66 "with the Tribes of the Six Nations and their Confederates, as with the Cherokee Indians, as the 66 boundary Line between Your Majesty's Territories & the hunting Grounds of the Indians, & the Line proposed by the Petitioners beginning on the south side of the River Ohio opposite to the mouth of "Sioto & running thence southerly thro' the pass in the Ouasioto mountains to the south side of the said "mountains But that all that part of the said Lands comprehended between the said two Lines shall "remain wholly unsettled and unoccupied by the petitioners & their associates, & each & every of their "Heirs & assigns, until such time as your Majestys allowance & permission for the settling and "occupying the same shall be first obtained. "AND LASTLY the Lords of the Committee are of Opinion, to the end that the several persons "actually settled, or that may hereafter settle on the Lands in question, may be more properly & "quietly governed, that the said Settlement and District should be erected into a Separate Government "in such form and manner as to your Majesty's Wisdom shall seem meet, and under such other "restrictions & regulations as the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations shall advise." HIS MAJESTY taking the said Report into Consideration was pleased with the advice of His Privy Council to approve of what was therein proposed, and accordingly to give the necessary directions to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations for carrying the same into execution-And His Majesty is hereby pleased to order that the Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, do receive His Majesty's Pleasure for directing His Majesty's Superintendant for Indian affairs to apprize the Chiefs of the Six Nations & their Confederates of His Majesty's Intention to form a Settlement upon the Lands purchased of them by His Majesty in 1768. Signed STEPH: COTTRELL. EXTRACT OF THE MINUTES OF A CONGRESS WITH THE CHIEFS OF THE SIX NATIONS HELD AT JOHNSON HALL APRIL THE 17TH. 1773. But, Brother, we must observe to you, and we request it may be seriously considered that the misconduct of these Nations (that is to say, those to the South West) is much owing to the English themselves, for these nations were never hearty, and some of them, not even pretended friends to the English. Yet the English Traders, and also the French have of late years rambled in great numbers all over their Country for the sake of Gain, and are but too often guilty of frauds which inflame their Resentment. In the French time, their Traders rambled in that manner: they were often plundered, and killed; but the French did not resent it, knowing it was their own faults,--and we must again remark, as we have often done lately, that there is no certain way of preventing this, but by having fixed Posts, and proper Regulations for the Traders. Whilst these subsisted there were seldom any Outrages, the Indians were better pleased, and the Traders had Profit enough. We heartily wish you would consider these things, as matters of great Importance to the general Peace. BROTHER. A Belt of 7 Rows. When we first saw the White People, and fastened the Ship to the great Tree, the Band of our Union, was a fair Trade: when we strengthened our Alliance with the English, and fastened the Ship with an Iron Chain, which was afterwards made of Silver, Trade was our mutual object, and in most subsequent Treaties it was provided that Trade should be plentiful, and that we should not be cheated. the places of Trade were few, and the Traders well known. the like Promise was made us, whenever Canada should be reduced.--for a time it went on pretty well, but of late, the Traders go about where they please, and sell at the most extravagant Rates, besides following us to our Hunting Grounds to take advantage of our People, by means of the Liquor they bring with them. Of this, all the Indians complain; for as they live by Hunting, it becomes a more heavy Grievance to them, than it would do to others. We have often complained of this, but we find no Redress, and therefore if these repeated Impositions obstruct our good Intentions, the fault is not ours. Brother, we beg you will consider our case, so as that the Governors concerned may do what has been promised; we must likewise solicit the favor of the General, that both he, and you may lay our Hardships before the King who I trust will relieve us.-In this Hope we now on behalf of all our Confederacy, renew, strengthen, and brighten the Covenant Chain,--and the Senecas particularly assure you that they, and all their Dependants, do now take hold of it, and brighten the same, firmly resolving to contribute all their Endeavors, in conjunction with the rest of the Confederacy, to keep it bright, hoping that you will be assisting therein, for our mutual Interest, and the Preservation of Peace. A large white Covenant Chain Belt with 12 Squares, 11 Rows. To which Sir William answered BROTHERS. I am well acquainted with the nature, and Terms of your first Treaties with the English, and that Trade was always considered as an article of much importance · neither can I find that it was ever withheld from you. After the Reduction of Canada it was greatly enlarged by the addition of many new