USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 62
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which we now tell you is disagreeable to all nations of Indians ; and we now again desire you to sit still at this place. They are also uneasy to see that you think yourselves masters of this country, because you have taken it from the French, who, you know, had no right to it, as it is the property of us Indians. We often hear that you intend to fight with the French again. If you do, we desire you will remove your quarrel out of this country, and carry it over the great waters, where you used to fight, and where we shall neither see nor know anything of it. All we desire is to enjoy a quiet peace with you both, and that we should be strong in talking of peace. We have now spoken to you from our hearts, and hope we shall exert ourselves in promoting a last- ing a friendship. All we have to say to you now is to be strong, and let us agree to what we desire of each other. When you first talked of peace to us, you desired of us to sit over the river quietly at our fires ; but our women and children were frightened away by the noise you made in repairing your fort ; but if you do as we desired you, they will return without fear." A belt.
" Brethren: You have heard what we have desired in our last speech, and we hope you will comply with our request, and not attempt to go down this river again, as the nations who live that way are surprised to see you make a practice of this at the same time you are making pro- fessions of friendship to us. We, therefore, desire you will put a stop to your people going down this river, till we have spoken to the nations living in that country, which we intend to do with the assistance of our brothers, the Six Nations, and our good fathers, the Delawares." A string.
"Brethren : The reason of our mentioning this matter at this time is, because we hope you will take pity on us, and do as we have de- sired you."
Then KISSONAUCHTHA, a chief of the Shawanese, rose up and said :
" Brethren : We are glad to see you here, and that you are sent by the Governor of Pennsylvania, to confer with us at this council. It much rejoiced our hearts to take you by the had on your arrival, and we assure you that the several nations now present, are equally rejoiced with us on this account." A string.
" Brethren : You have informed us that you are sent by the Governor and wise men of Pennsylvania, to hear what may pass at this council. We are glad to hear you say you had made the road clear and smooth, as you came along, and that you had brought to us the chain of friend- ship in your hands, from our brethren, the wise men of Pennsylvania. This has dispersed the dark cloud of night which hung over our heads, on account of many late misfortunes which have happened, and brought to us the light of the clear day. You have no doubt heard of many bad reports of mischief, which may have made ill impressions on your minds against us; we now remove them quite away, and make your hearts easy on our parts, that when you set off you may travel it back with pleasure to your council house at Philadelphia, which I likewise sweep clean, that your wise men, when you return, may sit down in it with satisfaction and comfort, and look back upon us, their brethren, remembering that we have not forgotten our ancient friendship.
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" Brethren : We have now, on all sides, cleared and made smooth the road between you and us; and we desire you, on your parts, to be strong, and not suffer any of your soldiers to travel it who carry sharp edged weapons with them, as that may injure the friendship ex- isting between us." A belt.
Mr. Croghan then acquainted the Indians, that the commissioners of Pennsylvania would take the above speech into consideration, and an- swer them to-morrow.
This afternoon fourteen canoes arrived here, containing thirty-eight Munsies and Mohickons, exclusive of women and children, who reside on the head of the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
Wednesday, May 4, 1768. P. M .- Present, the same as before.
Thonissahgarawa, a chief of the Six Nations, rose up and addressed himself to the gentlemen, and the several nations present, apologised for some difference which happened this morning among themselves, as it was the means of preventing our meeting them in the forenoon, and desired that their brethren, the English, and the tribes of Indians pre- sen, would take no notice of it." A string.
The same chief then spoke as follows: "Brethren : I am sorry to hear what our brethren, the Shawanese, said to you yesterday of your keeping possession of the forts you have taken from the French ; for it was agreed upon by the Six Nations, as well as all other Indians, that the French should be driven out of this country, and the possession of all their forts and towns put into the hands of our brethren, the English ; and the road of peace was opened from the sun rising to the sun-setting for all nations to travel in." - A string.
Then Kayashuta, a chief of the Senecas, got up and laying down a copy of the treaty of peace made by Col. Bradstreet with the Indians in the year 1764, spoke as follows :
" Brethren : What our chief has just now mentioned to you is very true, and you will see by this paper, that during the late unhappy dif- ferences between us, we held a treaty with Colonel Bradstreet, by which we agreed that you had a right to build forts and trading houses where you pleased, and to travel the road at peace from the sun-rising to the sun-setting. At that treaty the Shawanese and Delawares were with me, and know all this well; and I am much surprised that the Shawanese should speak to you in the manner they did yesterday."
The Commissioners then addressed themselves to the Six Nations, and spoke as follows :
" Brethren of the Six Nations : It gave us great pleasure to hear what you said the other day to your brother Onas, and we thank you in his name for the readiness you discovered in brightening and making strong our ancient chain of friendship; this will be very agreeable to him, as we know he is sincerely determined to continue to do the same on his part.
