ms , 'i^ ^^ -yw.- .^^ %. •-!^/ ^'^^ -^^ . ^iw^ r\ -m. .^^^J^y ■y x> ■-m:^- v ^ ' ^%^ '5' ;^^' ,* V '^^^ -yi%'^.* r-^^. -"•p ^■^o* •^^0^ .^'^°- ^ o. o ,0 ,^ <^. V o o ,0 -0 e S^fri V \^ Jj ri' •■ ^»^Vi-^ * ■a. o ,:» M "bt-" "^ <^* 'bV Hi ■■0^ <=^^ ^^. A H / DISCOURSE DELIVERED BEFORE THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCiETl AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY MEETING, 6th DECEMBER, 1811. BY THE HONOURABLE DE WiTT CLINTON, ONE OFT'JE VIc\;PSr'lI1F,'Vr''or l-HESO'IF.tV , re] In Kjcch. NF.n'-YOHK HISTORICAL SOCIETV, December 6th, 181 i. Resolved, Thdl the thanks of this Society be presented to the Homrurable De Wjtt Clinton, for tlie Disconrsr delivirec^ this dai/ before Ike Society ; and that the Reverend J)octor Miller, Doctor Hosack, and 31r. Thomas Eddy, be appointed a Commitlee to express the same, and to request a copy for publication. Extract from the niiniUes, JOHN PINTARD, Recording Secretary. T-jC^. DISCOURSE, kc. Mr. President, and Gentlemen of, the Historical Socieli/, There i« a strong propensity in the human mind to trace up our ancestry to as high and as remote a source as possible; and if our pride and our ambition cannot be gratified by a real state- ment of facts, fable is substituted for truth, and the imagination is taxed to supply the deficiency. This principle of our nature, although liable to sreat perversion, and frequently the source of well- founded ridicule, may, if rightly directed, become the parent of great actions. The origin and pro- ore4 of individuals, of families, and of nations, constitute Biography and History, two of the most interesting departments of human knowledge. Al- lied to this principle, springing from tlie same causes, and producing the same benign effects is that curiosity we feel in tracing the history ot the nations which have occupied the same territory before us, although not connected with us m any other respect. "To abstract the mind from al local emotion," says an eminent moralist, wou d be impossible if it were endeavoured, and it would be foolish if it were possible."* The places where * .Johnson's Tour to the HebrWrc 4a great Gvrnl?> liari. breri pi'irruuK d ; Avhere o-reaf virtues have been exhibited; where iireat cniiies have been perpetrated, will ahvays excite kindred emotions of admiration or horro'r : And if " that man is little to l)e envied whose patriotism won id not gain force !ipnn the plains of 3]arathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Jona/' we may, with equal confidence, as- sert, that morbid must be his sensibility, and small must be his capacity for improvement, who does not advance in wisdom and in virtue, from con- templating ihe state and the history of the peo- ple who occupied thii country before the man of Europe. As it is, therefore, not uninteresting, and is entire- ly suitable to this occasion, I shall present a gene- ral geographical, political, and historical view of the red m(>n who inhabited this state before us; and this I do the more willingly, from a conviction that no part of America contained a people which will furnish more interesting information and more useful instruction; which will display the energies of the human character in a more con- spicuous manner, whether in liglit or in shade, in the exhibition of great virtues and talents, or of great vices and defects. In 117 A the goverment of Connecticut, in an oflicial statement to the British secretary of ^tate represented the original title to the land, of Con- necticut as in the Pequot Nations of Indian^ who were numerous and warlike; that their oreat sa- chem Sasacus had under him twentv-six sachem-^ and that their territory extended from Narraganset to Hudson s Kiver, and over all Long Island.* The Long Island Indians, who are represented as very savage and ferocious, were called 3Ieilowacks, or * CoIIectioasofMassachusetts Historical Society, vol. 7. p. 23]. 41 Meitowacks, and the Island itself Meito\vacks.=^ The Mobiccons, Maliaton?, or ^lanliatlaiis, occu- pied this Island and Platen Island.f The IMobe- oans, whose original name was xMiihhekanew, were settled on that part of the state east of Hudson's River and below Albany, and those Indians on the west bank from its mouth to the Kaats' Kill mountains, were sonic times denominated Wabin- p, and sometimes Sankikani, and thev and the MohegansJ went by the general appellation of River Indians; or, according to the Dutch, .^lo- hickanders. Whether the 3Iohegans were a dis- tinct nation from the Pcquots.,^ has been recently doubled, although they were formerly so con- sidered. One of the early historians asserts, that the JVarragansets, a powerful nation in New Eng- land, held dominion over part of Long Island^^lJ The generic name adopted by the Fren"ch for all ihe Indians of JVew England, was Abenaquis ; and Ihe country from the head of Cliesapeake bav to the Kittatinney mountains, as far eastward as the Abenaquis, and as far northward and westward as the Iroquois, was occupied by a nation denomina- ted by themselves the Lenni-lenopi ; by the French "* Smith's History of iS"e\r- York, p. 262. f Statei) Island was purchased from the Indians by Col Love- face, second governor under the Duke of York, betueen the year^ 1 667 and 1 673. (Chalmers s Political Annals of the Colonics, p ■^^n'l ^^ ^^^^'^^ ^"^ different manuscripts in tl)e plantation office ca led I\ew-York Entries, .Xew-York Papers, vhich appear to be voluminous: If wc could ascertain from those papers the natioa that sold Staten Island, it might produce some interesting inferences t Jetrerson-s Virginia, p. 310. Collections of IS^ew-York His- torical Society, vol. 1. p. 33, 34. Barton's Views of the Ori"in of the Indians, p. 31. TrumbulPs History of the United Stare« p. 42. ' 5 Trumbull's History of Connecticut, p. 28. ^ II Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. 1. p. 144, &c. Daniil hookins. 42 Loups, and by tbe Englisli Delawares* Mr. Charles Thompson, formerly secretary of con- jrress, supposed that this nation extended east of Iliidson's to Connecticut River, and over Lontr Island, this island, and Slaten Island ; and Mr. Smith, in his History of New- York, says, that when the Dutch commenced the settlement of the country, all the Indians on Long Island and the northern shore of the Sound, and on the banks of Connecticut and Hudson Rivers, were in subjection to and paid an annual tril>ute to the Five Nations.f Mr. Smith's statement, therefore, does not accord with the fact of the tribute paid to the United Colonies of New- Engl and, nor with the alleged dominion of the Pequots and Narragansets over Long Island. New-York was settled before Con- iiectTcut, and the supremacy of the Iroquois was never disturbed ; and it probably prevailed at one lime over Long Island, over the territory as far east as Connecticut River, and over the Indians on the west banks of the Hudson. The confusion on this subject has probably arisen from the same language being used by the Delawares and Abena- quis, but, indeed, it is not very important to ascer- tain to which of these nations the red inhabitants of that portion of the state maybe properly re- ferred. They, in process of time, became subject to the Iroquois, and paid a tribute in wampum and sliells.J Their general character and conduct to the first Europeans they probably had ever seen, "^ Barton's Views, p. 25. JeflTerson's Notes, p. 310, &c. t It is certain that the Moiitacket sachem, so called in former times, on the east end of Lon^ Island, paid tribute in wampum to ilie Confeder!i(ed Colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecti- licut, and Pscw Haven, for at least ten years previous to 1636. Hazard's Collections of State Papers, vol. 2. p. 361. t Smith"? History of New-York. Colden's History of the Five Xation?. have been described in Hudson':^ voyage up tlic North River.* And it is not a little remarkal)Ie, that the natives below the Highlands were otlen- sive and predatory, while those aljove rendered him every assistance and hospitality in their power. Of all these tribes, about nine or ten laniilies re- main on Lono- Island ; their principal settlement is on a track of one thousand acres on Montauck Point. The Stockbridge Indians migrated from Hudson's River, in 1734, to Stockbridge in Massa- chusetts, from whence they removed about the year 1785 to lands assigned to them by the Oneidas in their territory.f The Brothertown Indians for- merly resided in Narraganset, in Rhode Island, and in Farmington, Stonington, Mohegan, and some other towns in Connecticut, and are a rem- nant of the Muhhekanew Indians, formerly called the Seven Tribes on the Sea Coast. They also inhabit lands presented to them by the Oneidas. These Indians, and the Stockbridge Indians, aug- mented in a small degree by migrations from the Long Island Indians, have formed two settlements, which by an accurate census taken in 1794, con- tained four hundred and fifty souls. But the greater part of the Indians below Alljany retreated at an early period from the apj)roach of civilized man, and became merged in the nations of the north and the west. As far back as 1687, just after the destruction of the Mohawk Castles by the French, Governor Dongan advisedj the Five Nations to open a path for all the North Indians and IVIohickanders, that were among the Ottawas and other nations, and to use every endeavour to bring them home. * Puichas' Pilgrim, vol. 3. p. 58. New-York Historical Col- lections, vol. 1. p. 102. t Massachusetls Historical Society, vol. 4. p. 67, cC-c. X Coldeu's History of the Five rs'atioiis, vol. 1. p. 83, &c. 4i The remaining, and much the greater part ol the state Avas occupied by the Romans of this Avestern woild,^ who composed a federal repub- lic, and were denominated by the Enolish, the Five ^'alion=, the Six Nations, the Confederates: by the French, the Iroquois; by the Dutch, the ?vlaquas, or 31ahakuase; by the'southern Indians, the Massawomacs ; by themselves, the Min^os, or Minjroians, and sometimes the Aganuschion%r United People, and their confederacy they styled the Kenunctioni.f The dwelling lands of this confederacy were ad- mirably adapted for convenience, for subsistence, and for conquest. The}- comprize the le5:ico bv the Mis- sissippi River, into the Gulph of St. Lawrence, by the St. Lawrence River, or into the Atlantic Ocean by various channels. Five j^reat inland seas reach upward of 2,000 ujiies through a considerable part of this territory, and allbid an aliuost uninter- rupted navigation to that extent. By these lakes and rivers, the confedeiates were enabled, at all tinies, and in all directions, to carry w ar and de- struction among the surrounding and the most * Voloe) 's View of the Uuiied State?, p. 470—476. Coldeu's live r^atiocis, vol. 1. p. 4, 5. ^ f MassachiiJf-ltsHisto.ical Collections, vol. 1. p. ]44,c£'C. Daniel Ooohns. Powiiail ou the Colonies, vol. 1. p. 235. Smith's Histciy of New-Jmey. p. VM. Mor.e^s G.izetteer, title Six rs aliens. J til. i5uij'= Vitj:i.iiH. p. ]40. Sniiiirt History v{ New- lojk.. p. 45. ^ 45 distant nations. 