Part 13 (1/2)

This Dispute is not between _Virginia_ and you; it is setting up your Right against the Great King, under whose Grants the People you complain of are settled. Nothing but a Command from the Great King can remove them; they are too powerful to be removed by any Force of you, our Brethren; and the Great King, as our common Father, will do equal Justice to all his Children; wherefore we do believe they will be confirmed in their Possessions.

As to the Road you mention, we intended to prevent any Occasion for it, by making a Peace between you and the Southern _Indians_, a few Years since, at a considerable Expence to our Great King, which you confirmed at _Albany_. It seems, by your being at War with the _Catawbas_, that it has not been long kept between you.

However, if you desire a Road, we will agree to one on the Terms of the Treaty you made with Colonel _Spotswood_, and your People, behaving themselves orderly like Friends and Brethren, shall be used in their Pa.s.sage through _Virginia_ with the same Kindness as they are when they pa.s.s through the Lands of your Brother _Onas_. This we hope, will be agreed to by you our Brethren, and we will abide by the Promise made to you Yesterday.

We may proceed to settle what we are to give you for any Right you may have, or have had to all the Lands to the Southward and Westward of the Lands of your Brother the Governor of _Maryland_, and of your Brother Onas; tho' we are informed that the Southern _Indians_ claim these very Lands that you do.

We are desirous to live with you, our Brethren, according to the old Chain of Friends.h.i.+p, to settle all these Matters fairly and honestly; and, as a Pledge of our Sincerity, we give you this Belt of Wampum.

_Which was received with the usual Ceremony_.

In the C o u r t-H o u s e Chamber at _Lancaster_, _June_ 29, 1744, _A. M._

P R E S E N T,

The Honourable the Commissioners of _Maryland_.

The Deputies of the _Six Nations_.

_Conrad Weiser_, Interpreter.

_Mr._ Weiser _informed the honourable Commissioners_, _that the_ Indians _were ready to give their Answer to the Speech made to them here Yesterday Morning by the Commissioners_; _whereupon_ Cana.s.satego _spoke as follows, looking on a Deal-board, where were some black Lines, describing the Courses of_ Potowmack _and_ Sasquahanna:

_Brethren_,

Yesterday you spoke to us concerning the Lands on this Side _Potowmack_ River, and as we have deliberately considered what you said to us on that Matter, we are now very ready to settle the Bounds of such Lands, and release our Right and Claim thereto.

We are willing to renounce all Right to Lord _Baltimore_ of all those Lands lying two Miles above the uppermost Fork of _Potowmack_ or _Cohongoruton_ River, near which _Thomas Cressap_ has a hunting or trading Cabin, by a North-line, to the Bounds of _Pensylvania_. But in case such Limits shall not include every Settlement or Inhabitant of _Maryland_, then such other Lines and Courses, from the said two Miles above the Forks, to the outermost Inhabitants or Settlements, as shall include every Settlement and Inhabitant in _Maryland_, and from thence, by a North-line, to the Bounds of _Pensylvannia_, shall be the Limits.

And further, If any People already have, or shall settle beyond the Lands now described and bounded, they shall enjoy the same free from any Disturbance whatever, and we do, and shall accept these people for our Brethren, and as such always treat them.

We earnestly desire to live with you as Brethren, and hope you will shew us all Brotherly Kindness; in Token whereof, we present you with a Belt of Wampum.

_Which was received with the usual Ceremony_.

Soon after the Commissioners and _Indians_ departed from the Court-House Chamber.

In the C o u r t-H o u s e Chamber at _Lancaster_, _June_ 30, 1744, _A. M._

P R E S E N T,

The Honourable the Commissioners of _Virginia_.

The Deputies of the _Six Nations_.

_Conrad Weiser_, Interpreter.

Gachradodow, _Speaker for the_ Indians, _in answer to the Commissioners Speech at the last Meeting_, _with a strong Voice, and proper Action, spoke as follows_:

_Brother_ a.s.saragoa,