" Brethren : Esteem it a strong mark of the sincerity and good- ness of your hearts, that you have opened them to us so freely and ful- ly, as your brother Onas earnestly desired you, that he might know whatever lay still concealed within your breasts, which gave you any uneasiness.
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" Brethren : You have candidly and publicly told us that you are now easy with respect to all former losses you have suffered by our means and that you will take no further notice of such things. This entirely corresponds with your strong professions of friendship. A string.
" Brother : You have also freely, and without reserve, informed us, that the only grievance which you now have reason to complain of, is, the settlements made on your lands. We are glad, brothers, we have now so good an opportunity of acquainting you, as well as the several nations present, with the mind of your brother ONAS, and the endeavors which have been made to do you justice in this respect.
" Brother: We can assure you, that nothing has given him more con- cern, than to find a number of foolish people should dare to seat them- selves on lands within this province, which your good friends, the pro- prietaries, have not as yet purchased from your Governor Penn ; there- fore, as well from his own desire and earnest inclination to remove this injury done you, as by the express commands of our great King George, issued proclamations, near two years ago,* ordering all persons whatso- ever, who had settled on your lands, to remove without delay, and for- bidden others from taking the least possession of any, under the severest penalty of the law.
" Brother : As the people who have settled your lands, came chiefly from Virginia, the government of that province likewise, issued procla- mations and orders to the same purpose. The King's General too, (His Excellency Gen. Gage,) has twice sent up parties of soldiers to the peo- ple living on Red Stone creek and the Monongahela, to warn them off your lands, and threatened them with seizing their persons and effects, if they refused to move away. But, brother, we are sorry to tell you, that none of these measures had the desired effect ; and therefore, Gov. Penn and his Assembly, having still your interest greatly at heart, passed a law in February last, inflicting the penalty of death on all persons who should continue on your lands, after the first day of June next. And in order that the people who were settled on them, might have timely and proper notice of that law, Gov. Penn, near two months ago, sent to them four prudent and honest men ( See Appendix No. XVI,) to distri- bute copies of it among them, with a number of proclamations, com- manding them to obey it strictly, under the penalty of death ; and also, to read and explain them fully to all those people.
" Brother : These four men have lately returned home, and reported
* In a letter to Gen. Gage, dated Fort Pitt, May 26th, 1766, Mr. Croghan, among other things, mentions the settlements of Red Stone creek-" Major Murray and 1 have appointed a time, when we shall speak to all the nations here, and endeavor to remove their disaffections, on account of the murders committed on their people, and all other causes of complaints ; and I flatter myself, we shall be able to remove their present disgust; as I am convinced they have an ardent desire to live in peace with us, from the open and free manner they have made known their causes of complaint. But if some effec- tual measures are not taken to remove those people settled on Red Stone creek, till a boundary can be properly settled as proposed, and the Governors (of Pa. and Va.) pursue vigorous measures to deter the frontier inhabitants from murdering Indians, which pass to and from war against their natural enemies, the consequences may be dreadful, and we involved in all the calamities of another general war."-Prov. Rec. T. p. 114.
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to the Governor of Pennsylvania, that they had executed his orders but that they were told by the people settled at, and near Redstone creek, that they had been encouraged by the Indians themselves to con- tinue on those lands ; that, however, they were determined to obey the law, and move off without delay. But, brethren, we are sorry to tell you, that as soon as the men sent by the Governor had prevailed on the settlers to consent to a compliance with the law, there came eight Indians, who lived at the Mingo town, down this river, and desired the people not to leave their settlements, but sit quiet on them till the present treaty at this place should be concluded. The people on receiving this advice and encouragement. suddenly changed their minds, and determined not to quit their places, till they should hear farther from the Indians.
" The Indians then delivered to the men sent by the Governor, a string of wampum, and a speech which they desired them to carry to the Governor. The speech was this: "You are sent here by your great men to tell these people to go away from the lands which you say is ours, and our great men have sent us, and we are glad to meet here the same day. We tell you the white people must stop, and we stop them till the treaty ; and when George Croghan, and our great men shall speak together, we will tell them what to do."
"Now, brethren, we cannot help expressing to you our great concern at this behavior of those Indians, as it has absolutely frustrated the steps the Governor was taking to do you justice by the immediate removal of those people from your lands. And we must tell you, brethren, that the conduct of those Indians appears to us very astonishing ; and we are much at a loss to account for the reason of it at this time, when the Six Nations are complaining of encroachments being made on their lands. You, yourselves, brethren, must be very sensible that, while any of the Indians encourage the people to stay on your lands ; it will inevitably defeat all our measures to remove them. But, brethren, all that we have now to desire of you is that you will immediately send off some of your prudent and wise men with a message to the people settled at Redstone, Youghiogheny and Monongahela, to contradict the advice of the eight Indians from the Mingo town ; and to acquaint them that you very much disapprove of their continuing any longer on their settlements ; and that you expect they will quit them without delay. If you agree to this, we will send an honest, discreet white man to accompany your messengers. And, brethren, if, after receiving such notice from you, they shall refuse to remove by the time limited them, you may depend upon it, the gov- ernment will not fail to put the law into immediate execution against them." A string.