Traders, whereby Goods were plenty, and cheap. among such a number, there are doubtless some that will deceive you, especially so long as you continue your Passion for that Liquor which is the Source of so many Evils. There is however no doubt, that when the Colonies are agreed as to the nature of the Regulations, provision will be made against the Abuses you complain of-and in the mean time I recommend it to you to endeavor at reforming yourselves by a more moderate use of that Liquor in which case the Traders will bring less into your Country, and you will be more on your guard against their frauds, whilst I use my endeavors, as I have hitherto done to procure you the Salutary Establishments you require--Your case has been already fully laid before the Governors, and I can assure you that the Governor of this Province, and those of the other Colonies that are concerned in the Indian Trade, are heartily disposed to promote the Regulations.-the General who commands the Army, is also much your friend, and as he is shortly to go over the Great Lake, he will I persuade myself recommend these points to the Great King, who is heartily disposed to protect, and favor all faithfull Indians. I thank you for your renewing and brightening the ancient Chain of Friendship, and particularly, in that the Senecas are so wise as to take a firm Hold of it. Whilst they value themselves & their confederates, I hope they will retain it firmly; and I expect, that as the Western Door, they will hereafter take care that they admit nothing among them that may give offence to those in the middle, or at the East end of the Chain, but hearken to good advice, and follow it. To promote all this, I do now, on behalf of the Great King, and his subjects, renew, strengthen and brighten this Chain, assuring you that it shall be held fast, and kept bright, on the part of the English, and that it shall last for ever, if you do your parts to preserve it. I hope that you have too much sense of its value to expose it to any danger, and that you will Treasure up my advice as essential to your own Happiness. A true Copy from the Records A large Covenant Chain Belt 13 Rows black, with white Squares. Examined by Mr Rd SHUCKBURGH Secry. for Ind. Affairs. SPEECH OF DECHARIHOGA CHIEF OF THE CANAJOHARIES TO SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. ON MONDAY THE 11TH JULY 1774 A FEW HOURS BEFORE SIR WM'S DECEASE & IN PRESENCE OF THE BROTHER SIX NATIONS. It is with Pain I am under the necessity of Complaining again against that old Rogue, the old Disturber of our village, George Klock. You are long acquainted with his Artifices, and evil Conduct, and you have often assured us you had applied for Redress; but whatever is the Reason, we never yet Obtained any Satisfaction, and we begin to be doubtful whether the English will afford it to us, for which reason we are driven to the necessity of mentioning our Grievances to you in the Presence of the whole Confederacy, that they who know our Rank, may espouse our Cause, as it is their duty to do, and convince the English that we have ffriends, and deserve Attention. Brother-I will not take up your time with telling you, & your Brothers here present, the many Artifices he has made use of to Cheat us of our Lands, and to create Divisions among ourselves. I shall only mention his last actions. This evil Spirit, last Winter by his Cunning, seduced one of our foolish young ffellows to Steal away with him to England, where he exposed him for a shew, and Cheated him out of his Money. Klock has since Stolen home like a Rogue as he went out, and when we had notice of it, and applied to him to sign the Release, (which all the rest did) of the Lands weh he Stole, he appointed a time for it, but when we came to his House, and brought a Justice of Peace to be present, he refused Admittance to him & us, and has since ran away, and propagated a Story that some of us threatened his Life. It is true, Brother, that the man he Cheated went and took some of his own Money, and probably, some of our young ffellows after his own evil Example, might have used angry Threats to induce him to sign the Release, but we disavow it, as we do all his falsehoods, and are ready to wait for Justice. It has been often promised, but never afforded us. We beg that the great Men who manage the White People, may obtain Justice for us, and cause him to sign the Deed, and let us alone,—And if we thought this would still be done, we would willingly wait awhile patiently, otherwise, we cannot answer for the Consequences. To which Sir William Johnson answd. That they need not have mentioned this Matter to their Confederacy, who had no business with it,— that he would again lay the Matter before Government, and use all his endeavors for their satisfaction,that they Should patiently wait without attempting any act of Violence, which wou'd be highly Resented, and that he was Authorized to tell them that Klock's Conduct was disagreeable to the King. When Sir William's immediate Deputy Col. Guy Johnson reasumed the affairs of the Congress after the Interment of Sr Wm the Canajoharies reminded him of their Speech concerning Klock, and were answered with Assurances that the same Should be laid before Government. Taken from the Records G JOHNSON |