'And their country also abound- witl. other lakes, -ome of ^eat size ; Lake Chaai- plain, lorinerly called the Sea of the Iroquois, Lake George, the Saratosja, the Oneida, the Cana- desa^a or Seneca, the Cayuga, the Ot^ecro ihe Skaneatelas, the Canandaiiiiia,'the Cross, the OnoD- dajra, the Otisco, the Owa^co, the Crooked, the Ca- ne^us the Hemlock, the Honeyoyo, the Chataque, the Caniaderaoa, and the Cana^oraga; composing in number and extent, with the five sye^l lakes, the greatest mass of fresh water to be found in the world. In addition to the fertility of the soil, we mav mention the mildness of the climate to the west of the Onondaga Hills, the salubrity and the magnificent scenery of the country. The numerous waters were stored with the salmon, the trout, the masquinonoes, the white fish, the shad, the rock fish, the sturgeon, the perch, and other fish of various kinds ;' and the forests abounded with an incredible number and variety of game. The situation of the inhabitants was rendered very eligible from these sources of subsistence, connected with a very productive soil ; for they had passed over the pastoral state, and followed agri- culture as well as fishing and hunting. The selec- tion of this country for a habitation, was the wisest expedient that could have t^en adopted by a niilitarv nation to satiate theu: thirst for slory, and to extend their conquests over the continent ; and if they preferred the arts of peace, there was none hetter calculated for tliis important purpose. In a few davs their forces could be seen, their power could 'be felt, at the mouth of the Ohio or the Missouri, on the waters of the Hudson or the St. Lawrence, or in the bays of Delaware or Chesapeake. r7i 46 It is not a little difficult to deline the territorial limits of this extraordinary people,* for on this subject there are the most repugnant representa- tions by the French and Engjlish writers, arising from interest, friendsliip, prejudice, and enmity. While the French, on the one hand, were involved in continual hostility with them, the English, on the other hand, were connected by alliance and by commerce. By the l5th article of the treaty of Utrecht, concluded in 1713, it was stipulated " that the subjects of France inhabiting Canada, and others, shall hereafter give no hindrance or moles- tation to the Five Nations or cantons subject to the dominion of Great Britain."! As between France and England the confederates were, there- fore, to be considered as the subjects of the latter, and ©f course the British dominion was co-exten- sive with the rightful territory of the tive cantons, it then became the policy of France to diminish, and that of England to enlarge this territory. But notwithstanding the confusion which has grown out of these clashing interests and contradictory representations, it is not perhaps very far from the truth to pronounce, that the Five Nations w ere en- titled by patrimony or conquest to all the territory in the United States and in Canada, not occupied by the Creeks, the Cherokees, and the other south- ern Indians, by the Sioux, the Kinisteneaux, and the Chippewas ; and by the English and French, as far west as the Mississippi and lake Winnipeg, as far northwest as the waters wliich unite this lake and Hudson's Bay, and as far north as Hud- * Rogers' Concise Account of JN'orth America, p. 0. Coldeo, vol. 1. p. 87. Powiiall on the Colonics, vol. 1. p. 235, &c. Smith's NeAv-York, p. 58. 179, &c. Douglass' Summaij, p. 11, &c. Pownall's Geographical Desciiption, &c. Charlevoix Histoire Generale de la IVouvelle France, Szc. \ Chalmeis' C«llection of Treaties, vol. 1. p. 382, 4r» .1 .son's Bay and Labrador. The Five Nations claim says Smith, " all the land not sold to the English from the month of Sorel River, on the sonth side of Lakes Erie and Ontario, on both sides ot the Ohio, till it falls into the Mississippi ^ and on the north side of these lakes, that whole territory be- tween the Outawas River and Lake Huron and even beyond the streiohts between that and Lake Erie" 'The principal point ot dispute between the Eno-lish and French was, whether the donnnion of the confederates extended north of the Great Lakes; but I think it is evident that it did. It is admitted by several French writers, that the lro_ quois had several villages on the north side ot Lake Ontario, and they are even laid down m the maps attached to Charlevoix, and it cannot be de- nied but that they subdued the Hurons and Ab oonkins, who lived on that side of the breat Lakes, and consequently were entitled to then country by the rights of conquest. Douglass esti- mates their territory at about twelve hundred miles in length, from north to south, and from seven to eicrht hundred miles in breadth. 1 his was either hereditary or conquered. Their patrimonial, and part of their conquered country, were used tor the purpose of habitation and hunting. Their bunting grounds were very extensive, including a large triano-le on the southeast side of the fet. Lawrence Rive?; the country lying on the south and east sides of Lake Erie; the country between the Lakes Erie and Michigan, and the country lymg on the north of Lake Erie, and northwest ot Lake Un- tario, and between the Lakes Ontario and Huron All the remaining part of their territory was inha^ bited by the Abenaquis, Algonkins, Shawanese, Delawares, Illinois, Miamies, and other vassa,. nations. 48 The acquisition of supremac}^ over a countiy oC such an^aziLg extent and fertility, inhabited by warJike and numerous nations, must have been the result of unity of desiii;n and system of actioR proceeding from a wise and energetic policy, con- tinued for a long course of time. To their social combinatioiis, military talents, and exterior ar- rangements, we must look for this system, if such a system is to be found. The Confederates had proceeded far beyond the first element of all associations, that of com- bination into families; they had their villages, their tribes, their nations, and their confederacy; but they had not advanced beyond the first stage of government. They were destitute of an ex- ecutive and judiciary to execute the determina- tions of their councils ; and their government was therefore merely advisory, and without a coercive principle. The respect which was paid to their chiefs, and the general odium that attach- ed to disobedience, rendered the decisions of their legislatures, for a long series of time, of as much validity as if they had been enforced by an ex- ecutive arm. They were originally divided into five nations, the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cay ugas, and the ^enekas. In 1 7 1 2, the Tuscaroras, who lived on the back parts of North Carolina^ and who had formed a deep and general conspiracy to exterminate the whites, were driven from their country, were adopted by the Iroquois as a sixth nation, and lived on lands between the Oneidas and Onondagas, assigned to them by the former.* 7'l.e Mohawks had four towns and one small vil- lage, situated on or near the fei tile banks of the river of that name. The position of the first was * Smith's JN^ew-York, p. 40, Douglass' Snraniary, p. 24v}. 49 at the confluence of the Scholiarie Creek and Mo- ha»vk River, and the others were farther to the west. This nation, from their propinquity to the settlements of the whites, from their martial re- nown and military spirit, have, like Holland, fre- quently given their name to the whole confede- racy, which is often denominated the Mohawks in the annals of those days ; and it may be found employed in the pages of a celebrated periodical writer of Great Britain, for the purpose of the most exquisite humour.* This nation was always held in the greatest veneration by its associates. At the important treaty of 1768, at Fort Stanwix, by Sir William Johnson, they were declared by the other nations " the true old lieads of the con- federacy."t The Oneidas had their principal seat on the south of the Oneida Lake, the Onondagas near the Onondaga, and the Cayugas near the CaVuga Lake. The principal village of the Se- necas was near the Genesee River, about twenty miles from Irondequoit Bay. Eacti nation was di- vided into three tribes ; the Tortoise, the Bear, and the Wolf; and each village was, like the cities of the United Netherlands, a distinct republic, and its concerns were managed by its particular chiefs.J Their exterior relations, general inte- rests, and national atTairs, were conducted and su- perintended by a grc'at council, assembled annu- ally in Onondaga, tlic central canton, composed of the chiefs of each republic; and eighty sachems were fiequently convened at this national assem- bly. It took cognizance of the great questions * Spectator. t The proceedings of this treaty were never publishecl I fiave seen them in manuscript, in the possession of the late Vice Pre^- dent Clinton. t See Charlevoix, Colden, At. <>i" war and peace; of the affairs of the tributary nations, and of their neooliations with the French and Er.oiish colonies. All their proceedings were conducted with great deliberation, and were dis- tinguished for order, decorum, and solemnity. In eloquence, in dignity, and in all the characteristics of profoimd policy, they surpassed an assembly of feudal barons, and were perhaps not far inferior to the great Aoiphyctionic Council of Greece. Br. liobertson, who has evinced, in almost every in- stance, a strong propensity to degrade America be- low its just rank in the scale of creation, was com- pelled to qualify the generality of his censures m relation to its political institutions, by saying, " If we except the celebrated league which united the Five Nations in Canada into a federal repub- lic, we can discern few such traces of political wisdom among the rude American tribes as dis- cover any great degree of foresight or extent of in- tellectual abilities."* A distinguished feature in the character of the confederates, was an exalted spirit of liberty, which revolted with equal indignation at domestic or fo- reign controul. "We are born free, (said Garan- gula in his admirable speech to the governor gene- ral of Canada) we neither depend on Ononthio, or Corlear,"t ^^ France, or on England. Baron La- hontan, w^io openly avov»^ed his utter detestation and abhorrence of them, is candid enough to ac- knowledge, that " they laugh at the menaces of kings and governors, for they have no idea of de- pendence; nay, the very word is to them insup- portable. They look upon themselves as sove- reigns, accountable to none but God alone, whom * Robertson's America, vol. 1. p. 435. t See this speech in Appondis No I ; taken from Smith'-. History ofA^'^-.v York 51 they call the Great Spirit." They admitted of no hereditary distinctions. The ofiice of sachem was the reward of personal merit ; of great wisdom, or commandina" eloquence ; of distinguished services in the caiinet or in the field. It was conferred by silent and general consent, as the spontaneous tri- bute due to eminent worth ; and it could only be niaintained by the steady and faithful cultivation of the virtues and accomplishments which procur- ed it. No personal slavery was permitted :* their captives were either killed or adopted as a portion of the nation. The children of the chiefs were en- couraged to emulate the virtues of their sires, and were frequently elevated to the dignities occupied by their progenitors. From this source has arisen an important error with respect to the establish- ment of privileged orders among the Confederates. There is a striking similitude between the Ro- mans and the Confederates, not only in their mar- tial spirit and rage for conquest, but in their treat- ment of the conquered. Like the Romans, they not only adopted individuals, but incorporated the remnant of their vanquished enemies into their nation, by which they continually recruited their population, exhausted by endless and w asting wars, and were enabled to continue their career of victory and desolation: if their unhappy victims hesitated or refused, they were compelled to accept of the honours of adoption. The Hurons of the Island of Orleans, in 1656, knowing no other wav to save themselves from destruction, solicited ad- mission into the canton of the Mohawks, and were accepted ; but, at the instance of the French, they declined their own proposal. On this occasion the Mohawks continued their ravages, and compelled acquiescence : they sent thirty of their warriors to * Colden, vol. 1. p. 11. 52 Q,iiebec, who took them away, with the consent of the governor general ; he, in fact, not daring to re- fuse, after having addressed him in the following terms of proud defiance; which cannot but bring to our recollection similar instances of Roman spirit, when Rome was free.