The commissioners then addressed the Shawanese.
" Brother : In the first part of your speeches yesterday, you acquainted us that it was very disagreeable to you to see a fort continued at this place, contrary to your expectations ; and that you were very sorry to find a number of batteaux building here in order to go down the river. With regard to these things, we can only say, it is not a little surprising to us that you should mention them at this time, as we have always understood that this matter was settled with the Six Nations, and all other Indians several years ago; and their full consent obtained for [194 ]
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keeping forts in your country, as well as for going down this river to trade. But, brethren, as we came here to confer with you on subjects which only relate to the province of Pennsylvania, we have no concern in this business. It is an affair of our Great King of England, and as such we must refer you for a more particular answer to Mr. Croghan, who you know is appointed by his Majesty to transact his affairs with the Indians in this country."
The commissioners then spoke to the Delawares, Shawanese, Munsies, Mohickons and Wyandotts.
" Brethren : We now return you thanks in the name of the Governor of Pennsylvania, and in behalf of the good people of that province, for the kind manner in which you have received his messages by us. We assure you it gave us great satisfaction to hear you declare in this public council your hearts concurrence with him in keeping fast hold of the chain of friendship, and your determination to preserve it bright, and not to suffer any little accidents to make a breach in it.
"Brethren : It is a strong proof of the sincerity of your hearts, that you have resolved to forget entirely all the past mischiefs and injuries which have been committed by the folly of our wicked and rash young men ; and we now hope these things will never interrupt our future peace and happiness. Brethren : We also thank you for making the road smooth between you and the people of Pennsylvania, by removing all the obstructions that were in it, in such a manner that it may be travelled by all people with ease and safety. Brethren : It will give us much pleasure when we return to Philadelphia, to communicate to the Governor all that has passed between us in these conferees, and to as- sure him of your friendly dispositions and upright intentions, which you may depend on we shall faithfully do." A belt.
The commissioners having finished what they had to say to the In- dians, Mr. Croghan made then the following speeches :
" Brethren, the Shawanese : When you spoke yesterday to the Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania, you desired him to destroy this fort, and not to pass down this river as it was blood ; and said that our warriors passing through your country gave you and all other nations great uneasiness in your minds. You are the only nation that has mentioned this circum- stance, and I must tell you that this fort was built by the King's orders, and that your brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania, has no concern in this matter."
" Brethren : I well remember when the French first built a fort here and passed up and down this river, you did not desire them to destroy their forts and leave your country. We were at war with your old fathers, the French, when we drove them away and took possession of this fort ; after that we conquered them, which you well know ; and when we came here the Six Nations agreed to it, and came with us and opened a road of peace through all this country from the sun-rising to the sun-setting, both by land and water, that we might talk in peace with all nations of Indians to the westward ; and we thought the Six Nations had a right so to do, as we always understood they were tlie original proprietors of this country. Brethren : When I was first going down this river by order of his Excellency, Gen. Gage, and the Hon. Sir Wm.
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Johnson, all the nations now present agreed to it, and sent deputies with me to promote the good works of peace with all nations of Indians to the westward, and to receive them into the chain of friendship, subsisting between the King's subjects, the Six Nations, and all others in alliance with them ; and to take them under his Majesty's most gracious protec- tion, which has been since done. It is very true, when we first went down, we met with a misfortune from some of the nations we were going to speak to, through the instigation of the French, who then had an influence with those people to persuade them to do mischief, but ever since that time those nations have behaved well to their brethren, the Enslish ; and after that unhappy accident by which we were sufferers, Captain Murray and Mr. McKee, condoled with your nation for your losses, agreeable to the ancient custom of your forefathers, and buried the bones of our deceased friends, whose loss gave me great pain of mind ; and I did not expect to find their bones raked out of the ground and brought into council at this time ; especially as you must know that we were struck by the very hatchet you yourselves put into their hands to strike the English with."
" Brethren : By the late treaty* of peace between the King of Great Britain and the French King the latter gave us possession of all their forts and towns as we had conquered them. You likewise took notice yesterday of our building boats and making repairs to this fort. I must tell you that the King, my master, never made war on any Indian Na- tion in this country ; on the contrary, he has always promoted peace among you ; an instance of which you see in the peace. brought about between the Six Nations and Cherokees. But you all well know that the French acted on different principles, by setting one nation at war against another. This conduct of theirs was not pleasing to the Six Nations. They therefore requested the English to go with them to Sir William Johnson to drive the French from Niagara and put it into the possession of the English, which you all well know they did, and since that time our warriors have passed through from fort to fort, and back again, and no difference has happened between them and your people. I am therefore surprised, brethren, to hear you want to stop the road of peace that has been so long open for all nations, from the sun-rising to the sun-setting." A belt.
