USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 43
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" It gives me great satisfaction to find from what has been said to me by these Indians, a Copy of which is now laid before you, that the several Tribes of Western Indians are well effected towards us, and I should be glad, before I return them my Answer, to be ad- vised by you in what manner this favourable disposition may be best improved.
" Teedyuscung having delivered to me four Prisoners, two elderly Women and two Boys, who are quite naked and destitute, I recom- mend it to you to enable me to make some Provision for them, and likewise to send these Messengers away well pleased with their Re- ception, being of Opinion with Teedyuscung, that it will be of great service, at this time, to engage the friendship of the Nation to whom they belong.
" JAMES HAMILTON.
"7 December, 1759."
December 8th, 1759.
This day the Governor received from the House an address in an answer to his Speech, together with two Written Messages, one re-
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lating to Indian Affairs, and another to the Provincial Forces. The Members who brought these Messages presented the Governor with a Draught on the Treasury for £500, and acquainted him that the House inclined to adjourn to the eleventh of February, if he had no objection to it. His Honour thank'd the House for their Order on the Treasury, and told them he should have no Objection to their Adjournment if upon perusing the Messages he should find they contained nothing that required their longer sitting, of which he would immediately acquaint them by the Secretary.
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it Please your Honour :
" We, the Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, beg leave to congratulate your Honour on your safe Arrival in this province, and to return our hearty thanks for the Readiness you are pleased to express 'to contribute your best Assistance to any Measures which may tend to the King's Honour, or to the publick service.'
" The Governor's Resolution and purpose of serving the Province by all honourable means, at once paying a regard to the rights of the 'Crown, and the just privileges of the people,' cannot fail of giving us the highest pleasure, as we are well assured the just Rights of this Government, which are founded, as near a proprie- tary Government well can be, on the principles of its parent Con- stitution, so remarkable for its excellent policy, cannot be preserved without a strict regard to the prerogative of the Crown, and the Liberties of the Subject.
"This Resolution in your Honour is so agreeable to the Plan we have ever, and are still determined to pursue, as the only one that can secure prosperity and happiness to the people we represent, that we think it is our duty to assure your Honour that every mea- sure which can tend to promote those purposes shall ever meet with our ready approbation and Concurrence.
" We cannot omit our sincere acknowledgements to the Governor for his Congratulations on the happy and glorious Events of the War in North America, and the agreeable change of affairs in this province in particular, since his Departure; and your Honour may be assured a due attention to them, and the best Endeavors to make them as advantageous to our Mother Country and her Colonies as possible, shall not be wanting in this Branch of the Legislature.
" As your Honour is pleased to inform us you have no Commands from the Crown to lay before us (to which, whenever communicated, we shall pay the greatest respect and regard), and we have no Bu- siness that requires our immediate attention, we are inclinable to adjourn to such time as we may reasonably expect to be furnished with them.
" Signed by order of the House,
" ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" December 8th, 1759."
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A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it Please your Honour :
"The Conferences with Teedyuscung and the Messengers from Ohio, laid Yesterday before the House, by your Honour, are very agreable to us, and we are pleased to find the friendly Disposition of the several Tribes of Western Indians towards us, which, in all probability, if well improved, may influence the Nations in favour of the British Interest, who have heretofore been too much attached to the French; and as it appears by these Conferences, that the Western Tribes of Indians have opened a road to us through Tee- dyuscung's Settlement, and have invited him to their Great Council to be held next Spring on the Ohio, we presume it may be of con- siderable Advantage to encourage Teedyuscung to undertake the Journey on this important Occasion; and we are of Opinion if Frederick Post and Isaac Stille were to accompany him, it might be of more general service; and request that they may have In- structions to insist upon the Delivery of all such of his Majesty's Subjects as have unfortunately fallen into the Hands of the Indians during the late Troubles.
"We have recommended the other parts of your Honour's mes- sage to the Commiss"s., who will make a suitable provision for the prisoners now delivered, and also take care that the Messengers from the Ohio shall depart well satisfied with their Reception amongst us.
"Signed by order of the House. " ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" December 8th, 1759."