* " Lift up thy arm, Ononthio, and allow thy children, whom thou boldest pressed to thy bosom, to depart ; for if they are guilty of any imprudence, have reason to dread, lest in coming to chastise them, my blows fall on thy head." Like the Romans, also, they treated their vassal nations with extreme rigour. If there were any delay in the render of the annu- al tribute, military execution followed, and the wretched(delinquents frequently took refuge in the houses of the English to escape from destruction. On all public occasions they took care to demon- strate their superiority and dominion, and at all times they called their vassals to an awful account, if guilty of violating the injunctions of the great council. At a treaty held on tlie forks of the Delaware, in 1758, by the governors of Pennsyl- vania and New Jersey, with the Six Nations, several claims of the Munseys, Wapings, and other De- laware Indians, for lands in the latter province, were adjusted and satisfied under the cognizance of the Confederates, who ordered them to deliver up their prisoners, and to be at peace with the English, and who assumed a dictatorial tone, and appeared to ex- ercise absolute auti ority over the other Indians.f At a former conference on this subject, a Munsey, or Minisink Indian had spoken sitting, not being allowed to stand, until a Cayuga Chief had spoken ; when the latter, thus expressed himself, " I, who * Heriot's Hisloiy of Canada, p. 79 {This work is a compUa- €on principally from Charlevoix.) ■\ Sraitli's New- Jersey, 4G6, &c. 53 am tlie Mina,oiaii, am by this belt to inform you that the IMunseys are women, and cannot hold trea- ties for themselves; therefore I am sent to inform you, that the invitation you gave the Munseys is agreeable to us, tlie Six Nations." At a treaty held at Lancaster in 1742, by thfe government of Pennsylvania with the Iroquois, the governor complained of the Dela wares, who refus- ed to remove from some lands which they had sold on the River Delaware.* On this occasion a great chief called Cannassafccgooy after severely repri- manding them, and ordering them to depart from the land immediately to Wyoming or Shamokin, concluded in the following manner: " After our /|ust reproof and absolute order to depart from thft l^nd, you are now to take notice of what we have further to say to you. This string of wampum serves to forbid you, yom- children, and grand chil- dren, to the latest posterity, from ever meddling in land affairs ; neither you, nor any who shall des- cend from you, are ever hereafter to sell any land. For this purpose you are to preserve this string, in memory of what your uncles have this day given you in charge. We have some other business to transact with our brethren, and therefore depart the council, and consider what has been said to you." The Confederates had captured a great part of the Shawanese Nation who lived on the Wabash, but afterward, by the mediation of Mr. Penn, at the first settlement of Pennsylvania, gave them li- berty to settle in the western parts of that province; but obliged them, as a badge of their cowardice, to wear female attire for a long time : and some nations, as low down as 1T69, were not permitted to appear ornamented with paintf at any general >■ Golden, vol. 1. p. 31. t Roger's Coacise Account, &c. p. 209, &c. [8] 54 tneeliiig or congress, where tbe tori federates at- tended ; that being an express article in their capi- tulations.* This humiliation of the tributary na- tions was, however, tempered with a paternal re- gard for their interests in all negotiations with the whites ; and care was taken that no trespasser should be committed on their rights, and that they should be justly dealt with h) all their concerns. War was the favourite pursuit of this martial people, and military glory their ruling passion. Agriculture, and tlie laborious drudgery of domes- tic life were left to the women. Tlie e'ducation of the savage was solely directed to hunting and war. From his early infancy, he was taught to bend the bow, to point the arrow, to hurl the tomahawk, and to wield the club. He was instructed to pur- sue the foosteps of his enemies through the path- less and unexplored forest ; to mark the most distant indications of danger ; to trace his way by the ap- pearances of the trees, and by the stars of heaven, and to endure fatigue, and cold, and famine, and every privation. He commenced his career of blood by hunting the wild beasts of the woods, and after learning the dexterous use of the weapons of destruction, he lifted his sanguinary arm against his fellow creatures. The profession of a warrior was consideied the most illustrious pursuit ; their youth looked forward to the time, when they could march against an enemy, with all the avidity of an epicure for the sumptuous dainties of a Helioga- balus. And this martial ardor was continually thwarting the pacific counsels of the elders, and en- thralling them in perpetual and devastating wars. V\ ith savages in general, this ferocious propensity * This is the Shawanese nation of Indians, uho, under the auspices of their prophet, have lately had an engagement vilh the army under the command of governor Harrison. 55 was impelled by a blind fury, and was but little reiirula'ted by the dictates of skill andjud^mient; on the contrary, with the Iroquois, war was an art. All their niilitary movements were governed by svstem and policy. They never attacked a hostile country, until tliey had sent out spies to explore and to'designate its vulnerable points, and when- ever they encamped, they observed the greatest circumspection to guard against surprize; whereas the other savages only sent out scouts to reconnoi-^ tre ; but they never went far from the camp, and it they returned without perceiving any signs of an enemv, the whole band went quietly to sleep, and were often the victims of their rash confidence.* ^ Whatever superiority of force the Iroquois might have, they never neglected the use of stra- tagems ; they employed all the crafty wiles of the Carthaginians. The cunning of the fox, the fero- city of the tiger, and the power of the lion, were united in their conduct. They preferred to van- quish their enemy by taking him off his guard; by involvino- him in an ambuscade ; by falling upon him in the hour of sleep: but when emergencies rendered it necessary for them to face him in the open field of battle, they exhibited a courage and contempt of death which have never been sur- passed. ^1, . n Although we have no reason to believe that tliey were, generally speaking. Anthropophagi, yet we have no doubt but that they sometimes eat the bodies of their enemies killed in battle, more indeed for the purpose of exciting their ferocious fury ^han for gratifying their appetite ; like all other savage nations, they delighted in cruelty. 1 o inr flict the most exquisite torture upon their captive,^ to produce his death by the most severe and pro- * rftWen, vo>. 1. p. 1 10. Hertot. p. 1^ m tracted sulierings, was sanctioned by oenerai and immemorial usage. Herodotus informs us, that the Scythians (who were, in all probability, the ances- tors of the greater part of t>ur red men,) drank the blood of their CHemies, and suspended their scalps from the bridle of their horses, for a napkin and a trophy ; that they used their sculls for drinking vessels, and their skins as a covering to their hor- ses.* In the war between the Carthaginians and their mercenaries, Gisco, a Carthaginian general, and seven himdred prisoners, according to Polybi- us, were sca][)ed alive ; and in return, Spendius, a general of the mercenaries, was crucified, and the prisoners taken in the war thrown alive to the ele- phants.f From these celebrated nations we may derive the practice of scalping, so abhorrent to hu- manity ; and it is not improbable, considering the maritime skill and distant voyages of thB Phoeni- cians and Carthaginians, that America derives part of its population from that source by water, as it undoubtedly has from the northeast parts of Asia by land, with the exception of a narrow strait. But the Five Nations, notwithstanding their horrible cruelty, are in one respect entitled to sin- gular conmiendation for the exercise of humanity : those enemies they spared in battle they made free ; whereas, with all other barbarous nations, slavery was the commutation of death. But it becomes not us, if we value the cliaracters of our forefa- thers ; it becomes not the civilized nations of Europe who have had American possessions, to inveigh against the merciless conduct of the savage. His appetite for blood was sharpened and whetted by European instigation, and his cupidity was enlisted on the side of cruelty by every temptation. In the * Beloe's Herodotus, vol. 2. p. 419. t Poljbius, b. 1 . chap. 6. 57 wars between France and England and tlieir colo- nies, their Indian allies were entitled to a premium for every scalp of an enemy. In the war preced- ing 170.S, the government of Massachusetts gave twelve pounds for every Indian scalp ; in that year tiie premium was raised lo forty pounds, but in 1722 it was augmented to one hundred pounds.* An act was passed on the 25th Fcbuary, 1745, by f)ur colonial legislature, entitled " An act for giving a reward for such scalps and prisoners as shall be taken by the inhabitants of (or Indians in alliance with) this colony, and to prevent the in- habitants of the city and county of Albany from selling rum to the Indians."! l" 1746, the scalps of two Frenchmen were presented to one of our colonial governors at Albany, b}^ three of the con- federate Indians ; and his excellency, after gratify- ing them with money and fine clothes, assured them Ijow well he took this special mark of their fidelity, and that he would always remember this act of friendship.J The employment of savages, and put- ting into their hands the scalping knife during our revolutionary war, were oj)enly justified in the House of Lords by Lord Suiiblk, the British Secre- tary of State, who vindicated its policy and neces- sity, and declared " that the measure was also allowable on principle ; for that it was perfectly justifiable to use all the means that God and nature had put into their hands."ij The eloquent rebuke of Lord Chatham has perpetuated the sentiment, and consigned its author to immortal infamy. It were to be wished, for the honour of human nature^ * Douglass' Summary, p. 199, 586. Holiues' American Anna!?. vol. 2. p. 1 1 G. t Jouruals of Colonial AssembW. vo^ I. p. Q^, i Golden, vol. 2. p, 120 § Belsham. m tiiat an impenetrable veil could be draw« over these horrid scenes ; but, alas ! they are committed to the imperishable pajjes of history, and they are already recorded with the conflagrations of Smith- field, the massacres of St. Bartholomew, and the cannibal barbarities of the French revolution. The conquests and military achievements of the Iroquois were commensurate with their martial ar- dour, their thirst for i!;lory, their o;reat courage, their invincible perseverance, and their political talents. Their military excursions were extended as far north as Hudson's Bay. The Mississippi did not form their western limits ; their power was felt in the most southern and eastern extremities of the United States. Their wars have been sup- posed, by one writer, to have been carried near to the Isthmus of Darien.* And Cotton Mather, in his Magnalia, which was probably written in 1698, describes them as terrible cannibals to the west- ward, who have destroyed no less than two millions of other savages, f The ostensible causes of war among the Indians, were like many of those among civilized nations ; controversies about limits, violations of the rights of embassy, individual or national wrongs ; And the real and latent reasons were generally the same ; the enlargement of territory, the extension of do- minion, the gratification of cupidity, and the ac- quisition of glory. According to a late traveller, a war has existed for two centuries between the Sioux and the Chippewas.J For an infraction of the rights of the calumet, the confederates carried on a war of thirty years against the Choctaws.