" Brethren of the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, Wyandotts, Munsies, and Mohickons, give attention to what I am going to say to you : It gives me great satisfaction to find that the measures taken by the Governor of Pennsylvania, and the wise people of that Province, have proved so effectual and agreeable to your several nations as to re-
* " On the 10th of February, 1763, a definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris, and soon after ratified. Nova Scotia, Canada, Cape Breton, and the other French possessions in the north, were confirmed to Great Britain. The boundary between the English aud French possessions was fixed by a line drawn along the middle of the river Mississippi, from its source, as far as the river Iberville, (an outlet of the Mississippi river, which it leaves fourteen miles below Baton Rouge.) and thence by a line drawn along the middle of the river, and of the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to the sea. The river and port of Mobile were ceded to Great Britain, except the island and town of New Orleans." I. D. R ..
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move all uneasiness from your minds on account of the many accidents that have happened between your people and the King's subjects in that Province ; and that you have buried them so deep in the earth that neither you nor your children yet unborn may ever call them to re- membrance.
" Brethren : Your forefathers lived in the strictest friendship with the worthy founder of that province and the good people that came with him ; and you have now renewed and brightened that ancient chain of friendship with the Governor's Commissioners, in behalf of the King's subjects in that Government. I now recommend it to your several na- tions to hold fast by that chain, and act on the same principles your wise forefathers formerly did." A string.
" Brethren : You have all heard what the Six Nations said to you by their deputies, that they heartily repented of their own past ill conduct towards their brethren, the English, in stealing horses and committing other abuses ; and they have desired you, brethren, to cast out all evil thoughts from your minds, and return any stolen horses you may have amongst you, and think of nothing for the future, but promoting the good work of peace between you and your good brethren, lhe English.
" Brethren : The King of Great Britain, your father and my master, takes delight in promoting peace among all nations of Indians in this country and his own subjects, which you must be well acquainted with. You all daily experience his love towards you, and his pity for your necessities, by the favors you constantly receive from his officers here and elsewhere; and I am sorry to say that your past conduct shows a want of gratitude in you to his subjects. Whenever the King makes peace with any nation, he never violates his engagements, though he always has it in his power to chastise any people that dare be so hardy as to disturb the tranquillity of their neighbors. But I now trust, breth- ren, that your future conduct will be such as may merit his Majesty's esteem and protection.
" By this belt I now clear the road of peace and make it smooth and easy to travel from the sun-rising to the sun-setting, that your brethren, the English, and all nations of Indians, may travel it with pleasure as one people, united in the strongest chain of friendship, that our women and children yet unborn may mutually enjoy the blessings of a lasting peace.
" Brethren of the Six Nations who are settled at the two creeks: I am sorry to hear from some of your brethren, the English, that when- ever any of them pass by your village, you take rum and other things from them. You must be sensible this conduct is very wrong and a breach of your engagements to us. I hope I shall bear no more of it. You have been desired three years ago, by the Six Nation Council, to remove up this river nearer their country ; and I now desire you will take that message into your most serious consideration, and do as they have directed you, which will be very agreeable to all your brethren, the English." A string.
Mr. Croghan having finished what he had to say to the Indians, the commissioners addressed themselves to all the nations present :
" Brethren : We are now to acquaint you that by order of the govern-
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ment of Pennsylvania, we deliver to you a present of goods to be dis- tributed among the several tribes present, 10 clothe your women and children ; and we desire you will receive them as a testimony of the affection and regard which the Governor and good people of this pro- vince have for you."
The commissioners then delivered the presents to the different tribes, amounting to one thousand and fifty pounds, Pennsylvania currency, including the several private presents made to the chiefs and principal warriors.
This evening arrived here twenty-five Six Nation warriors, on their return from the Cherokee country, and brought with them two pri- soners.
At a private conference held at Fort Pitt on Friday, May 6th, 1768, with all the chiefs and principal warriors of the Delawares, Munsies and Mohickons. Present, Mr. Croghan and the commissioners.
The Beaver rose up and spoke as follows, in behalf of the Delawares, Munsies and Mohickons :
"Brethren : It gives us great pleasure that the conferences are now ended, that the ancient chain of friendship is now renewed, and the road made smooth between our several tribes and our brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania. Every thing you have said respecting the folly of our young people in stealing your horses, and committing other abuses, we have laid to our hearts, and will take care to prevent such miscon- duct in them in future ; and we desire brethren, you will take care that none of your young people steal any horses from us, which they have frequently done." A belt.
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