Part 10 (2/2)

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 Quant.i.ty 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 s.h.i.+ne.

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_ Cana.s.satego _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.

In the C o u r t-H o u s e at _Lancaster, June_ 26, 1744, _P. M._

P R E S E N T,

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.

_C A N A S S A T E G O spoke as follows:_

_Brother, the Governor of_ Maryland,

When you invited us to kindle a Council Fire with you, _Conedogwainet_ was the Place agreed upon; but afterwards you, by Brother _Onas_, upon second Thoughts, considering that it would be difficult to get Provisions and other Accommodations where there were but few Houses or Inhabitants, desired we would meet our Brethren at _Lancaster_, and at his Instances we very readily agreed to meet you here, and are glad of the Change; for we have found Plenty of every thing; and as Yesterday you bid us welcome, and told us you were glad to see us, we likewise a.s.sure you we are as glad to see you; and, in Token of our Satisfaction, we present you with this String of Wampum.

_Which was received with the usual Ceremony._

_Brother, the Governor of_ Maryland,

You tell us, that when about Seven Years ago you heard, by our Brother _Onas_, of our Claim to some Lands in your Province, you took no Notice of it, believing, as you say, that when we should come to reconsider that Matter, we should find that we had no Right to make any Complaint of the Governor of _Maryland_, and would drop our Demand. And that when about two Years ago we mentioned it again to our Brother _Onas_, you say we did it in such Terms as looked like a Design to terrify you; and you tell us further, that we must be beside ourselves, in using such a rash Expression as to tell you, We know how to do ourselves Justice if you still refuse. It is true we did say so, but without any ill Design; for we must inform you, that when we first desired our Brother _Onas_ to use his Influence with you to procure us Satisfaction for our Lands, We, at the same time, desired him, in case you should disregard our Demand, to write to the Great King beyond the Seas, who would own us for his Children as well as you, to compel you to do us Justice: And, two years ago, when we found that you had paid no Regard to our just Demand, nor that Brother _Onas_ had convey'd our Complaint to the Great King over the Seas, we were resolved to use such Expressions as would make the greatest Impressions on your Minds, and we find it had its Effect; for you tell us, ”That your wise Men held a Council together, and agreed to invite us, and to enquire of our Right to any of your Lands, and if it should be found that we had a Right, we were to have a Compensation made for them: And likewise you tell us, that our Brother, the Governor of _Maryland_, by the advice of these wise Men, has sent you to brighten the Chain, and to a.s.sure us of his Willingness to remove whatever impedes a good Understanding between us.” This shews that your wise Men understood our Expressions in their true Sense. We had no Design to terrify you, but to put you on doing us the Justice you had so long delayed. Your wise Men have done well; and as there is no Obstacle to a good Understanding between us, except this Affair of our Land, we, on our Parts, do give you the strongest a.s.surances of our good Disposition towards you, and that we are as desirous as you to brighten the Chain, and to put away all Hindrances to a perfect good Understanding; and, in Token of our Sincerity, we give you this Belt of Wampum.

_Which was received, and the Interpreter ordered to give the_ Yo-hah.

_Brother, the Governor of_ Maryland,

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