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it Please your Honour :
" The House having taken into Consideration the Great burthen of Taxes the people of the province are under, the large Arrears now due to the Soldiery, the peaceable and quiet Situation of our Fron- tiers, the happy effect of the peace lately made with the Natives at a very heavy expence to this province alone, and the little use in keeping up and supporting the present large number of Troops dur- ing the inactive season of Winter, have come to a Resolution to request your Honour would take the most speedy and effectual measures to disband the Old as well as New Levies, save the num- ber of One hundred and fifty men, Officers included, which we have agreed to support for such Garrisons as you shall think necessary to keep upon our Frontiers.
" And as there is not Money sufficient in the Treasury at present to pay the Troops their full Arrears, we have resolved to pay them
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as far as is in our power; and whatever sum shall be wanting for that purpose shall be given in Certificates, bearing Interest from their respective dates, to be discharged out of the next Money granted for his majesty's Service.
" Signed by order of the House, "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. " December 8th, 1759."
The Governor had scarce perused the above Messages when he received from Mr. Denny a letter wrote some time ago by General Stanwix, relating to the provincial Troops, which should have been given him on his first arrival, whereupon he instantly sent the Sec- retary to the House to desire they woud adjourn to the Afternoon, that he might have an opportunity of answering their message re- lating to the provincial Forces, as well as of laying before them a Letter of General Stanwix's to the late Governor, delivered to him since he received their message, and in the afternoon after duly con- sidering the mischiefs that might ensue on the disbanding of the Forces, he sent to the House General Stanwix's Letter, together with a written message in these words :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" Your Message of this day requesting me to take the most speedy and effectual means to disband the old as well as new Levies, save the number of one hundred and fifty men, officers included, gives me a good deal of Concern, as it advises a measure which I am sorry I cannot think expedient at this Juncture, for the follow- ing Reasons :
" First. It is not certainly known what may have been the issue of General Stanwix's late Conferences with the Western Indians at Pittsburgh ; or whether the peace between them and his Majesty's Subjects is so firmly established as to admit, with safety to the Pro- vince, of so great a Reduction of the provincial Troops. In order likewise to reap the Full Benefit of any Treaty which may have been made, it is of advantage to make our new Friends sensible that we are in a Condition to enforce the Execution of it, or at least that we have no reason to be afraid of them; Neither of which is the more likely to be effected by disbanding so great a part of our Forces.
"Secondly. I am apprehensive that if so great a Reduction takes place, considering the small number of Regulars in the province, there will not be a sufficient number of men to garrison the several posts, which are thought necessary to be secured, to keep up the Communication from one to another, and to serve for Escorts of stores, Provisions, &cª.
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"Thirdly. As His Majesty's Orders, in regard to the further Operations of the War, may every day be expected, I cannot think it adviseable such a measure should be taken until his Royal pleasure shall be known therein, or at least till the General be made ac- quainted with it, and hath time to provide against such an Event, it being more than probable, from General Stanwix's Letter, com- municated to me by the late Governor, that he hath already made a Disposition of the Forces for the Winter, upon a Supposition that the provincials would be continued as formerly.
" Upon the whole, Gentlemen, I earnestly desire you will please to Reconsider this matter, which, in my Opinion, is of the greatest Importance, with the attention it deserves, and suspend the coming to any final Resolution thereon, until the several particulars above mentioned be more fully known.
" December 8th, 1759."
"JAMES HAMILTON.
General Stanwix's Letter to Governor Denny.
" PITTSBURGH, October 18th, 1759.
" Sir :
"I ought to say something for my long silence, but really it has proceeded from my not having anything very material to trouble you with.
" We are proceeding here to establish a good post, by erecting a respectable Fort. Our advancements are far unequal to my wishes, beginning so very late as the 10th of September, which was as soon as I got up working Tools, and have continued as many Troops here as I can feed for the Works, and have been often brought to eight days' provisions. It is this that must bound every enterprize of every sort in this so distant a Country, and all Land Carriages. I shall struggle the best I can, and do my possible for the publick.
