly concluded by you at the last Treaty with Teedyuscung, as appears by the minutes, and yet to Remonstrate, or give you any
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information in this important affair in which the People are so re- markably concerned, it seems is highly criminal in your Opinion. Had we claimed and insisted on the Right of making Peace and War, or of directing the modes to be observed in conducting the present Treaty, or of Nominating a Clerk for the Chief as pertain- ing to our Stations, you might with some degree of Justice have charged us with 'Invading the just Rights of the Crown.' But as no reasonable Construction can justly extend the Remonstrance to any such claim, we are astonished you should be prevailed on by any sett of men whatever to exhibit such a Charge against us with- out the least Foundation. Our Remonstrance was decent and respectful, only advising, and far from directing or dictating to you. The Chief made a reasonable Demand, such as he apprehended was the only means of preventing any future misunderstandings between his Majesty's Subjects and the Natives; A Demand which was re- solved on in full Council at Diahoga before his arrival here; and to enforce which he prepared a Belt; And a Demand which he was determined to have granted to him, or to depart without proceeding on the Business of the Conference.
" Cou'd the Governor imagine that a free People can see their Country the Theatre of Rapine, Bloodshed, & Confusion, their fellow-Subjects destroyed, their Habitations deserted, their Wives and Children Massacred, or carried into the most barbarous Cap- tivity, and not interest themselves in averting those inexpressible Evils, when the fairest Opportunity that ever offered presents itself ? And is it possible that you can entertain such an Opinion of us as to imagine we are to be detered from remonstrating against measures which we apprehend had a Tendency to promote a Con- tinuance of these Misfortunes ? This, in all free Governments (and we hope the one we live in is so), Where Tyranny and Despotism are not in fashion, is what the People, both by Law and the nature of the Constitution, have a Right to do whenever any Measures are taking which they conceive Inconsistent with the Publick Welfare, much more against those which, instead of Securing the Tranquility of the Community, carry an aspect of involving the whole People in a Scene of Blood, War, and Confusion.
" You also are pleased to think it an heinous Offence that we should 'Give an Opinion,' tho' in a matter that so nearly concerned us, 'and pronounce the Demand so reasonable and just.' If Teedy- uscung's Demand was reasonable and just, as it appears from your granting it, wherein could the crime consist in pronouncing it so, or 4 of giving our Opinion of the matter?' We know of no Law against giving an Opinion in any matter whatever, provided it is not treasonable, or inconsistent with the Publick Peace; And we hope never to see the Time when a Governor's Prohibitions shall have the Sanction of a Law, or the same regard paid to it, and should we submit to it now, you may hereafter with equal Justice forbid us to speak, and at last to have any Opinion at all.
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" We entreat you to consider that we are Freemen, and Subjects to a gracious King, who never yet disputed his People's Right to address him on any Occasion whatever. Nor ever thought it repugnant to his 'Honour' or inconsistent with the 'Duty of the Station' of his Governors to receive the decent and moderate remon- strances of his Subjects, with their Lives and Properties were con- cerned; That we shall ever be tenacious of our Rights, and shall with fredom Remonstrate to you whenever the Duty of our Station, or our Interest as Freemen and Subjects, shall direct us for the Publick Good; and we are so far from suspecting that we shall incur his Majesty's Displeasure herein, that we doubt not but, on a fair Representation to him, we shall meet with that Justice and Redress which must ever flow from the Throne of a Gracious King and Father of his People, and the known Wisdom of his Parliaments.
" We are, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants, " JOS. GALLOWAY, " WM. MASTERS, " JOS. FOX, " JOHN HUGHES."'
At a Meeting with the Indians in Easton, on Wednesday, August the 3d, 1757, A. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr-, Governor, &ca. The Council.
The same Members of Assembly.
The Provincial Commissioners.
A number of Gentlemen from the City of Philadelphia, and others the Inhabitants of the Province.
Captain Thomas McKee, Interpreter for the Crown.
Conrad Weiser, Esquire, Interpreter for the Province.
Mr. John Pumpshire, Interpreter for Teedyuscung.