^ * Rogers's America, p. 2C9. t Ibid. p. 728. I Pike's Expedition to the Sources of the xMississ'ppK Sic. p. 64. § Smith's New- York, p. 52. 59 For a violation of the game laws of the bunting nations, in not leaving a certain number of male and female beavers in each pond, they subdued and nearly destroyed the Illinois ;* and they ap- peared to have accurate notions of the rights of belligerents over contraband articles; for they con- sidered all military implements carried to an enemy as liable to seizure ; but they went farther, and, conceiving this conduct a just ground of war, treat- ed the persons supplying tlieir enemies, as enemies, and devoted them to death. But tlie commerce in furs and peltries, j)roduced by their intercourse with the Europeans, introduced a prolific source of con- tention among them, and operated like opening the box of Pandora. Those articles were eagerly sought after by the whites, and the red men were equally desirous of possessing iron, arms, useful tools, cloths, and the other accommodations of ci- vilized life. Before the arrival of the Europeans, furs were only esteemed for their use as clothing ; but when the demand increased, and an exchange of valuable articles took place, it became extreme- ly important to occupy the most productive hunt- ing grounds, and to monopolize the best and the most furs. And it was sometimes the policy of the French to divert the attacks of the Iroquois from the nations with whom they traded, by insti- oating them to hostilities aijainst the Southern Indians friendly to the English colonies; and at other times they excited wars between their north- ern allies and the Iroquois, in order to prevent the former from trading with the English, which they preferred, because they could get their goods cheap- er. On the other hand, the English entangled the confederates in all their hostilities with the French and their Indian allies. The commerce in furs and * See Garangula's Speech in Appendix, No. 1. 60 peltri^ was deemed so valuabie, that no exertion- or expense was spared in order to effect a monopoly. The floods of tlje English were so eagerly souoht after by the Indians, and so much preferred to those of the French, that the latter were compelled to procure them from the colony of New- York; from whence they were conveyed to Montreal, and dis- tiibuted amon and live with one another; and you white people settle your own disputes betwixt yourselves.! * Thomas Mante's History of the Late war in North America.' ci.c. piinteri, London, 1772, [>. 503. t Williams' History of Vermont, vol. 2, p. 440, 69 These good dispositions did not lonsj continue with most of the Indian nations ; all within the reach of British blandishments and presents were prevailed upon to take up the hatchet. It is cal- <:ulated that twelve thousand six hundred and ninety Indian warriors >\ere emphned by the British during the revolutionary war, of which one thousand five hundred and eiojhty were Iroquois.* The intluence of Sir William Johnson over the savages was transmitted to his son, who was most successful in allurins; them into the views of Great Britain. " A great w ar feast was made by him on the occasion, in which, according to the horrid phraseology of these barbarians, they were invited to banquet upon a Bostonian, and to drink his blood."t General Burgoyne made a speech to the Indians on the '21st of June, 1777, urging them to hostili- ties, and stating " his satisfaction at the general conduct of the Indian tribes, from the beginning of the troubles in America." An old Iroquois chief answered, " We have been tried and tempted by the Bostonians, but we have loved our father, and our hatchets have been sharpened on our atiections. In proof of the sincerity of our professions, our whole villages, able* to go to w ar, are come forth ; the old and infirm, our infants and our wives, alone remain at home.'J They realized their profes- sions. The whole Confederacy, except a little more than half of the Oneidas, took up arms against us. They hung like the scythe of death upon the rear of our settlements, and their deeds are inscribed., with the scalping knife and the tt»mahawk, in cha- * Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. 10. p. 120, Arc t B^lsham. t AVill)amTa- tion and massacre ensued ; the sjreater part of the inhabitants were killed or made prisoners ; those that escaped fled naked toward Albany, in a deep snow which fell that very night, and providentially met sleighs from that place, which returned hnme- diately with them. This proceeding ^truck terror into the inhal>itants of Albany, who were about to alandon the country in despair and consternation. On this occasion, several of the Mohawk chiefs went to Albany, to make the customary speech of condolejice, and to animate to honourable exertion, Their speech is preserved in the lirst volume of Colden's History of tlie Five Indian Nations of Canada; and even at this distant period, it is im- possible to read it, without sensibility, without re- specting its atFectionate sympathy, and admiring its magnanimous spirit, and without ranking it among the most respectable models of eloquence which history atf'ords.f In 1777 and 177H, an association of our own citi- ZCDS, in violation of law, contracted with the Six INations for the greater part of their territory, on a lease of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, at an insignificant annual rent. I'hese proceedings were, on the motion of the President of this ►SocietyjJ de- * ColdcQ aad Smith. f Appendix. No. 2. t Egbnt Benson, Esq. ?4 dared void in 3[arcb, 1788, by the authoriries of the state ; and when their true character was made known to the Indians ; when they found that their country, in which were interred the bones of tlieir ancestors, was sacrificed to the overreaching cupid- ity of unauthorized speculators, the greateS anxie- ty and consternation prevailed among them. The Senecas and Cayugas repaired to Albany to confer \yith the governor; but having no speaker at that time of sufficient eminence and talents for the im- portant occasion, they employed Good Peter, or Domine Peter, tb.e Cicero of the Six Nations, to be their orator, and he addressed the governor and other commissioners in a speech of^great length and ability : it was replete with figurative language ; the topics were selected with great art and judg- ment ; I took down the speech from the mouth of the interpreter ; and notwithstanding the imperfect interpretation of Mr. Kirkland, consider it a rare specimen of Indian eloquence.* AVithin a few years, an extraordinary orator has' risen among the Senecas; his real name is Saguoaha, but he is commonly called Red Jacket. Without the advantages of illustrious descent, and with no extraordinary talents for war, he has attained the first distinctions in the nation, by the force of his eloquence. His predecessor, in the honours of the nation, w as a celebrated chief, denominated The Cornplanter. Having lost the confidence of his countrymen, in order, as it is supposed, to retrieve his former tsanding, he persuaded his brother to announce himself as a prophet, or messenger from Heaven, sent to redeem the fallen fortunes of the Indian race. The superstition of the savages cherished the impostor; and he has acquired si7ch an ascendancy, as to prevail upon the Onondagas. * Appendix, No. 3. 75 formerly the nao?t drunken and proflic^ate of the Six ?sation-, to abstain entirely from spirituous liquors, and to observe the laws of morality in other respects. He has obtained the same ascen- dancy amonf; the Confederates as another impos- tor had acquired among the Shawanese and other western Indians ; and, like him, he has also employ- ed his influence for evil, as well as for good pur- poses. The Indians universally believe in wiich- craft i the prophet inculcated this superstition, and proceeded, through the instrumentality of conju- rers selected by himself, to designate the offendei^ who were accordingly sentenced to death. And the unhappy objects would have been actually executed, if the magistrates at Oneida, and the officers of the garrison at Niagara, had not interfer- ed. This was considered an artful expedient to render his enemies the objects of general abhor- rence, if not the victims of an ignominious death. Emboldened by success, he proceeded, finally, to execute the views of his brother, and Red Jacket was publicly denounced at a great council of Indians, held at Buffaloe Creek, and was put upon his trial. At this crisis he well knew that thie future colour of his life depended upon the powers of his mind. He spoke in his defence for near three hours. The iron brow of superstition relent- ed under the magic of his eloquence : he declared the prophet an imposter and a cheat ; he prevailed ; the Indians divided, and a small majority appeared in his favour. Perhaps the annals of history can- not furnish a more conspicuous instance of the triumph and power of oratory, in a barbarous na- tion, devoted to superstition, and looking up to the accuser as a delegated minister of the Almighty. I am well aware that the speech of Logan will be triumphantly quoted against me ; and that it will bp said, that the most splendid exhibition of Indian 76 eloquence may he found oul of the pale of the Six Nations. I fully subscribe to the eulogfium of ]\Ir. .Tefierson, wi.en he says, '* [ may challenge the whole orations of Demo thenes and Cicero, and of any more eminent orator, if Europe has furnished more eminent, to produce a single passage superior to the speech of Logan." But let it be remem- bered that Looan was a Mingo chief, the second son of ShikeJlemus, a celebrated Cayuga chief, and consequently belonged to the Confederates, although he did not live in their patrimonial terri- tory. The Iroquois had sent out several cplonies ; one of them was settled at Sandusky, and was esti- mated to contain three liundred warriors, in 1768. Another was established on a branch of the Scioto, and had sixty warriors in 1779.* To this I may add the testimony of Charlevoix, who may l)e justly placed in the first rank of able and learned writers on American affairs, and w4io entertained all the prejudices of his country against the confederacy. Speaking of .loncaire, who had been adopted by the Senec^s, and who had obtain- ed their consent for the establishment of a fort at Niagara, he says, " II parla avec tout I'esprit d'un Francois, qui en a beaucoupet la plus sublime elo- quence Iroquoise." He spoke witli all the ener- getic spirit of a Frenchman, and with the most su- blime eloquence of an Iroquois.f It cannot, I presume, be doubted, but that the Confederates were a peculiar and extraordinary people, contradistinguished from the mass of the Indian nations by great attainments in polity, in government, in negotiation, in eloquence, and in * JclTersoii's Notes. t Charlevoix, leiter 15. p. 243. Q.UJ^re. Ig this the Captain Toncaire wiio is mt^utionetl in Ge.'ieral (then Colonel) VVashingtoa's Journal of iiis luisstoa to the Ohio ? Sec Marshall's Life of Wash- iogtoii, vol- 2 uole. I. war. La Hontan asserts that " they are of a larger stature, and withal, more raliant and cunning than the other nations."* Charlevoix derives (heir name of A£;onnonsioni, from their superior skill and taste in architecture.f The perspicacious and philoso- phical Pennant, after fully weighing their character, qualities, and physical conformation, pronounced them the descendants of the Tschutski, who reside on a peninsula, which forms the most northeasterly part of Asia ; who are a free and brave race ; and, m size and figure, superior to every neighbouring nation. The Russians have never been able to ef- fect their conquest. They cherish a high sense of liberty ; constantly refuse to pay tribute ; and are supposed to have sprung from that fine race of Tar- tars, the Kabardinski, or inhabitants of Kabarda.i- But there is a striking discrimination between this nation and the great body of the Indian tribes, which remains to be mentioned. Charlevoix hafs the singular merit of having rejected the common mode of ascertaining the identity of national origin, from a coincidence in customs and manners ; and of having pointed out a similarity of language as the best and the surest criterion. As far back as La Hon- tan, whose voyages were published in 1703, and who was well acquainted with the Indian lan- truages, it was understood by him, that there were Sut two mother tongues, the Huron and the Algon- kin, in the whole extent of Canada, as far west as ihe Mississippi ; and in a lis* which he gives of the Indian nations, it appears that they all spoke the Algonkin languase in different dialects, except the Hurons and the ^Confederates ; the difference be- tween whose languages, he (sonsiders as not greater * Vol. 2. p. 4. 