" Give me leave to put you in mind, that the First and second Battallions of your Troops are only paid to the first of August last; at the First of January, they will have five months pay due; They now complain of the hardship of not being paid their Arrears, and as the Service may require me to leave part of them here, and on the Communications, their Complaints and Uneasiness, if there is no fund provided by your Assembly to pay them, must cer- tainly increase,
" The new Levies raised for the present Campaign, were paid four months pay at enlisting, and they will have about four months pay due the first of January. The want of money to pay off the new Levies for last year, who were discharged by a Certificate of Arrears at Lancaster, without money, Quarters, provisions, or Credit, laid the recruiting Officers and service, this year, under great Dis-
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advantages. The Troops in the Garrison, and on the Communica- tion, suffered greatly by Death and Desertions, altho' they were then paid to the first of October, and now only to the first of Au- gust. The paying up the arrears at the end of this Campaign, will render future Enlistments easy next spring, or whenever wan- ted, as whatever hardships the Troops may suffer through the Win- ter for the want of their pay, must disgust them at the province, and render even the filling up the old Battalions much more expen- sive to the Government. I understand that the whole of the Penn- sylvania Forces, which were raised for three Years, are free in May or June next ; as your Assembly generally meets towards the end of this Month, thought it my Duty to give you my Opinion on those matters, in as few words as I could ; who am, with very great Truth.
"Sir, your most Obedient, and most hume Servt., "JOHN STANWIX."
The House met in the Afternoon, and at night sent the Governor the following Message, by two of their Members, who acquainted him that the House had adjourned to the 11th of February, taking it for granted that the Governor had no more business to propose than what was fully answered in their Message.
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it Please your Honour :
" We have taken into our Consideration your Message of this day, and are sorry we cannot think the Reasons you have offered sufficient to induce us to Revoke our Resolves; and withdraw our Request, that you would disband the Provincial Forces, except the number of one hundred and fifty men, Officers included.
" In answer to your Honour's first Reason, we beg Leave to Re- mark, that 'tis true we have not been made acquainted with the Is- sue of General Stanwix's late Conferences with the Western In- dians, from the General, nor ever shall be, unless he should be pleased to communicate them to your Honour ; But, from numbers of Circumstances, besides the Conferences now before us, We have reason to be persuaded that the Western Indians have laid down their Arms, and are ready to accept of any reasonable proposals of Peace that shall be made to them by this Province, or his Majesty's Commander-in-Chief in these parts; and if the great and uncom- mon Success of His Majesty's Arms in America the last Campaign, does not make the Indians sensible that His Majesty can enforce the Execution of the late Treaties made with them, we cannot think the small Aid of our Provincials will avail much to that purpose.
"Secondly. We have never been acquainted with the number of Regulars to the Westward; and tho' we had, we apprehend it can- not be collected, but rather the contrary, for his Majesty's Orders,
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by His Secretary of State, that it is expected we should supply Men to Garrison the several Forts that are thought necessary to keep up the extensive Communication from one post to another, and was it expected, our Constituents, as observed in a late Mes- sage to your Honour, are not able to support the Burthen.
" Thirdly. We cannot think that our being unacquainted with his Majesty's orders in regard to the further operations of the War, ought to be any reason with us against disbanding our Forces in the winter season, as this practice is consistent with that of our Neighbouring Colonies, even in Times of the greatest danger ; be- sides, by the Terms of the Enlistment of the new Levies, they have now a Right to demand it, their Enlistment being for the Cam- paign only, and common Humanity to the old Levies, was the prov- ince in a Condition to support them, would prevail with us to insist on this measure, as they have been kept from Winter Quarters, without Intermission, ever since their Enlistment, now more than three years, and early every Spring forced into the field, without the least Opportunity of recruiting, while most of the Regulars have had the advantage of every Refreshment during the Seasons of Inaction : This could not fail of occasioning the Sufferings, and indeed, the Death of many of them ; and should the General make the Disposition intimated by your Honour, the like unhappy Con- sequences must certainly follow in a more dangerous degree, as well as prevent future Enlistments in the Spring, should any unforseen occurrence render them necessary.