Teedyuscung, King of the Delawares, attended by several Chiefs and Deputies of the Ten Nations he represents, and a great num- ber of others.
The Governor told Teedyuscung that five o'Clock Yesterday was appointed for the time of Meeting; but understood that the King was then particularly engaged with some Friends lately come in, he had defered Meeting them till this Morning.
The Governor spoke as follows :
" Brother :
" I have well weighed and considered what you said to me at our last Meeting, and am sorry you do not incline to go to Sir
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William Johnson to have your Complaints strictly enquired into and examined by him. It is true, Sir William has for some time past had a general Commission from the King to superintend In- dian Affairs, and that he has given Mr. Croghan a Power to act as his Deputy, under which he might have been Justified in going into an Examination, as well of our Complaints as the Proprie- taries' Defence, had not the King's Ministers lately been pleased to direct the hearing to be before Sir William Johnson himself. Though you may think yourselves at Liberty, and may refuse to comply with these Directions, yet, as I told you before, I am the King's Servant, and oblidged to obey, and cannot take upon me to. go into a Defence of the Proprietaries' Title at this time. But as you so earnestly desire to see the Deeds for the Lands, mentioned in your last Treaty, that you may be satisfied whether they are genuine or whether the Indians who signed them had a Right to sell those Lands; I have brought them with me, and am willing to shew them to you now, or at any other time you will appoint, and give you copies of them agreeable to your Request."
Here the Deeds were laid down on the Table.
" And now let all further Debates and Altercations concerning Lands rest here, till they shall be fully examined and looked into by Sir William Johnson, in order to be transmitted to the King for his royal Determination."
" Brother :
" After having gratified you in every reasonable Request, and being sincerely desirous to re-establish that Friendship and Bro- therly Love which so happily subsisted between your Ancestors and ours, I am ready, with the King's Deputy Agent, to take hold of the two Belts you mentioned with both my Hands, and confirm a lasting Peace, and exchange them with one Prepared for that pur- pose, in the name of the King of England and all his Subjects, as- soon as we can agree upon the Terms.
" Brother :
"The Orders of his Majesty's Ministers, on this Occasion, has. been signified to me by the Proprietaries, which is the proper Channel through which they should come. That you may the better understand this, it will be necessary to inform you that the Proprietaries are Governors-in-Chief over this Province, and I am appointed their Deputy, with the Approbation of the Crown. When, therefore, the last 'Treaty was laid before the King's Minis- ters, they gave the Proprietaries notice of their Resolution, that the matter should be heard before Sir William Johnson only ; to whom they wou'd send special Directions for that purpose. The Proprietaries, for whom I act in this case, have made me ac- quainted with the Ministers' Orders, and desired me to regulate my Conduct by them. It would have been irregular & improper
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to have sent the Order itself to me; but I do not doubt the King's Ministers have transmitted it to Sir William Johnson, as an Autho- rity for him to hear and examine our Differences, and that he has received it before this Time. As I could not suspect that you would have required a Copy of such of the Proprietaries' Letters as relate to this matter, I did not bring them with me here, where- fore, it is not in my Power to comply with your Request to fur- nish you with Copies of them ; and to confirm the Truth of this, I give you this Belt of Wampum."
When the Governor had ended his Speech, he asked the King whether he would have the Deeds read now and Copies taken; Be- fore the King returned an Answer he took up the Belt, which the Governor had just delivered, and rising up, Spoke first to the Dela- wares & then to the five Nations, then turning to the Governor, said :
" Brother :
" I understand the Words you have said here, but they are not agreeable to your knowledge, nor a full answer to what I said. There are two things not agreeable.
The Governor said, " Will the King Please to tell what these two Things be," " no," replied the King, "let the Governor find them out."' 'The Governor said, he did not know what the King meant, he wished he knew what Answer to make.
Teedyuscung then said, "If it please the Governor, in a few Words, what has been spoken on that Belt is as Rumbling over the Earth, or Confusion about Lands, I did not want you to make men- tion of them; when I expected an Answer in a loving manner, I wanted you should come to the main Point without having so many words with it."
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