The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada Part 18

[Footnote 9: A Nation of _Indians_ living in _Canada_, who have always been firm friends to the _French_, and formerly were at War with the _Six Nations_.]

[Footnote 10: A Number of _Indians_ originally of the _Five Nations_, and Deserters from them, now settled near _Montreal_, by whom the illicit Trade between _Albany_ and _Montreal_ was carried on: They are well acquainted with the Country about _Albany_.]

[Footnote 11: The _Six Nations_ reckon all other _Indian_ Nations Women, in comparison to themselves.]

At _A L B A N Y_ the Nineteenth of _August_, 1746.

P R E S E N T,

The { Cadwallader Colden, } Esqrs; of his Majesty's Honourable { Philip Livingston, } Council for the Province { John Rutherford, } of _New-York_.

The Commissioners from the Government of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_.

The Commissioners of the Province of _New-York_ for _Indian_ Affairs.

The Mayor and Corporation of _Albany_. The Officers of the Independent Companies, and of the new Levies then at _Albany_. Several Gentlemen of the Province of _New-York_: And Strangers.

_Mr._ Colden _introduced the Speech as follows_:

His Excellency our Governor having been taken ill, and as yet not so well recovered as that he can safely come abroad; has ordered me (being the next Person to him in the Administration) to speak to you in his Name, which I shall do in the same Words which he designed to have spoke, had he not been prevented by Sickness.

"_Brethren_,

"I am glad to see so many of our ancient Friends here, and heartily bid you Welcome. [_Gave three Strings of Wampum_.]

"I have call'd you to this Place for two great Ends, in which the Province of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_ have sent Commissioners to concur with me, who are here present.

"The _First_ is, to renew the Covenant-Chain with you; and I now by this Belt, in your Father the King of _Great-Britain_'s Name, in Behalf of his Majesty's Subjects in _North-America_, renew and confirm the Covenant-Chain, and all former Treaties and Engagements entered into with you. This Chain has from the Beginning, remained so firm and strong, that it has never once broke or slipt since it was first made; and we, on our Parts, shall endeavour that it remain so, unshaken, as long as the Sun and Moon shall endure. [_Gave a Belt_.]

"_Brethren_, Last Fall I told you, that his Majesty's Subjects in this Country had, the Summer before, lain still, without attempting any thing against the _French_ Settlements: But that the _French_ had by Surprize, attacked and destroyed a small Place near _Cape-Breton_, belonging to us.

"That they afterwards laid Siege to _Annapolis-Royal_, and were beat off.

"I likewise told you, That the Governor of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_, in Conjunction with _Connecticut_ and _New-Hampshire_, had, in Revenge to these Injuries, sent an Army against _Louisburg_, on the Island of _Cape-Breton_; that the Army was joined by a Number of his Majesty's Ships of War, under the Command of your Friend Admiral _Warren_.

"I told you, that the Town of _Louisburg_, which is the strongest the _French_ have in _America_, was reduced by this Force; and that the _French_ there had surrendered themselves and their Country to the _English_.

"I likewise told you, how we, in this Part of the Country, had lain still, hoping that the _French_ in _Canada_, would either be quiet, or carry on the War in a manly Manner, and after the Manner of Christians.

And to induce them thereto, a Message had been sent from this Place to the Governor of _Canada_, to tell him, That if he should revive the inhuman Custom of murdering private People, by sculking _Indians_, that the several Governors of his Majesty's Colonies, together with you our Brethren of the _Six Nations_, would join and make Reprisals on them in the like Manner; at which time you publickly declared, that if any of his Majesty's Subjects, in any Part of his Governments, should be killed by any _Indians_, you would immediately join in the War against them, and the _French_.

"And last Fall, when I delivered the Hatchet into your Hands, you told me, and confirm'd it with a Belt, That you would send some of your People (who were then ready) to _Canada_, to demand Satisfaction; and that if Satisfaction was refused, you would use the Hatchet against them, whenever I should order it.

"And you further promised, That if the Enemy should commit any further Hostilities, you would then (upon my Commands) immediately make Use of the Hatchet.

"I need not tell you, how far the _French_ have been from giving Satisfaction; on the contrary, you are well acquainted with the cruel and barbarous Murders that have been committed, since that Time, by the _French Indians_ at _Saraghtoga_, and in the Neighbourhoods of this Place, and on the Frontiers of _New-England_; as you have not hitherto fulfilled your Promises, I suspect that they did not come from your Hearts: I therefore, by this Belt, demand an immediate Performance of your Promises, to shew that they come from the Bottom of your Hearts; as all the Promises I make come from mine, and ever shall. [_Gave a Belt_.]