" We, therefore, are obliged, in Duty to the people we represent, to persist in our request that your Honour would be pleased to dis- band the provincial Forces, agreeable to our former Message.
"Signed by Order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. " December 8th, 1759."
The Governor having received a Copy of the Conferences held by General Stanwix with the Indians at Fort Pitt, the same were or- dered to be entered.
" Minutes of the Conferences, &cª.
" At a Meeting held at Pittsburgh, on the 24th of October, 1759.
"PRESENT :
"His Excellency Brigadier General Stanwix, with Sundry Gen- tlemen of the Army.
" George Croghan, Esquire, Deputy Agent of the Honourable Sir William Johnston, Baronet.
" Captain William Trent,
" Captain Thomas McKee, S
Assistants to George Croghan.
"Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
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" Captain Montour lighted the Pipe of peace left here by the Warriors of the Ottawas, handing it to the General and the other Gentlemen of the Army, and Indians, to smoke, then acquainted the Indians by whom the Pipe was left, and upon what Occasion, shewing them the Belts left at the same time.
" The General then made the following speeches :
"' Brethren, Chiefs and Warriors of the several Nations pre- sent:
"' As we are met in Council to renew and brighten the Chain of Friendship, with this String of Wampum I open your Ears that you may hear what I am going to say to you.'
" Gave a String.
"'Brethren :
" ' You are sensible that a peace between us has been settled by your Deputies, and I expect that you, the Chiefs and Warriors of your several nations, are now gathered here with a Resolution to perform the engagements entered into with us on your behalfs, by them.
"'Brothers :
"' No nations could ever charge the English with a Breach of Treatys; everything relating to the Peace made between us has been performed on our parts ; the Original Draught of the Boun- dary Line Settled between us at the Treaty of Easton, by the Six Nations, was delivered them, and here is a Copy sent by Governor Denny to shew the Delawares and Shawonese, to prevent any Dis- putes hereafter arising on that bead. There is one article of the Treaty yet remains to be performed by you; that is, restoring our Prisoners, which I insist on. To inforce what I have said, I give you this Belt.'
" Gave a Belt.
"" Brethren :
""'You are sensible that differences may happen between any nations ; this is the first that ever happened between You and Us, chief occasioned by the insinuations of the French, who call them- selves your fathers. These differences are settled, and we expect that you, the Chiefs and Councillors, will advise your young Men to behave towards us as Brothers ought to do; this, with the de- livery of our Prisoners, is the way to convince us of the sincerity of your repeated professions of Friendship at the several Meetings held with you. In Confidence of your Sincerity I present you with this Belt of Wampum.'
" Gave a Belt.
"' Brethren :
"' As the peace is settled between the King's Subjects and all the Nations of Indians to the Sun sitting, I now present this Road Belt of Wampum to you that we may all Travel this Road in Peace as your fathers formerly did from the Sun rising to the Sun setting; and I expect that all Nations who chuse to live in friendship with
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the Subjects of the King of Great Britain, my Master and your Father, will make this their Road, where they will find a sufficient Quantity of Goods to exchange for their Peltry, and strict Justice done them in Trade at this place, where his Majesty has been at a very Considerable expence to establish a Trading House, the better to Cultivate a lasting Friendship with all his Children to the Sun setting. '
" Gave a Road Belt.
" Mr. Groghan then made the following speech :
"'Brethren :
" With this Belt of Wampum I disperse the dark Clouds from over our Heads, that we may once more see the Sun clear, which formerly Blessed our Fathers in peace.'
" Gave a Belt.
"Some Belts that were brought by Captain Lee, of the 44 Regi- ment from Niagara, sent there by the Chepawa and Custanoe Na- tions, with Profers of Friendship, were shewn the Indians, and they were made acquainted with the Substance of the Speeches delivered with them.
"Captain Montour then, by order of the General, acquainted the Indians that we had taken the City of Quebeck, and that we ex- pected soon to drive the French out of America, and desired the Indian Chiefs to caution their young Men against carrying off our Horses; that he was willing to do every thing in his power to oblige them, that he would do them all strict justice, and expected the same treatment from them. The General then acquainted them by Captain Montour that he was done speaking.
