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tleman in town well acquainted with the state and difpofition of the Indians, a motion was made for introducing him, and he was accordingly introduced and examined.

The Committee appointed to devife ways and means for putting the militia in a proper ftate for the defence of America brought in their report, which was read, and after debate, referred for further confideration.

Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

TUESDAY, July 11, 1775

Met according to adjournment.

The report of the Committee on Indian affairs was taken up and read, and after fome debate, the fame was deferred till to-morrow.

On information, that there were two companies of rifle-men raised in Lancafter inftead of one,

Refolved, That both be taken into the continental fervice.

"An addrefs of Deputies from the different parishes of the Islands of Bermuda," to the Congrefs, was prefented and read.

Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, July 12, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

A Gentleman from the province of Quebeck

was introduced and examined.

2

Letters

Letters from Governor Cooke and General Ward were read.

The Congrefs then refumed the confideration of the report of the Committee on Indian affairs, and the fame being gone through, was agreed to as follows:

That the fecuring and preferving the friendship of the Indian nations, appears to be a fubject of the utmoft moment to thefe Colonies..

That there is too much reason to apprehend, that administration will fpare no pains to excite the feveral nations of Indians to take up arms against these Colonies; and that it becomes us to be very active and vigilant in exerting every prudent means to ftrengthen and confirm the friendly difpofition towards thefe Colonies, which has long prevailed among the northern tribes, and which has been lately manifefted by fome of those to the fouthward.

As the Indians depend on the Colonists for arms, ammunition and clothing, which are become neceffary to their fubfiftance, that Commiffioners be appointed by this Congrefs, to fuperintend Indian affairs in behalf of thefe Colonies.

That there be three departments of Indians, the, northern, middle, and fouthern. The northern to extend fo far fouth as to include the whole of the Indians known by the name of the Six Nations, and all the Indians northward of thofe nations. The fouthern department to extend fo far north as to include the Cherokees, and all the Indians that may be to the fouthward of them. The middle to contain the Indian nations that lie between the other two departments.

That

That five commiffioners be appointed for the fouthern department.

That for each of the other two departments there be appointed three commiffioners.

That the commiffioners have power to treat with the Indians in their refpective departments, in the name and on behalf of the United Colonies, in order to preferve peace and friendship with the faid Indians, and to prevent their taking any part in the prefent commotions.

That the Commiffioners for the fouthern depart `ment receive from the Continental Treafury the fum of Ten Thousand Dollars: the Commiffioners for the middle and northern department the fum of fix thousand fix hundred and fixty-fix and two thirds, for each of their refpective departments, for defraying the expence of treaties and prefents to the

Indians.

That the Commiffioners refpectively have power to take to their affiftance Gentlemen of influence among the Indians, in whom they can confide, and to appoint agents, refiding near or among the Indians, to watch the conduct of the fuperintendants and their emiffaries.

That in cafe the Commiffioners for the refpective districts, or any one of them in either district, fhall have fatisfactory proof, that the King's fuperintendants, their deputies or agents, or any other perfon whatsoever, are active in ftirring up or inciting the Indians, or any of them, to become inimical to the American colonies, fuch Commiffioner or Commiffioners ought to caufe fuch fuperintendants or other offender

to

to be feized and kept in fafe cuftody, until order fhall be taken therein by a majority of the Commiffioners of the diftricts where fuch feizure is made, or by the Continental Congrefs, or a Committee of faid Congress, to whom fuch feizure, with the caufes of it, fhall, as foon as poffible after, be made known.

That the Commiffioners fhall exhibit fair accounts of the expenditure of all monies by them refpectively to be received for the purposes aforefaid, to every fucceeding Continental Congrefs, or Committee of Congrefs, together with a general ftate of Indian affairs in their feveral departments, in order that the Colonies may be informed from time to time of every fuch matter as may concern them to know and avail themselves of, for the benefit of the common cause.

That as there is a Seminary for the inftruction of Indian youth, which has been established under the care of Doctor Wheelock, on Connecticut river; and as there. are nine or ten Indian youths at that school, chiefly from the tribes refiding in Quebec; and as for want of a proper fund there is danger that these youths may be sent back to their friends, which will probably excite jealousy and diftruft, and be attended with bad confequences, the Commiffioners for Indian affairs in the northern department be authorised to receive out of the Continental Treafury, a fum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars, to be applied by them for the fupport of the faid Indian youths.

On motion made, Refolved, That a Committee of five be appointed, to devife ways and means to protect the trade of thefe Colonies.

The following were chofen, Mr. Jay, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Gadfden, Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee.

Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.

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THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to prepare proper talks to the Indians, reported the fame, which was agreed to as follows:

A Speech to the Six Confederate Nations, Mohawks, Oneidas, Tufcaroras, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senekas, from the Twelve United Colonies, convened in Council at Philadelphia.

Brothers, Sachems and Warriors,

We, the Delegates from the Twelve United Provinces, viz. New-Hampshire, Maffachusetts-Bay, RhodeIfland, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Penfylvania, The three Lower Counties of Newcastle, Kent and Suffex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, now fitting in General Congrefs at Philadelphia, fend this Talk to you our Brothers. We are fixty-five in number, chofen and appointed by the people throughout all these provinces and colonies, to meet and fit together in one great Council, to confult together for the common good of the land, and speak and act for them.

Brothers, in our confultation we have judged it proper and neceffary to fend you this Talk, as we are upon the fame island, that you may be informed of the reasons of this great Council, the fituation of our civil conftitution, and our difpofition towards you our Indian Brothers of the Six Nations and their allies.

(Three Strings, or a fmall Belt.) Brothers and Friends, now attend. When our fathers croffed the great water and came over to this land, the King of England gave them a

Talk:

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