The Honourable _G E O R G E T H O M A S_, Esq; Governor, &c.
The Honourable the Commissioners of _Virginia_.
The Honourable the Commissioners of _Maryland_.
The Deputies of the _Six Nations_.
_Conrad Weiser_, Interpreter.
Canassatego's _Answer to the Governor's Speech delivered in the
Morning_.
_Brother_ Onas,
You spoke in the Presence of _Assaragoa_ and the Governor of _Maryland_
to us, advising us to receive them as our Brethren, and to unite with
them in the Covenant Chain as one Body, and one Soul. We have always
considered them as our Brethren, and, as such, shall be willing to
brighten the Chain of Friendship with them; but since there are some
Disputes between us respecting the Lands possessed by them, which
formerly belonged to us, we, according to our Custom, propose to have
those Differences first adjusted, and then we shall proceed to confirm
the Friendship subsisting between us, which will meet with no
Obstruction after these Matters are settled.
_Here they presented the_ Governor _with a Belt of Wampum, in
return for the Belt given them in the Morning by the_ Governor;
_and the Interpreter was ordered to return the_ Yo-hah.
_Then the_ Governor, _in Reply, spoke as follows_:
I receive your Belt with great Kindness and Affection; and as to what
relates to the Governments of _Virginia_ and _Maryland_, the honourable
Commissioners, now present, are ready to treat with you. I shall only
add, that the Goods for the Hundred Pounds Sterling, put into my Hands
by the Governor of _Virginia_, as a Token of his good Dispositions to
preserve Friendship with you, are now in Town, and ready to be
delivered, in consequence of what was told you by _Conrad Weiser_ when
he was last at Onandago.
Then the Governor, turning to the Commissioners of _Virginia_ and
_Maryland_, said, Gentlemen, I have now finished what was incumbent upon
me to say by way of Introduction to the _Indians_; and as you have a
full Authority from your respective Governments to treat with them, I
shall leave the rest intirely to you, and either stay or withdraw, as
you shall think most for your Service.
The Commissioners said, They were all of Opinion, it would be for their
Advantage that the Governor should stay with them; and therefore they
unanimously desired he would favour them with the Continuance of his
Presence whilst they should be in Treaty with the _Indians_: Which his
Honour said he would at their Instance very readily do, believing it
might expedite their Business, and prevent any Jealousy the _Indians_
might conceive at his withdrawing.
_The Commissioners of_ Maryland _ordered the Interpreter to acquaint
the_ Indians _that the Government of_ Maryland _was going to speak to
them, and then spoke as follows_:
_Friends and Brethren of the united_ Six Nations,
We, who are deputed from the Government of _Maryland_ by a Commission
under the Great Seal of that Province, now in our Hands (and which will
be interpreted to you) bid you welcome; and in Token that we are very
glad to see you here as Brethren, we give you this String of Wampum.
_Upon which the_ Indians _gave the_ Yo-hah.
When the Governor of _Maryland_ received the first Notice, about seven
Years ago, of your Claim to some Lands in that Province, he thought our
good Friends and Brethren of the _Six Nations_ had little Reason to
complain of any Injury from _Maryland_, and that they would be so well
convinced thereof, on farther Deliberation, as he should hear no more of
it; but you spoke of that Matter again to the Governor of _Pensylvania_,
about two Years since, as if you designed to terrify us.
It was very inconsiderately said by you, that you would do yourselves
Justice, by going to take Payment yourselves: Such an Attempt would have
intirely dissolved the Chain of Friendship subsisting, not only between
us, but perhaps the other _English_ and you.
We assure you, our People, who are numerous, courageous, and have Arms
ready in their Hands, will not suffer themselves to be hurt in their
Lives and Estates.
But, however, the old and wise People of _Maryland_ immediately met in
Council, and upon considering very cooly your rash Expressions, agreed
to invite their Brethren, the _Six Nations_, to this Place, that they
might learn of them what Right they have to the Land in _Maryland_, and,
if they had any, to make them some reasonable Compensation for it;
therefore the Governor of _Maryland_ has sent us to meet and treat with
you about this Affair, and the brightening and strengthening the Chain
which hath long subsisted between us. And as an Earnest of our Sincerity
and Good-will towards you, we present you with this Belt of Wampum.
_On which the_ Indians _gave the_ Yo-hah.
Our _Great King of_ England, and his Subjects, have always possessed the
Province of _Maryland_ free and undisturbed from any Claim of the _Six
Nations_ for above one hundred Years past, and your not saying any thing
to us before, convinces us you thought you had no Pretence to any Lands
in _Maryland_; nor can we yet find out to what Lands, or under what
Title you make your Claim: For the _Sasquahannah Indians_, by a Treaty
above ninety Years since (which is on the Table, and will be interpreted
to you) give, and yield to the _English_ Nation, their Heirs and Assigns
for ever, the greatest Part (if not all) of the Lands we possess, from
_Patuxent_ River, on the Western, as well as from _Choptank_ River, on
the Eastern Side of the Great Bay of _Chessapeak_. And, near Sixty Years
ago, you acknowledged to the Governor of _New-York_ at _Albany_, "That
you had given your Lands, and submitted yourselves to the King of
_England_."
We are that Great King's Subjects, and we possess and enjoy the Province
of _Maryland_ by Virtue of his Right and Sovereignty thereto; why, then,
will you stir up any Quarrel between you and ourselves, who are as one
Man, under the Protection of that Great King?
We need not put you in mind of the Treaty (which we suppose you have had
from your Fathers) made with the Province of _Maryland_ near Seventy
Years ago, and renewed and confirmed twice since that time.
By these Treaties we became Brethren; we have always lived as such, and
hope always to continue so.
We have this further to say, that altho' we are not satisfied of the
Justice of your Claim to any Lands in _Maryland_, yet we are desirous of
shewing our Brotherly Kindness and Affection, and to prevent (by any
reasonable Way) every Misunderstanding between the Province of
_Maryland_ and you our Brethren of the _Six Nations_.
For this Purpose we have brought hither a Quantity of Goods for our
Brethren the _Six Nations_, and which will be delivered you as soon as
we shall have received your Answer, and made so bright and large a Fire
as may burn pure and clear whilst the Sun and Moon shall shine.
We have now freely and openly laid our Bosoms bare to you; and that you
may be the better confirmed of the Truth of our Hearts, we give you this
Belt of Wampum.
_Which was received with the_ Yo-hah.
_After a little Time_ Canassatego _spoke as follows:_
_Brother, the Governor_ of Maryland,
We have heard what you have said to us; and, as you have gone back to
old Times, we cannot give you an Answer now, but shall take what you
have said into Consideration, and, return you our Answer some Time to
Morrow. He then sat down, and after some Time he spoke again.
_Brother, the Governor of_ Maryland,
If you have made any Enquiry into _Indian_ Affairs, you will know, that
we have always had our Guns, Hatchets and Kettles mended when we came to
see our Brethren. Brother _Onas_, and the Governor of _York_ always do
this for us; and we give you this early Notice, that we may not thereby
be delayed, being desirous, as well as you, to give all possible
Dispatch to the Business to be transacted between us.
The Commissioners of _Virginia_ and _Maryland_ said, since it was
customary, they would give Orders to have every Thing belonging to them
mended that should want it.
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