7 Charlevoix, vol. 1. b. 6. p. 271. t Pcnnnnf''^ .{vrtlc Zoology, vol. 1. p. 1?1 186. 262, r 11 1 78 than that between the Norman and the French This opinion has been supported and confirmed by the concurrinoj testimony of Carver, Charlevoix Rogers, Barton, Edwards, Mackenzie, and Pike. with these qualifications, that the Sioux, or Nau- dowessies, and the Assiniboils,tot^ether v*^ith many nations of Indians to the west of the Mississippi, speak a distinct original language ; and it is not perfectly settled, whether the Creeks, and the other aouthern Indians in their vicinity, use a parent lan- guage; or under which of the three great parent ones tliciis um^i Ijc classed. Carver speaks of the Cliippewa; Edwards, of the Mohegan; Barton, of the Delaware ; Ht>gers, of the Ottaway, as the most prevailjiig langimge in North America; but they all agree in Ihc shnihuity. JJr. Edwards asserts, that the language of the Delaware?, in Pennsylva- nia ; of the Penobscots, bortlering on Nova Scotia ; of the Indians of St. Francis, in Canada; of the Shawanese, on the Ohio ; of the Chippewas, at the westward of Lake Huron; of the Ottawas, Nanti- cockes, Munsees, Minonionees, IMisiuagues, Sass- kies, Ottagamies, Killestones, Mipegois, Algonkins, Winnebagoes ; and of tlie several tribes in New- England, are radically the same ; and the varia- tions are to be accounted for from the want of let- ters, and of communication. On the other hand, that the Confederates and the Hurons were origi- nally of the same stock, may be inferred, not only from the sameness of their language, but from their division into similar tribes.* From this, we may * TrarnbiiU's Connecticut, vol. 1. p. 43. Henry's Travels io €ana(5a, p. 250. 2^0. 325. Carver's Travels, p. 1 70. Macken- zie's Vo)aj2;es, p. 280. Charlevoix, vol. 3. letters lltli and 12th. .Teffeiy's JXatural and Civil History of the French Dominions in North and South America, p. 45. 50. Roger's North America, p. 246. Barton's View, p. 470. Pike's Expedition, p. 65. Ed- wards' Observations on the Language of the Muhhekanew In- dians. La Hontaa's New Voyages, vol. 1. p. 270. vol. 2. p. 287, 79 rationally coiidnde, tliat, l]io;3C nations were de- scended from an Asiatic stock, radically ditFerent from that of the ^reat body of Indians, who were spread over North America; and that the superior qualities of the Iroquois may he ascribed, as well to the superiority of their oriojin, as to the advan- taojes of position, the maxims of policy, and the principles of education, which distinguished them from the other red inhabitants of this western world. And they were, indeed, at all times ready and vyil- linij to cherish the sentiment of exaltation which they felt ; and believing that they excelled the rest of mankind, they called themselves Onguc-Honwe ; that is, men surpassing all others.* It is extremely difficult to speak, with any preci- sion, of the ancient population of the Indian na- tions. The Powhatan confederacy, or empire, as it was called, contained one inhabitant for every square mile; and the proportion of warriors to the whole number of inhabitants was as three to ten.f If this is to aflbrd a just rule for estimating the Con- federates, it would be easy to ascertain their num ber, and to adjust the relative proportion of their fighting men'. Supposing their patrimonial or dwelling country to be three hundred miles in length, and one hundred in breadth, the whole number of square miles would be thirty thousand ; and the number of souls the same.J Some writers state the number of their warriors, at the first Eu- * Coldeu, vol. 1 . p. 2. t Jefferson's Notes, p. 141, «StC. X On this subject see Trumbull's History of the United States, vol. 1. p. 30, i^c. Williams' Vermont, vol. 1. p. 215, &ic. Douglass' Summary, vol. 1. p. 185. Mass. Historical Society, vol. 5. p. 13. IG. 23. &c. Mass. Historical Society, vol. 10. p. 1 22, &c. Morse's Gazetteer of the Six Nations. La Hontao, vol. 1. p. 23, &c. Jefferson's Notes, p. 151. Holmes' Ameri- can Annals, vol. 1. p. 45. Holmes' American Amials, vol. ?- p. 137. 80 Fopeaii gettleineut, to be fifteen thousand, which would make a population of fifty thousand. La Hontan says, that each village, or canton, contain- ed about fourteen thousand souls; that is, one thousand five hundred that bear arms, two thousand superannuated men, four thousand women, two Uiousand maids, and four thousand children ; though, indeed, some say, that each village has not above ten or eleven thousand souls. On the first state- ment they would have seven thousand five hun^ dred, and on the last about five thousand three hundred and sixty fighting men. Col. Coursey, an agent of Virginia, had in 1677» a conference with the Five Nations at Albany. The number of warriors was estimated, at that time and place, as follows : Mohawks, - . ; . 300 Oneidas, ,,,... 200 Onondagas^ . , . . • 350 Cayugas, 300 Senecas, , . . . . i,000 Total, 2,150 which would make the whole population near se- ven thousand two hundred.* * Vide Chalmei's PoJitical Anoals, p. 606. which' contains the journey of Wentvorth and Greenslmlp, from Albany to the Five JYations, begun 28th May, 1677, and ended 14th July follow- iug. The Mohawks had four towns and one village, containing only one hundred houses. The Oneidas had one town, containing one hundred bouses. The Onondagas, one town, one hundred and forty houses, and one village, twenty-four Jiouses. The Cayugas, three towns of about one hundred houses in all. The Senecas, four towns, containing three hundred and twenty-four houses. The ^varriors the same precisely as in Col. Coursey's statement. (Cours. p. 21.) In the whole, seven hundred and ejghty-four houses; which would make nearly three warriors and ten inhabitants for each house. 81 Smith says, that in 1756, the wliole lumibv' r of iio-hting men was about one thousand two hun- dred. "^Douglass says, that in 1760, it was one thousand five hundred. In the first case, the whole population would be four thousand ; and in the last, five thousand. In 1764, Col. Bouquet, from the information of a French trader, stated the whole number of in- habitants to be one thousand five hundred and fifty. Captain Hutchins, who visited most of the Indian na- tions for the express purpose of learning their number, represents them to be two thousand one hundred and twenty in 1768 ; and Dodge, an Indian trader, says, that in 1779 they were one thousand iix hundred. These three estimates are taken from Jefferson's Notes on Virginia; and, although they apparently relate to the whole population, yet t am persuaded, that the statements were only intended to embrace the number ^f w arriors. During the revolutionary war, the British had in their service, according to the calculation of a British agent, iMohawks, 300 Oneidas, ----- 150 Tuscaroras, - - - - 200 Onondagas, . - - - 300 Cayugaf?, ----- 230 Senecas, - - - - - 400 Total, 1,580 If to these we add two hundred and twenty warri- ors who adhered to the United States, the whole number of fighting men would be one thousand eight hundred. In 1783, Mr. Kirkland, the missionary, estimated the number of warriors in the Seneca nation, at six hundred. This would make the whole popula- lion two thousand ; and a? the Sen^cas then com- posed ne-diiy one half of the whole Confedemev, the fighting men would be about one thousand tvvo hundred, and the total number of inhabitants, up- ward of four thousand. In ]790, he calculated the whole population of the Confederacy, including those who reside on Grand River in Canada, and the Stockbridge and Brothertown Indians, to be six thousand three hundred and thirty. This would make the number of warriors near one thou- sand nine hundred. In 1794, on the division of an annuity of four thousand five hundred dollars, given to them by the United States, their number was ascertained with considerable precision ; each individual in the Confederacy (except those residing in the British dominions) receiving an equal share. ir: TBF. rrtiTED states. tnTisn ltne?. MohawKs, --- 300 Oneidas, - - - . 628 - - - 460 Cay u gas, - - - . Onondagas, - - - - 450 - - - 760 Tuscaroras, - - - - Senecas, ~ . - . 3298 760 Total, 4,058 The Stockbridge and Brothertown Indians, are not included. This would make the number of fight- ing men, one thousand three hundred and fifty= two. These various estimates evince the great uncer- tainty prevailing on this subject. While La Hon^ tan exaggerates the population of the Confederacy, Smith evidently underrates it. We know that ir^ their wars they often sent out considerable armies. They attacked the Island of Montreal with one thousand two hiindred men ; and in 1C83, one thou- sand inarched, at one time, against the Ottagamici. The first was in 1689, twelve years after Col. Cour- gey's estimate. Supposinij; that one thousand two liundred warriors were at that time at home, and otherwise employed, the whole number would then be about two thousand ibur hundred ; which show a considerable coincidence between the two state- ments. On one point there is, however, no uncer- tainty. Ever since the men of Europe landed on the shores of America, tliere hay been a diminution of the number of Aborigines ; sometimes rapid, at other times gradual. The present condition of the Confederates furnishes an admonitory lesson to human pride; and adds another proof to the many on record, that nations, like individuals, are destin- ed by Providence to dissolution. Their patrimo nial estates, their ancient dwelling lands, are now crowded with a white population, excepting some reservations in the Oneida, Onondaga and Seneca countries. The Mohawks abandoned their coun- try during the war; and the Cayugas have since the peace. A remnant of the Tuscaroras reside on three miles square, near the Niagara River, on lands given to them by the Senecas and the Hol- land land company. The Oneida reservation does not contain more than ten tliousand acres; and the Onondaga is still smaller. The Senecas have tlieir principal settlement at Butlaloe Creek. Their reservations are extensive and valuable, containing more than one hundred and sixty thousand acres: and they possess upward of oLie hundred thousand dollars in tlie stock of the late bank of the United States. Tlic vSix Nations have lost their high character and elevated standing. Tliey are, in general, ad- dicted to idleness and drunkenness; the remnant of • heir el(»quenco and military soirit. as well as na tional siren olli, is to be found only among the Sene- cfis. Their ancient men, who have witnessed the former i^lory and prosperity of their country, and who have heard from the mouths of their ancestors, the heroic achievements of their countrymen, weep Hke infants, when they speak of the fallen condition of the nation. They, however, derive some conso lation from a prophecy of ancient origin and uni- versal currency among them, that the man of Ame- rica will, at some future time, regain his ancient ascendency, and expel the man of Europe from iliis western hemisphere. This flattering and con- solatory persuasion has restrained, in some degree;, their vicious propensities; has enabled the Seneca and Shawanese prophets to arrest in some tribes the use of intoxicating liquors, and has given birth, at different periods, to certahi movements toward a general confederacy of the savages of North America. That they consider the white man an enemy and an intruder, who has expelled them from their country, is most certain ; and they cherish this antipathy with so much rancour, that when they abandon their settlements, they make it a rule never to disclose to him any mineral substances or springs, ^^hich may redound to his convenience or advantage. 