"_Brethren_, I now come to the _second_ and princ.i.p.al Design of our present Meeting, in which I hope and expect to find you hearty, and united in your Councils and Opinions. [_Gave a Belt_.]

"The King your Father, having been informed of the unmanly Murders committed on the Frontiers of _New England_, and of this Province, is resolved to subdue the Country of _Canada_, and thereby put an End to all the mischievous Designs of the _French_ in these Parts. And for this purpose, he has ordered his Governors of _Virginia, Maryland, Pensylvania_, and _New-Jersey_, to join their Forces to the Forces of this Province, to attack _Canada_ by Land: They are all now upon their March, and you will soon see them here.

"At the same Time the Forces of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay, Connecticut, Rhode-Island_, and _New-Hampshire_, are to go in Ships to _Cape-Breton_, and there join with his Majesty's Ships of War, and a great Army of experienc'd Soldiers from _Great-Britain_.

"Many Ships of War are already arrived there, and some thousand of Soldiers; many more Ships and Soldiers are following; and I expect every Hour to hear of their Arrival; after which the Attack upon _Canada_ will be made on all Sides, both by Sea and Land.

"You may perceive the King has ordered a Strength sufficient to subdue _Canada_; but at the same Time, the King your Father expects and orders you his Children, to join with your whole Force in this Enterprize; and thereby gives the _Six Nations_ a glorious Opportunity of establishing their Fame and Renown over all the _Indian_ Nations in _America_, in the Conquest of your inveterate Enemies the _French_; who, however they may dissemble and profess Friendship, can never forget the Slaughter which your Fathers made of them; and for that purpose, caress those Nations who have always been your inveterate Enemies, and who desire nothing so much as to see the Name of the _Six Nations_ become obliterate, and forgot for ever. [_Gave a Belt_.]

"_Brethren_, The _French_, on all Occasions, shew, that they act against your Brethren the _English_, like Men that know they dare not look them in the Face in Day-Light; and therefore, like Thieves, steal upon poor People, who do not expect them in the Night, and consequently are not prepared for them: Your Brethren in their Revenge have acted like Men of Courage; they do not attack poor Farmers at their Labour, but boldly attempted the Reduction of _Louisburg_, the strongest Town the _French_ had in _America_, in the fortifying of which they had spent above twenty Years: It was surrounded with strong Walls and Forts, in which they had planted their largest Cannon in every Place, where they thought the _English_ could come near them; notwithstanding of all these Precautions and Advantages, they were forced to submit to the _English_ Valour.

"You must have heard from your Fathers, and I doubt not several of your old Men still remember what the _French_ did at _Onondaga_; how they surprised your Countrymen at _Cadarackui_; how they invaded the _Senekas_, and what Mischiefs they did to the _Mohawks_; how many of your Countrymen suffered by the Fire at _Montreal_. Before they entered upon these cruel and mischievous Designs, they sent Priests among you to delude you, and lull you asleep, while they were preparing to knock you on the Head; and I hear they are attempting to do the same now. [_Gave a Belt_.]

"I need not put you in mind what Revenge your Fathers took for these Injuries, when they put all the Island of _Montreal_, and a great Part of _Canada_, to Fire and Sword; can you think that the _French_ forget this? No, they have the Ax privately in their Hands against you, and use these deceitful Arts, by which only they have been able to gain Advantage over you, that by your trusting to them, they may at some time or other, at one Blow, remove from the Face of the Earth, the Remembrance of a People that have so often put them to Shame and Flight.

"If your Fathers could now rise out of their Graves, how would their Hearts leap with Joy to see this Day; when so glorious an Opportunity is put into their Hands to revenge all the Injuries their Country has received from the _French_, and be never more exposed to their Treachery and Deceit. I make no doubt you are the true Sons of such renowned and brave Ancestors, animated with the same Spirit for your Country's Glory, and in Revenge of the Injuries your Fathers received, uncapable of being deluded by the flattering Speeches of them, who always have been, and always must be, in their Hearts, your Enemies, and who desire nothing more, than the Destruction of your Nations.

"I therefore invite you, _Brethren_, by this Belt, to join with us, and to share with us, in the Honour of the Conquest of our, and your deceitful Enemies; and that you not only join all the Force of the _Six Nations_ with us, but likewise invite all the Nations depending on you, to take a Share in this glorious Enterprize: And I will furnish your fighting Men with Arms, Ammunition, Cloathing, Provisions, and every Thing necessary for the War; and in their Absence, take Care of their Wives and Children. [_Gave the War-Belt_.]