"The speaker of the Wayendoots (as they are the oldest Nation) got up, shook hands with the General, and returned thanks in be- half of the whole for what had been said to them, and then recom- mended it to the several Nations to pay a due regard to what they had heard."
" At a meeting held at Pittsburg, October 25th, 1759.
"PRESENT :
"His Excellency Brigadier General Stanwix, with sundry other Gentlemen of the Army.
" George Croghan, Esq'., and sundry Assistants.
" Captain Montour then, by order of the General, acquainted the Indians that he was ready to hear what they had to say.
"The speaker of the Wayondotts then got up and said : "' Brethren :
" ' I am glad to meet you in Council ; here are the Six Nations : Shawnese, Delawares, and Twigtwees; as we are the oldest Nation, I shall speak first, and they shall hear what I am going to say.
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" ' Brethren :
""'I am glad to meet the King's General and you, who came from Sir William Johnson to treat with us, and at whose invitation we came here to Council; listen to what we are going to say. "'Brethren :
"' It is a great while since we were first Acquainted with our Brethren, the English, at Albany, at which place we entered into a Treaty with them; the Records of that Treaty remain amongst you; we have Copys of it at home; we never intended to have violated that Treaty on our part, but when our fathers (the French) came here and took possession of this place, by this instigation the evil spirit got the better of our Understanding, and we engaged in the War against you.'
"Gave a string of White Wampum.
" He spoke again upon a large Belt of Black Wampum, directing his speech to Sir William Johnson and George Croghan, Esq". ""' Brothers :
"' You are appointed by the King to transact Business with us, the Indians; you have hitherto done it to our Satisfaction ; we hope the King's General will act on the same principles ; you have it now in your power to have all the Indian Nations in your Inter- est; it is true, for some time we were led blindfold. "'Brothers :
""" When we first joined with our Brethren, the English, they told us they looked upon us as one people, with one Head and one Heart with themselves; we looked upon the English in the same light till the evil spirit, by the persuasions of the French, got the better of our understanding and led us astray, but we hope every thing that has passed will be buried in Oblivion. "' Brothers :
"' We received Several invitations to come here to Council ; but before we left home a great Council was held there amongst the Chiefs of our Nation; we were sent here by them to confirm the peace ; when we came here we found a great number of Warriors gathered, for what purpose we don't know.
""" Brothers :
""' We have repeatedly heard you intended to pursue the War against the French over the Lakes in our Country ; we have been constantly alarmed with your coming, but now we are come here we find you are not gone ; we should be glad you would not pursue them, they are a parcel of poor people, destitute of every thing, besides we do not know how the several Nations there might take it; but for our parts, our Hearts are with the English.'
" He then delivered the Belt, and shook hands with the General and Mr. Croghan.
" He spoke again upon a Belt painted Green.
" ' Brethren :
"' The Women of our Nation return thanks for the speeches we received by our Deputies, who were here this Summer; they are
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glad to hear of Peace, and hope you are sincere ; they have promised to tell their Children that it was the English that gave peace to this whole country, that it may ever be remembered in our Nation; they hope your Intentions are not go any further, or carry on the War, but to build a Trading House, where they may come and Trade and get goods at moderate prices, for they are very poor, and will be much obliged to the General for sending them a Small present.'
"Gave the Belt.
" He spoke again upon a Belt of Black and White Wampum ; the White painted Green.
"'' Brethren :
"' It is a long time since this whole Country has been overspread with darkness ; being led by the Evil Spirit, we have been assisting in spreading this darkness, but you, the White people, by making War upon each other, was the first Occasion of it. "'' Brothers :
"' The French put the Hatchet into our Hands the beginning of this War, and the evil spirit getting the better of our understanding made us make use of it; in the presence of our Cousins the Dela- wares, and the other Nations here, we bury that hatchet; we not only put it under the Ground, but we pull up a large Pine Tree, whose Roots are deep in the Ground, and bury it where it will never be found more ; our Cousins, the Delawares, have done it before.'
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