71ie causes of their degradation and diminution^ are principally to be found in their baneful commu- nication with the man of Europe ; which has con- taminated their morals, destroyed their population, robbed them of their country, and deprived them of their national spirit. Indeed, when we consider, that the di,scovery and settlement of America, have exterminated millions of the red men, and entailed upon the sable inhabitants of Africa, endless and destructive wars, captivity, slavery and death, we have reason to shudder at the glooniy perspective, and to appiehend that, in the retributive justice of 85 llie Almighty, " there may be some hidden thunder in the stores of Heaven, red with uncommon wrath ;"* some portentous cloud, pregnant with the elements of destruction, ready to burst upon Euro- pean America, and to entail upon us those calami- ties which we have so wantonly and wickedly in- flicted upon others. A nation that derives its subsistence, principally, from the forest, cannot live in the vicinity of one that relies upon the products of the field. The clearing of the country drives off the wild beasts ; and when the game fails, the hunter must starve^ change his occupation, or retire from the approach of cultivation. The Savage has invariably prefer- red the last. The Mohawks were, at one period, the most numerous canton ; but they soon became the smallest. This was on account of their pro- pinquity to the whites; while the Senecas, who are most remote, are the most populous. There are two other causes which have contributed to the destruction of the IMohawks ; their extreme ferocity, which distinguished them from the other cantons, and which exposed them to greater perils ; and the early seduction of a part of their nation by the French, w ho prevailed upon them to migrate to Canada. The scarcity of food has also been augmented by other causes, besides that of cul- tivating the ground. Formerly they killed for the sake of subsistence : the Europeans instigated them to kill for the sake of the furs and skins. The use of fire-arms has had the effect, by the explosion of powder, of frightening away the game ; and at the same time, of enabling the savage to compass their destruction with greater facility, than by hisancient weapon the bow and arrow, whose execution was less certain, and whose operation was less terrific. Addison's Cato. [12] 86 The old Scythian propensity for wandering from place to place, and to make distant excursions, predominates among them. Some, after an ab- sence of tvNcnty years, have again shown them- selves, while others never return. Many of the Iroquois are amalgamated with the western In- dians. In 17! 9, a colony of the Confederates, who had been brought up from their infancy under the Roman Catholic Missionaries, and instructed by them at a village, within nine miles of Montreal, emigrated to the banks of the Saskatchiwine River, beyond Lake Winnipeg.^ The endless and destructive wars in which they have been involved, have also been a principal cause of diininishing their population. The number of birtlis among savage, is always inferior to that among civilized nations, where subsist- ence is easier, and where the female sex are con- sidered the companions, the friends, and the equals of man ; and are associated and connected with him by the silken ties of choice and affection, not by the iron chains of compulsion and slavery. In times of war, the number of deaths among the Indians generally exceeded that of the births; and the Iroquois, for the last fifty years, not having been able to execute to any great extent their system of adoption, have experienced a correspond- ent diminution. The manner of savage warfare IS also peculiarly destructive. Among civilized nations, great armies are brought into the field at once ; and a few years, and a great battle, decide the fortune of the war, and produce a peace. Among Indians, wars are carried on by small detachments, and in detail, and for a long time. Among the former they operate like amputation ; a limb is cut off, and the remainder of the body lives ; but with savages, they resemble a slow and * Mackenzie, vol. 1. p. 298= 87 wasting disease, which gradually undermines the vital principle, and destroys the wtiole system. Before their acquaintance with the man of Eu- rope they were visited by dreadful diseases, which depopulated whole countries. Just before the set- tlement of New-Engiand, some whole nations were swept off by a pestilence. The whites intro- duced that terrible enemy of barbarous nalions, the small pox, as well in the north of Asia as in America. Kamschatka was very po|)ulous until the arrival of the Russians; a dreadful visitation of the small pox, in 1767, nearly exterminated its in- habitants.* In 1779 and 1780, the small pox spread among the Killistinoes, or Kanistenaux, and Chepewyans, " with a baneful rapidity that no flight could escape, and with a fatal effect that nothing could resist."t Nine tenths of the northern Indians, so called by Hearne, were cut off by it.J In 1670, this disease depopulated the north of Canada.^ A whole nation, called the Attetramasues, were de- stroyed. The vicinity of the Confederates to the Eu- ropean settlements, and their constant intercourse, have exposed them continually to its visitations ; and their method of erne being the same in all dis- eases, immersion in cold water after a vapor bath, has aggravated its ravages. Their imitation of the European dress, has also substituted a lighter mode of clothing in lieu of warm furs ; by which, and their exposure to the elements, they are peculiarly sub- jected to consumptions and inflammatory com- plaints. Longevity is, however, by no means un- common among them. In their settlements you see some very old people. Pennant, vol 1. p. 215. _ t Mackenzie, vol. 1. p. 1 7. 132 * Pennant, vol i. p. zia. t l^x hich enter the lake from the south, have their mouths affected with sand in a peculiar way, from the prevalence and power of the northwesterly winds. The points of the creeks which pass through this ridge, correspond exactly in appearance with the entrance of the streams into the lakes. These facts evince, beyond doubt, that Lake Ontario has, per- haps one or two thousand years ago, receded from this elevated ground. And the cause of this re- treat must be ascribed to its having enlarged its former outlet, or to its imprisoned waters (aided, probably, by an earthquake) forcing a passage down the present bed of the St. Lawrence; as the Hudson did at the Highlands, and the Mohawk at the Little Falls. On the south side of this great ridge, in its vicinity, and in all directions through this country, the remains of numerous forts are to be seen ; but on the north side ; that is, on the side toward the lake, not a single one has been disce- y6 vered, althoiigii tlie wliole ground iias been care- fully explored. Considering the distance to be, say seventy miles in length, and eight in breath, and that the border of the lake is the very place that would be selected for habitation, and conse- quently for works of defence, on account of the facilities it would afford for subsistence, for safety, for all domestic accommodations and military pur- poses; and that on the south shores of Lake Erie, these ancient fortresses exist in great number, there can be no doubt but that these works were erected, when this ridge was the southern bounda- ry of Lake Ontario, and, consequently, that their origin must be sought in a very remote age. A great part of North America was then inhabit- ed by populous nations, who had made considerable advances in civilization. These numerous works could never have been supplied with provisions, without the aid of agriculture. Nor could they have been constructed without the use of iron or copper ; and without a perseverance, labour, and design, which demonstrate considerable progress in the arts of civilized life. A learned writer has said, " I perceive no reason why the Asiatic North might not be an officina virorum, as well as the European. The over-teeming country to the east of the Ri- phaean mountains, must find it necessary to discharge its inhabitants. The first great wave of people was forced forward by the next to it, more tumid and more powerful than itself: successive and new im- pulses continually arriving, short rest was given to that which spread over a more eastern tract ; dis- turbed again and again, it covered fresh regions. At length, reaching the farthest limits of the old world, it found a new one, with ample space to oc- cupy, unmolested, for ages."* After the north of Pennant's Aietie Zoology, vol. 1. p. 260. 97 Asia had thus exhausted its Exuberant population by such a ^reat migration, it would require a very long period of time to produce a cooperation of causes, sufficient to effect another. The first might- ty stream of people that flowed into America, must have remained free from external pressure for ages. Availing themselves of this period of tranquillity, they would devote themselves to the arts of peace, make rapid progress in civilization, and acquire an immense population. In course of time, discord and war would rage among them, and compel the establishment of places of security. At last, they became alarmed by the irruption of a horde of bar- barians, who rushed like an overwhelming flood from the North of Asia. A multitude, like which the populous North Poured from her frozen loins, to pass Rheue or the Dauaw, when her barbarous sous Came like a deluo;e oo the South, aud spread Beneath Gibralter to the Lybian saods.* The great law of self preservation compelled them to stand on their defence, to resist these ruth- less invaders, and to construct numerous and exten- sive works for protection. And for a long series of time the scale of victory was suspended in doubt, and they firmly withstood the torrent : but like the Romans in the decline of their empire, they were finally worn down and destroyed, by successive in- roads, and renewed attacks. And the fortifications of which we have treated, are the only remaining monuments of these ancient and exterminated na- tions. This is, perhaps, the airy nothing of ima- gination, and may be reckoned the extravagant dream of a visionary mind : but may we not, con- sidering the wonderful events of the past and pre- * Milton's Paradise Tvide-spread ruins of our cloud- capp'd towers, of our solemn temples, and of our maonificent cities, will, like the works of which we have treated, become the subject of curious research and elaborate investigation. * Roscoe's LoreDzo De Medicis, p. 241, APPENDIX, No t ;?