Newspaper Page Text
GEORGIA GAZETTE.
Number 2 6.
AMERICA.
Nenv-Port, Rhode-Ifumd, June 2J.
AS the following speech made to the General Aflembly of
the colony of Connecticut, by the deputies of the Six
Indian nations, is very remarkable, and intimates fome causes
of the discontent fubfilling among them, which has produced
such terriblc'fcffefts, and threatens a general renewal of the
* war with those savage nations, the publishing of it we doubt
not will be agreeable to the publick.
Cinference with the Deputies of the Six Nations of Indians , m
the Council-Chamber at Hartford , in the Colony of
on the 28 th Day of May lajt.
Present, the Governor, Council, and Aflembly of said
colony.
Toquerole, Mohawk, 1
Saquayanquaraghta, j Onondagas, I Deputies from the Six
Toguafcautha, | i-
ST/" 5 ’ 1 Cayngas,
Oghfegwarona, 3 ;
deputies, after being taken by the hand
and bid welcome into the government,
seated thenafelves ; then Saquayanqua
raghta arose and delivered a speech,
which from the interpreter was taken as
followeth, viz.
Brothers, We were sent hither by the
* chiefs of all the Six Nations, and it has
pleased God that we are arrHed fafe at this place to ftr-rycu.
Brothers, we arc deputies from all the chiefs, and we un
derstand that you are not found within, and wc give this to
clear your eyes that you may fee, and open your ears that
you may hear, and cleanse your hearts that you may enter
tain cordially what we ftrall fpe&k to you. 4 belt of wampum
from the deputy of the Onondaga*.
Returned the compliment to them that they would open
their eyes and cleanse their throats, that they may speak
freely.
Brothers, We have no writing of it, bat we have a tradi
tion that God, the maker of all things, hath given to the
Six Nations our large country to dwell and lubfilt in, and
made them a ffrong people ; and our nations have of old
ettablifhed a fireplace at Onondaga, by that n\** n * united
together, and so became a strong and powerful confederacy;
afterwards they saw at Albany a white people, and found
means to enter jnto a conference with them, and made a lil
ver chain, a ilrong chain of friendfliip, which they and we
have from time to time brightened and afid at
this firil inte-view liked you so weil that we gave you,room
for you to fettle upon our land, and you arc finca beebme
very numerous and.profperous, for which we are very glad
ana rejoice: And, Brothers, we have been very heijNM*
and alibied one another against our enemies, and by th e help
of God we h*ve gained superiority over them: And, Bro
thers, you will excafe us; we have no .records of former
proceedings, but hint at such things as were done formerly
by our forefathers, and have nothing further to offer on this
■head. *
• Nqw we are come to another head.
Brothers, Wchave heard grievous news this winter, that
*vou were about to come with 300 families to fettle on our
*ands, which was very astonishing to us, and that you de
o.gncd to build forts and strong places on our lands, and for
that reason ourtachems confitfered upon it, and have sent
us down to this place; by that incans wc are come down
here to acquaint you with what news we hear, that you have
got a design to fettle on the Sufquehannah river, and claim
*he land to the weft few; and have heretofore given away
THURSDAY, September 29, 1763.
land to the white people, but of this faleof this land the Six
Nations know nothing, that they have ever given it away
or fold it to any; and what little we have left we intend to
keep ourselves; wc know not of any such sale, and if any
such thing hath been, it must have been done in a separate
manner, and not in a general mAting or council of the Six
Nations, as hath been the usual manner of their giving or
felling their lands. * 6
Brothers, Our custom is not to keep any thing secret, we
have heard that one Lydias at Albany has endeavoured to
purchase fome lands at Sufquehannah, and it is not the
manner of the Six Nations to keep any thing in the reserve,
he was up ajnohg the nations to obtain it; but we have heard
that he has since got a deed from the Indians, which he ob
tained from them ftngly, or one by one, and that from
Bragglers and such as we know nothing of. We have often
fold lands to the white people, but then it was done by the
consent of the whole in fome general meeting, and this is
land which we have reserved for ourselves, as we have but
little left, and we are surprised at such a tneafure being taken
to obtain a deed without our knowledge or consent.
We have been told that Lydias reported that he had paid
a great deal of money for this land, which we knew nothing
of, and this is the hunting ground which we depend upou
for our support, and are not willing by any means to part
with it. [Then the jptahtr presents a broad belt which he he id in
his hand.l Brothers, we would have you take this matter
into consideration; we here present yoCt with the emblem of
the fix castles bclongmg to our nations, and through it the
riad or path thrmign which we come to llrengthen our co
venant chain* Brothers, seriously take it into confiderati
r/i, and think how you would like it to have lands taken
from yon* in an unfair and injurious manner* You are a
praying people, better acquainted with books and learning
than we, ana must needs know better wha{ is right; to have
your lands as we may (ay stolen from you, furcly you could
not like it to be treated in such a manner, to have your lands
taken, from you that you depend upon for your support.
Brothers, take it seriously into your consideration, how
strong our union used to be formerly, when wc were as it
were united under one head, and were one body and blood,
and happily united in our affections. Brothers, as I have
told you before, that we have been lent here by our chiefs
to let you know what we have heard ebout your designs of
entering on our lands, and we deliver in this belt to lhew
the minds of the confederate nations, that you do not en
croach on our lands which we have nrferved and designed to
Keep for our children to .the latell pollcrity, and will not
Jprt with ; they are such as we set by and will n-t fejl.
rot hers, if you proceed to encroach on our lands we lhall
0; be easy, but will return home to your places, and apply
fclrfelves to the king our father to obtain juilicc, and I my
’feif will go, and on my going out of the houe will return
koine ana leave yt)u to coniidcr on it. And now I have laid
all I have to fay.
The Governor dire&cd the interpreter to tell them that he
was able to*give them a fatisfa&ory anfwcr, and desired they
wtruld stay till the beginning of the week, at which time
they should have an anfwcr.
To which they answered that their ehiefs direfted them to
make no delay, but as soon as they had made their speech
they were to return ; but the Governor desired they would
stay for an answer; then they withdrew.
The GOVERNOR’S ANSWER.
Brethren, . , ,
Wfc heartily welcome you to tins p , ace, and are glad
to fee you fafe arrived, and that you arc sent bv your
chiefs to brighten the covenant chain made by our fore.*4*