Part 14 (2/2)

The _Conoy Indians_ have informed us, that they sent you a Message, some Time ago, to advise you, that they were ill used by the white People in the Place where they had lived, and that they had come to a Resolution of removing to _Shamokin_, and requested some small Satisfaction for their Land; and as they never have received any Answer from you, they have desired us to speak for them; we heartily recommend their Case to your Generosity. And, to give Weight to our Recommendation, we present you with this String of Wampum.

_Which was received with the usual Ceremony_.

_The Governor having conferred a little Time with the honourable Commissioners of_ Virginia _and_ Maryland, _made the following Reply_:

_Brethren_,

I am glad to find that you agree with me in the Necessity of keeping the Road between us clear and open, and the Concern you have expressed on account of the barbarous Murders mentioned to you, is a Proof of your Brotherly Affection for us. If Crimes of this Nature be not strictly enquired into, and the Criminals severely punished, there will be an End of all Commerce between us and the _Indians_, and then you will be altogether in the Power of the _French_. They will set what Price they please on their own Goods, and give you what they think fit for your Skins; so it is for your own Interest that our Traders should be safe in their Persons and Goods when they travel to your Towns.

_Brethren_,

I considered this Matter well before I came from _Philadelphia_, and I advised with the Council there upon it, as I have done here with the honourable the Commissioners of _Virginia_ and _Maryland_. I never heard before of the Murder of the three _Indians_ at _Ohio_; had Complaint been made to me of it, and it had appeared to have been committed by any of the People under my Government, they should have been put to Death, as two of them were, some Years ago, for killing two _Indians_. You are not to take your own Satisfaction, but to apply to me, and I will see that Justice be done you; and should any of the _Indians_ rob or murder any of our People, I do expect that you will deliver them up to be tried and punished in the same Manner as white People are. This is the Way to preserve Friends.h.i.+p between us, and will be for your Benefit as well as ours. I am well pleased with the Steps you have already taken, and the Reproofs you have given to your Cousins the _Delawares_, and do expect you will lay your Commands upon some of their Chiefs to bring down the two young Men that were present at the Murders; if they are not brought down, I shall look upon it as a Proof of their Guilt.

If, upon Examination, they shall be found not to have been concerned in the b.l.o.o.d.y Action, they shall be well used, and sent home in Safety: I will take it upon myself to see that they have no Injustice done them.

An Inventory is taken of the Goods already restored, and I expect Satisfaction will be made for such as cannot be found, in Skins, according to Promise.

I well remember the coming down of one of the _Conoy Indians_ with a Paper, setting forth, That the _Conoys_ had come to a Resolution to leave the Land reserved for them by the Proprietors, but he made no Complaint to me of ill Usage from the white People. The Reason he gave for their Removal was, That the settling of the white People all round them had made Deer scarce, and that therefore they chose to remove to _Juniata_ for the Benefit of Hunting. I ordered what they said to be entered in the Council-Book. The old Man's Expences were born, and a Blanket given him at his Return home. I have not yet heard from the Proprietors on this Head; but you may be a.s.sured, from the Favour and Justice they have always shewn to the _Indians_, that they will do every thing that may be reasonably expected of them in this Case.

In the C o u r t-H o u s e Chamber at _Lancaster_, _July_ 2, 1744, _P. M._

P R E S E N T,

The Honourable the Commissioners of _Virginia_.

The Deputies of the _Six Nations_.

_Conrad Weiser_, Interpreter.

_The_ Indians _being told, by the Interpreter, that their Brother_ a.s.saragoa _was going to speak to them, the Commissioners spoke as follows_:

_Sachems and Warriors, our Friends and Brethren_,

As we have already said enough to you on the Subject of the t.i.tle to the Lands you claim from _Virginia_, we have no Occasion to say any thing more to you on that head, but come directly to the Point.

We have opened the Chest, and the Goods are now here before you; they cost Two Hundred Pounds _Pensylvania_ Money, and were bought by a Person recommended to us by the Governor of _Pensylvania_ with ready Cash. We ordered them to be good in their Kinds, and we believe they are so.

These Goods, and Two Hundred Pounds in Gold, which lie on the Table, we will give you, our Brethren of the _Six Nations_, upon Condition that you immediately make a Deed recognizing the King's Right to all the Lands that are, or shall be, by his Majesty's Appointment in the Colony of _Virginia_.

As to the Road, we agree you shall have one, and the Regulation is in Paper, which the Interpreter now has in his Custody to shew you. The People of _Virginia_ shall perform their Part, if you and your _Indians_ perform theirs; we are your Brethren, and will do no Hards.h.i.+ps to you, but, on the contrary, all the Kindness we can.

The _Indians_ agreed to what was said, and _Cana.s.satego_ desired they would represent their Case to the King, in order to have a further Consideration when the Settlement increased much further back. To which the Commissioners agreed, and promised they would make such a Representation faithfully and honestly; and, for their further Security that they would do so, they would give them a Writing, under their Hands and Seals, to that Purpose.

They desired that some Rum might be given them to drink on their Way home, which the Commissioners agreed to, and paid them in Gold for that Purpose, and the Carriage of their Goods from _Philadelphia_, Nine Pounds Thirteen s.h.i.+llings, and Three-pence, _Pensylvania_ Money.

_Cana.s.satego_ further said, That as their Brother _Tocarry-hogan_ sent them provision on the Road here, which kept them from starving, he hoped their Brother _a.s.saragoa_ would do the same for them back, and have the Goods he gave them carried to the usual Place; which the Commissioners agreed to, and ordered Provisions and Carriages to be provided accordingly.

After this Conference the Deed was produced, and the Interpreter explained it to them; and they, according to their Rank and Quality, put their Marks and Seals to it in the Presence of several Gentlemen of _Maryland, Pensylvania_ and _Virginia_; and when they delivered the Deed, _Cana.s.satego_ delivered it for the Use of their Father, the Great King, and hoped he would consider them; on which the Gentlemen and _Indians_ then present gave three Shouts.

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