«oiB 5mitU'3 Hjstery of Sew-Y'irk. f»i^ id. • Jlonsieur De La Barrts Speech, addressed to Gor ransuda, an Onondaga Chief, the Indians and French officers at the same time forming a tirele round about him. " The kin^, my master, being informed that the Five Nations have often infrinored the peace, has or- dered me to come hither with a guard, and to send Ohguesse to the Ononda^as, to bring the chief sachems to mv camp. The intention of the jjreat king is, that you and I may smoke the calumet of peace together; but on this condition, that you promise me, in the name of the ^enecas, Cayusras, Onondagas, and Mohawks, to gire entire satisfac- tion and reparation to liis subjects, and for the fu- ture never to molest them. "The Senecas, Cayusjas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks, have robbed and abused aU the traders that were passing to the Illinois and Mia- mies, and other Indian nations, the children of my kins; they have acted, on these occasions, contrary to the treaty of peace with my predecessor. I am ordered, therefore, to demand satisfaction ; and to tell them, that in case of refusal, or their plunder- ing us any more, that I have express orders to de- clare war. This belt confirms my words. The w arriors of the Five Nations have conducted the English into the lakes, which belong to the king, mylnaster, and brought the English among the na- fidR^ that are hi^ cb^fdren t» destroy the trade of LotC. iOO his subjects, and to withdraw these nations from him. They have carried the English thither, not- withstanding the prohibition of the late governor of New-York, who foresaw the risk that both they and you would run. I am willing to forget those things ; but if ever the like should happen for the future, I have express orders to declare war against you. This belt confirms my words. Your warriors have made several barbarous incursions on the Illinois and Miamies. They have massa- cred men, women, and children ; they have made mariy of these nations prisoners, who thought them- selves safe in their villages in time of peace. These people, who are my king's children, must not be your slaves : you must give them their liberty, and send them back into their own country. If the Five Nations shall refuse to do this, I have express or- ders to declare war against them. This belt con- firms my words. " This is what I have to say to Gaiangula, that he may carry to the Penecas, Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayugas, and Mohawks, the declaration which the king, my master, has commanded me to make. He doth not wish them to force him to send a great ar- my to Cadarackui fort, to begin a war, which must be fatal to tliem. He would be sorry that this fort, that was the work of peace, should become the pri- son of your warriors. We must endeavour on both sides to prevent such misfortunes. The French, who are the brethren and friends of the Five Na- tions, will never trouble their repose, provided that the satisfaction which I demand be given ; and that the treaties of peace be hereafter observed. I shall be extremely grieved if my words do not produce the etfect which I expect from them; for then I shall be obliged to join with tiie governor of Neu- York, who is commanded by his master to assist 101 me, and burn the castles of the Five Nations, and destroy you. This belt confirms my words." Garangula, after walking five or six times round the circle, answered the French governor, who sat in an elbow chair, in the following strain : " YoNSONDIO, " I honour you, and the warriors that are witli me likewise honour you. Your interpreter has finished your speech : I now begin mine. My words make haste to reach your ears; hearken to them. " Yonnondio, you must have believed, when yoii left Quebec, that the sun had burnt up all the fo- rests, which render our country inaccessible to the French, or that the lakes had so far overflown the banks, that they had surrounded our castles, and that it Avas impossible for us to get out of them. Yes, Yonnondio, surely you must have dreamt so ; and the curiosity of seeing so great a wonder, has brought you so far. Now you are vmdeceived, since that I and the warriors here present, are come to assure you that the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks, are yet alive. I thank you in their name for bringing back into their country the calumet which your predecessor received from their hands. It was happy for you that you left under ground that murdering hatchet which has been so often died in the blood of the French. Hear, Yonnondio ; I do not sleep ; T have my eyes open, and the sun which enlightens me, discovers to me a great captain at the head of a company of soldiers, who speaks as if he were dreaming. He says that he only came to the lake to smoke on the great calumet with the Onondagas ; but Garangula says that he sees the contrary ; that [ 14 ] 102 li \\:i< to knock them on the head, if sicknei:^ had not weakened the arms of the Freneh. " I see Yonnondio raving in a canip of sick men. whose lives the great spirit Las saved, by inflicting this sickness on them. Hear, Yonnondio : our wo- men had taken their clubs; our children and old men had carried their bows and arrows into the heart of your camp, if our warriors had not disarmed them, and kept them back, when your messenger Oh- guesse came to our castles. It is done, and I have said it. Hear, Yonnondio; we plundered none of the French I)ut those that carried guns, powder and ball to the Twightwies and Chictaghicks, because those arms might have cost us our lives. Herein "vve follow the example of the .Jesuits, who stave all the kegs of rum brought to our castles, lest the drunken Indians should knock them on the head. Our w arriors have not beaver enough to pay for all these arms that they have taken ; and our old men are not afraid of the v ar. This belt preserves my words. " We carried the English into our lakes to trade there with the Utaw awas and Q^uatoghies as the Andirondocks brought the French to our castles to carry on a trade, which the English say is theirs. AVe are born free. We neither dc[)end on Yon- nondio nor Corlear. " Wfc may go where we please, and carry with us whem we please. If your allies be your slaves, use them as such. Command them to receive no other but your people. This belt preserves my words. " We knocked the Twightwies and Chictaghicks on the head because they had cut down the trees of peace, which were the limits of our country. They have hunted beavers on our land. They had acted contrary to the customs of all Indians ; for they left none of the beavers alive : they killed both male and female. They brought the Satanas into 103 the country to take part with them, after they had concerted ill designs against us. We have done less than either the English or French, that have usurped the lands of so many Indian nations, and chased them from their own country. This belt preserves my words. Hear, Vonnondio; what I say is the voice of all the Five Nations : hear what they answer. Open your ears to what they speak. The J-^enecas, Ca- yugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and tiie Mohawks, say, that when they buried the hatchet at the Cada- rackui (in the presence of your predecessor) in the middle of the fort, they planted the tree of peace in the same place, to be there carefully pre- served, that in place of a retreat for soldiers, that fort might be a rendezvous for merchants ; that in place of arms and ammunition of war, beavers and merchandize should only enter there. " Hear, Yonnondio ; take care for the future, that so great a number of soldiers as appear there do not choke the tree of peace planted in so small a fort. It will be a great loss, if after it had so easily taken root, you should stop its growth, and pre- vent its covering your country and om-s with its branches. I assure you, in the irame of the Five Nations, that our warriors shall dance to the calu- met of peace under its leaves, and shall remain quiet on their mats, and shall never dig up the hatchet till their brother, Yonnondio, or Corlear, shall, either jointly or separately, endeavour to at- tack the country, which the great spirit has given to our ancestors. This belt preserves my words; and this other, the authority which the Five Na- tions have given me." Then Garangida, addressing himself to Mon- sieur La Main, said, "take courage, Ohguesse> you have spirit, speak — explain my words; forget nothing ; tell all tliat your brethren and friends say 104 to Yonnondio, your j^overnor, by the mouth of Garangula, who loves you, and deshes you to ac- cept of this present of beaver, and take part with me in my feast to which I invite you. This present of beaver is sent to Yonnondio on the part of th*^ Five Nations. APPENDIX, No. II. Speech of the Mohawk Chiefs to the Magistrates of Albany, on the 25th of March, 1689—90, after the destruction of Schenectady. " Brethren, " The murder of our brethren at Schenectady by the French, grieves us as much as if it had been done to ourselves, for we are in the same chain ; and no doubt our brethren of New England will be likewise sadly affected with this cruel action of the French. The French on this occasion have not acted like brave men, but like thieves and robbers. Be not therefore discouraged. We give this belt to wipe away your tears, " Brethren, " We lament the death of so many of our bre- thren, whose blood has been shed at Schenectady. We don't think that what the French have done can be called a victory, it is only a farther proof of their cruel deceit. The governor of Canada sends to Onondaga, and talks to us of peace with our whole house, but war was in his heart, as you may jiow see by woful experience. He did the same formerly at Cadarackui, and in the Senecas coun- try. This is the third time he has acted so deceit- fully. He has broken open our house at both ends, formerly in the Senecas country, and now here. We hope, however, to be revenged of them. One hundred of our bravest, young men are i» pursuit 106 of them ; they are brisk fellows, and they will fol^ low he French to their doors. We will beset them so closely t^hat not a man in Canada shall dare to step out of doors to cut a stick of wood ; but now cond^bSr "^ ''"'' "^^^"^ *"" bury them, by this se- " Brethren, "We came from our castles with tears in our eyes, to bemoan the blood shed at Schenectady bv the perfidious French. While we bury our dea'd murdered at Schenectady, we know not what may have befallen our own people, that are in pursuit ot the eneiny : they may be dead. What has befallen you may happen to us ; and therefore we come to bel7 ''"^' ''^^^^^^■^n a^ Schenectady with this third " Great and sudden is the mischief, as if it had lalien Irom Heaven upon us. Our forefathers taucrht us to cro with all speed to bemoan and la- ment with our brethren, when any disaster or mis- lortune happens to any in our chain. Take this belt of vigilance, that you may be more watchful lor the future. We give our brethren eye water to make them sharp sighted. (Giving a fourth belt.) VA e now come to the house where we usually rene« the chain ; but alas ! we find the house pol- luted with blood. All the Five Nations have heard ot tnis, and we are come to wipe awav the blood and clean the house. We come to invite Corlear and every one of you, and Quider, (calling to every one ol the principal men present by their names) to be revenged of the enemy, by this fifth belt. " Brethren, " Be not discouraged ; we are strong enough, if^is is the beginning of your war, and the whole 107 house have their eyes fixed upon you at this time, to observe your behaviour. They wait your mo- tion, and are ready to join in any resolute mea- sures. " Our chain is a stroni; chain ; it is a silver chain ; it can neither rust nor be broken. We, as to our parts, are resolute to continue the war. *' We will never desist, so long as a man of us re- mains. Take heart ; do not pack up and go away ;* this will give heart to a dastardly enemy. We are of the race of the bear; and a bear, you know, never yields, while one drop of blood is left. We must all be bears. (Giving a sixth belt.) " Brethren, " Be patient ; this disaster is an affliction which has fallen from Heaven upon us. The sun, which hath been cloudy, and sent this disaster, will shine again with its pleasant beams. Take courage, courage — (Repeating the word several times as they gave a seventh belt.) (7b the English.) •' Brethren, " Three years ago we were engaged in a bloody war with the French, and you encouraged us to proceed in it. Our success answered our expec- tation ; but we were not well begun, when Cor- lear stopped us from going on. Had you permitted us to go on, the French would not now have been able to do us the mischief they have done — we would have prevented theii' sowing, planting, or reaping. " We would have humbled them effectually, but now we die. The obstructions you then made * This was spoken to the English, who were about removiag from Albany. 