"_Brethren_, You have seen how daring and insulting on you, as well as us, the _French Indians_ have been, in cruelly murdering several of our People, since you have come to this Place; and therefore, for the many Reasons now laid before you, I make no doubt but your Answer will clearly manifest your Duty to the King your Father, and your Love to your Brethren; and by this Belt I do a.s.sure you, that our Intent is, to live and die together." [_Gave a Belt of Friendship_.]

At every Stop where a Belt was given, one of the Sachems call'd out _Yo-hay_, to which all the rest answered in a Sound which cannot be expressed in our Letters, but seem'd to consist of two Words remarkably distinguished in the Cadence; it seem'd to this purpose; the Sachem calls, _Do your hear?_ The Answer is, We attend and remember, or understand; or else it is a Kind of Plaudit our Interpreters could not explain. At the Close of the Speech, one Sachem of each Nation call'd out severally the _Yo-hay_, to which the others of the same Nation answer'd severally: But when the War-Belt was thrown down, they gave the War-Shout. We expected but six of these Plaudits, according to the Number of the _Six Nations_, but eight were distinctly delivered; by which we understood some other Nations were united with them on this Occasion.

After the Speech was delivered, the Sachems of the several Nations had Conferences together; and some time being spent in deliberating, they acquainted his Excellency, 'That they had agreed upon their Answer, which they were ready to give whenever he would appoint a Time to receive it;' and he named the next Day.

Accordingly on the 23d of _August_, His Excellency being present; the Gentlemen of the Council; the Commissioners from _Boston_; the Commissioners for _Indian_ Affairs; the Corporation of _Albany_; and many Gentlemen, as at the Time when his Excellency's Speech was delivered,

An _Onondaga_ Sachem, who had formerly been Speaker for the _Six Nations_ on several publick Occasions, rose up and spoke: What he said was publickly interpreted, in the Hearing of several who understood the _Indian_ Language well, as follows:

Brethren of _New-York_, and of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_,

_We the_ Six Nations _are now a.s.sembled together as one Man, and we take in the_ Messesagues _for the seventh Nation; and what is now to be spoken by one Mouth, are the joint and sincere Thoughts of every Heart._

_We are pleas'd that you follow the Steps of our Fore-fathers, in wiping off the sorrowful Tears from our Eyes, by which the Stoppage of our Throats are opened, and the b.l.o.o.d.y Bed wash'd clean._ [Gave three Strings of Wampum.]

Brethren, _The first Time we met together, we only saluted each other by shaking of Hands; we afterwards made a Covenant Chain of Silver, which we mutually have held fast to this Day; should it now slip from either of our Hands, it would prove Destruction to both Sides, since our Enemies have drawn the Sword._ [Gave a Belt.]

Brother of _New-York_; _Last Year you gave us the Hatchet to be made Use of against your Enemies, the_ French, _which we accepted and promised to make use of it if they should commit any farther Hostilities upon the_ English, _which they have now done by destroying_ Saraghtoga, _and shedding a great deal of Blood: Hitherto we have made no use of the Hatchet; but as you now call upon us, we are ready, and do declare from the Bottom of our Hearts, that we will from this Day, make use of it against the_ French, _and their Children_, (meaning their _Indians_.)

[N. B. The Question was asked them by his Excellency, Whether by the Words _their Children_, they meant all the _Indians_ in Alliance with the _French_? to which they answered, _Yes_.]

[At the End of the foregoing Paragraph, the Speaker threw down a War-Belt of Wampum on the Ground, it being the _Indian_ Custom to deliver War-Belts, or make Declaration of War in this Manner: This he did with a remarkable Shew of Indignation, intending thereby to express their Resentment against the _French_ and their Allies, and their Zeal for the _English_.] [_Gave a Belt_.]

Brother of _New-York; According to your Exhortation in your Speech to us, we are firmly united together from this Time, to act as having one Heart; the_ Messesagues _are in the same Manner joined and united with us, likewise the Southern Nations bordering upon us; and we hope that you, and the other Governors on the Continent, will be in the same Manner joined and united together._ [Gave a Belt.]

[They repeated over his Excellency's Speech in Relation to the Conquest of _Cape-Breton_; and added, _We hope that our Fleet and Army will be also victorious in the present Expedition against_ Canada; _for the_ French _are a mischievous People_.]

[Gave a Belt.]

_As to your Suspicions of our admitting_ French _Priests among us, they are become groundless, since we have now declared War against them: The admitting of Priests, would only tend to lull us asleep to our Destruction; should any now dare to come, we know no Use for them but to roast them. The Thoughts of the Treatment we formerly received from the_ French, _thro' the Means of their Priests, and which you now seasonably have brought to our Remembrance, makes our Blood to boil._