108 now ruin us. Let us after this be steady, and take no such false measures for the future, but prosecute the war vigorously. (Giving a beaver skin.) "The brethren must keep good watch, and if the enemy come again, send more speedily to us. Don't desert Schenectady. The enemy will glory in seeing it desolate. It will give them courage that had none before. Fortify the place ; it is not w ell fortified now : The stockadoes are too short ; the Indians can jump over them. (Gave a beaver skin.) " Brethren, " The inischief done at Schenectady cannot be helped now ; but for the future, when the enemy appears any where, let nothing hinder your sending to us by expresses, and fire great guns, that all may be alarmed. We advise you to bring all the Ri- ver Indians under your subjection to live near Al- bany, to be ready on all occasions. " Send to New-England ; tell them what has hap^ pened to you. They will undoubtedly awake, and lend us their helping hand. It is their interest, as much as ours, to push the war to a speedy conclu- sion. Be not discouraged ; the French are not so numerous as some people talk. If we but heartily unite to push on the war, and mind our business, the French will soon be subdued." The magistrates having returned an answer on the twenty-seventh, to the satisfaction of the In- dians, they repeated it all over, word by word, to let the magistrates see how carefully they minded, and then added, " Brethren, " We are glad to find you are not discouraged. The best and wisest men sometimes make mistakes. 109 Let us now pursue the war vigorously. We have a liundred men out ; ttiey are good scouts. AVe ex- pect to meet all the sachems of the other nations, as they come to condole with you. You need not fear our being read}^ at tlie first notice. Our ax is always in our hands; but take care that you be timely ready. Your ships, that must do the prin- cipal work, are long a fitting out. AVe do not de- sign to go out with a small company, or in skulking parties ; but as soon as the nations can meet, we j-hall be ready witli our whole force. If you would bring this war to a happy issue, you must begin soon, before the French can recover the losses they have received from us, and get new vigour and life, therefore send in all haste to New-England. Nei- ther you nor we can continue long in the condition we are now in: we must order matters so that the French be kept in continual fear and alarm at home ; for this is the only way to be secure, and in peace here. " The Scatikok Indians, in our opinion, are well placed where they are (to the northward of Alba- ny ;) they are a good out-guard ; they are our chil- dren, and we must take care that they do their duty : but you must take care of the Indians below the town ; place them near the town^ so as they may be of more service to you." [ la :i APPENDIX, No. in Suh.^Uuirc of the Speech of Good Piter to Governor Clinton and the Commissioners of Indian Aljairs, at Albany, on the occasion referred to in the dis- course, Brotih-h OLneinor of ilie State of New-York, and all the other o;ieat ehiefs of the state of New- \ OIK, open your ears, and all you chieis oi the Five Nations here assembled, open your ears. The business we have now met about is of the greatest importance : how happy must we all be if we can arrange it for our mutual good. ^^ e hare this day assembled, and smoked our pipes in peace. That you may know the reason of my addressing you, I woidd inform you that my brethren, the Cayugas, and my children, the Sene- cas, requested me to be their mouth on this solemn occasion, and understanding that it is agreeable to the great chief of New-York, I now stand here. You will possess your minds in peace, for I have no disposition to oppose you in any respect, but shall move forward in the stiait path*. Brother Chief, In the fijt'st place, I would inform you, that last sprhig we were invited to a treaty at' Muskingum — where your voice also called upon us lo attend — some of our nation went there, and hare not yet returned. ^A lien om- uncles, the chiefs, left our council fire, their only business at iMuskiiigum, was the estab- Ill lile to IK i g €■« aw(febiai^i«iBllK«alii,aiHi iIh^ iwace, tfee ■nds «f oar j>iiiBC. _ Tfeit jETCTt dnrf I iod ,e gresit ciwiiicil <»f the gtotey awi we booM mt iqiiiv aarseiTcs Iv* new to TB5. tor wE^ei befoc« bad tie Fiv^ yada^ - - — -- rf mv falVthllSB of tfcib T. -7- - ji d ^ -- 7^ "~*~ '^^rdi. anf 5faiie caanoc see but : -i isi** ^"^ac stoat oc ]i&bb» j^ioa: vtHidkewr^ w? v^m 112 h also directed us to send it on to the oilier iiatioiis, which we did. At the council fire at Fort Stanwix, but one nation, the Onondagas, attended ; there \va« a stranoe bird that flew about your voice, and re- lated strange stories. This bird kept flying al)out while you held this council fire. After your pa- tience had been exhausted in waiting several days, you then determined to take us, one by one, as we came to the council fire ; and with this we were content. When you had finished with the Onondagas, you then sliowed the agreement to us, the Oneidas, point- ed out the true path, and opened our eyes. We then comprehended your sentiments as they were laid before us. You raised us from sinking into an unfathomable gulph, and placed us on a high moun- tain ; you erected a fortification around us, so that no evil spirits, or strange birds, could fly over and disturb us; you completed an agreement to our mutual satisfaction : it is firm and unalterable ; no evil spirit shall he able to erase the lines. We are now fixed, and dwell in peace. I need not enlarge upon the council, at Fort Stan- wix, anil the proceedings at that place. You re- member you saw a few Senecas there. You wel- comed them, although they were neither invited, nor sachems, but litlle children; they then told you with what difficulty they leaped over the mound at Canasake. You also remember, that when those Senec;t young men left you, you gave them good advice. As your patience was not yet exhausted, and your love for the Five Nations continued in full force, you invited the Senecas, through them, to meet you at Albany this winter, to consult upon subjects con- nected with their welfare. You also requested their attendance from the remotest parts of the nation. 1 hey again heard your voice : you opened their 113 eyes ; and it pierced them to the heart to see their territory sinking, and that by and by the wariiors would not be at liberty to hunt upon their land, and to provide for their women and children. Soon after this, the headmen and warriors delibe- rated on our message, and determined that it would be for the good of the Five Nations, and prevent our utter destruction, to repair to this place. Al- though some of our sachems have not returned from the southward, yet we are persuaded that our deliberations and proceedings will meet their ap- probation. After frequent conferences with our brethren, the Senecas, we determined to repair to this ancient council fire ; we thought it agreeable to ancient usage to take with us two brothers of the Ononda- gas and Oneidas, as witnesses, to this place, where our ancestors kindled their council fires ; the smoke of which reached the heavens, and round which they sat and talked of peace. I observed at first, that I should only touch upon one event after an- other. But need I call your attention to the coun- cils and treaties held here by your and our forefa- thers. They then had but one head and one heart ; the chain of friendship was made of silver, so that it could not rust. Our ancestors, you know, frequent- ly met to brighten this chain, with a design to see whether any evil spirit that disturbs the peace ©f brethren, shook it or sat upon it. But I must leave this pleasant subject, the paths of our ancestors. You have seen some of our brethren of the Five Nations, the Cayugas ; you have opened your mind, and encouraged us to bie- lieve that you can save our sinking country ; and that if any of your people have overleaped the bounds prescribed, you can erase the lines. This has given us great encouragement and universal pleasure. 114 Brother Governor, The Caju^as and Senecas, here present, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, that you have communicated freely with us. When we heard your first and second voice we were glad ; but now we are quite rejoiced. It convinces us that vou remembered and cherished the treaties between you and our forefathers. The great spirit gave our ancestors and us this island ; and we know that you are anxious to promote his design, that we should have a place whereon to live. We love our coun- try, and our fathers loved their country. We said we were glad to meet you and hear your voice, and to feel assured that you are aljle to save our sinking territory ; we uow put it all under your power ; put your hands over the whole, re= serving to us such a dish as you shall prescribe for us. This is perfectly agreeable to the usages of our ancestors, who loved peace, and loved their land ; and why ? because they loved their women and their children ; and while they loved peace and their land, they enjoyed happy* days. We repeat that we rejoice in this meeting, and in these proceedings. Those we have left behind, and those that will return from the south, will also rejoice at the result of our conferences. Our little ones can now look with pleasure for fish in the streams, and our warriors can hunt for wild beasts in the woods, and feel confident that they will not be driven from their country. (A string of black w ampum with six rows.) Brother, I have repeatedly said, that I was glad to hear your mind ; your words have sunk deep into my heart, and have raised up my land and country, that were about to sink. I entreat you, by this string, to keep firm to your word, and to reach out your 115 hand over my country. Our dish we will reserve. This transaction will rejoice, not only our absent friends, but our children's children, to the latest generation. They will declare with joy, that Aqui- landa,* the governor of New York, has rescued their country from destruction. (A string of Avhite wampum with six rows.) You have heard our voice ; we now entreat you to open your ears, and hear a speech from our sisters, the governesses. Brother, Our ancestors considered it a great offence to reject the counsels of their women, particularly of the female governesses. They were esteemed the mistresses of the soil- Who, said our forefathers, bring us into being — Who cultivate our lands, kindle our fires, and boil our pots, but the women ? Our women say, that they are apprehensive their uncles have lost the power of hunting, as they were about destroying their country ; but they take this opportunity of thanking you for preventing their fall down the precipice, to which their uncles had brought them. They entreat that the veneration of their ances- tors, in favour of w omen, be not disregarded, a«nd that they may not be despised : the great spirit is their maker. The female governesses beg leave to speak, with that freedom allowed to women, and agreeable to the spirit of our ancestors, ^i'hey entreat the great chief to put fortli his strength, and preserve them in peace ; for they are the life of the nation ; your power cannot be disputed. Those that disturb them are your subjects, and you can punish them. * Ad ladian pame gi,ven to Governor CHoton, which sigoifies rhing sun. 126 They rejoice, that while their counsellors are set- tling a peace at Muskingum, and you are here la- bouring for their good, tranquillity will be spread over the whole country. (Six strings of wampum.) Then Good Peter added. Brother, Possess your mind in peace. You are sensible that in affairs of importance, omissions may be made, and that a person is allowed afterward to correct them. You have greatly encouraged us, by promising to watch over our peace, and to provide for our welfare. 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