But the spirit of war prevailed—that spirit which the great body this people had so long served, under the guidance of their native priesthood. All but the Oneidas, some few of the Tuscaroras, who were then settled in their western precincts, and some one or two individuals, from St. Regis, joined the ranks of the mother country, under their bold and politic leader Brant. Seven years of battles, expeditions, ambushes, and murders, terminated not only in their political overthrow as a confederacy, but plunged many of them who had before listened to the voice of Christianity, back into the arms of their native priests and forest habits. The Mohawks, part of the Cayugas, and some Onondagas and Tuscaroras, fled the country, and settled chiefly in Canada. The Oneidas, the body of the Onondagas and Senecas, and some parts of the Cayugas and Tuscaroras, remained. But they had fought for a phantom. All the rich promises of glory and conquest, emanating from Johnson Hall and fort Niagara, and the Canadas had failed; and their delegates came to the treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1784, poor, crest fallen, and defeated. And by their first public act, after the drama of the revolution, they put their hands to a treaty, ceding away the larger portion of their ancient domain.
Thus they were thrown back an immeasurable distance in the work of civilization and Christianity, and the effort to introduce the gospel was to be commenced almost anew.
Time will not permit any notice in detail, of this second period in their history. Kirkland, true to his original purpose, continued his ministry and useful labors, and died in the Oneida country. The venerable Skenandoah followed him at some few years later, and requested to be buried by his side. New missions were projected and carried into effect, at distinct times, among the remaining cantons. A review of these, it is impossible to make within the period allotted to this report; and besides, were the time ample, the data furnished to me are not in all respects complete, and in some cases wholly deficient. Communications have been received from the Rev. Gilbert Rockwood and Rev. James Cusick of Tuscarora; from the Rev. Asher Bliss at Cattaraugus, and from Rev. William Hall at Alleghany, which are printed in the appendix, and are referred to as giving the latest and most authentic information on the progress of Christianity, letters, and morals among these respective tribes. So far as relates to the progress of this people in agriculture and the arts, the results of the census, hereto prefixed, although it denotes striking depopulation, afford the most definite, and at the same time, most favorable view of the remains of these cantons, which has, perhaps, ever been presented, of a whole Indian nation in America. The reluctance, which was felt in some quarters, has rendered it less complete than it might have been made. Still, with every proper abatement and qualification, applicable to the reservations as departmental bodies, and to the whole as a mass, there are strong encouragements to the friends of Christianity to persevere. The seeds of industry are well sown; letters have been generally introduced, and, in some instances, they have produced men of talents and intelligence, who have taken an honorable part in the professional and practical duties of life. Very gratifying evidences exist of the adoption, on a large scale, of the improved arts and conveniencies of polished life. In manners, costume and address, the Iroquois people offer a high example of the capacities and ready adoptive habits of the race. It only needs a reference to the statistical tables mentioned, to show that they are not behindhand in implements of husbandry, vehicles, work cattle, horses and the general features of their agriculture. They are abundantly able to raise sufficient for their own consumption, and some of the communities have a surplus which is added to the productive resources of the State. From those who have done so well, and who have shown such unequivocal capacities for improvement, we may expect more. From the tree, which has produced blossoms, we may expect fruit; and from the bearing tree which has produced good fruit, we may expect more fruit. Under all circumstances, we may regard the problem of their reclamation as fixed and certain. They have themselves solved it. And whatever an enlightened people and legislature should do to favor them, ought not to be omitted. Churches and societies, who have granted their peculiar aids, should continue those aids; and the heart of the philanthropist and the statesman has cause to rejoice, that after all their wars and wanderings, mistakes and besetments, the Iroquois, made wise by experience, are destined to live. The results of the census, herewith submitted, demonstrate this. The time is indeed propitious for putting the inquiry, whether the Iroquois are not worthy to be received, under the new Constitution, as Citizens of the State.
RETURN
Of the Enumeration of the Indians on the several Reservations, with the other statistical information required by law to be obtained in the said Reservations.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RESERVATIONS. | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
| 1. Oneida, | 157 | 71 | 86 | 24 | 3 | 47 | |
| 2. Onondaga, | 368 | 173 | 195 | 63 | 19 | 73 | 5 |
| 3. Tuscarora, | 312 | 148 | 164 | 18 | 10 | 11 | 6 |
| 4. Buffalo, | 446 | 200 | 246 | 73 | 47 | 61 | 3 |
| 5. Cattaraugus, | 808 | 393 | 415 | 89 | 40 | 30 | 10 |
| 6. Cayugas on the Cattaraugus Reservation, | 114 | 56 | 58 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| 7. Alleghany, | 783 | 390 | 393 | 127 | 33 | 168 | 6 |
| 8. Tonawanda, | 505 | 224 | 281 | 101 | 45 | 69 | 4 |
| 9. St. Regis, | 260 | 126 | 134 | 44 | 5 | 67 | |
| Total, | 3,753 | 1,781 | 1,972 | 555 | 208 | 531 | 36 |
KEY:
A: Total Population.
B: Number of male persons in the Reservation.
C: Number of female persons in the Reservation.
D: Number of married females, under the age of 45 years, in the Reservation.
E: Number of unmarried females, between the ages of 16 and 45, in the Reservation.
F: Number of unmarried females, under 16 years of age, in the Reservation.
G: Number of marriages, during the year preceding, in the Reservation.
| RESERVATIONS. | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | I | J | K | L | M | N | |||
| M | F | M | F | ||||||
| 1. Oneida, | 8 | 5 | 1 | .. | 155 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 20 |
| 2. Onondaga, | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 364 | .. | 1 | 169 | 40 |
| 3. Tuscarora, | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 286 | .. | 30 | 63 | 43 |
| 4. Buffalo, | 3 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 433 | 1 | 6 | 117 | 57 |
| 5. Cattaraugus, | 17 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 789 | .. | 7 | 121 | 86 |
| 6. Cayugas on the Cattaraugus Reservation, | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 114 | .. | .. | 21 | 14 |
| 7. Alleghany, | 13 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 752 | 35 | .. | 227 | 162 |
| 8. Tonawanda, | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 496 | .. | 11 | 126 | 40 |
| 9. St. Regis, | .. | 7 | 5 | 3 | 125 | .. | 135 | 81 | |
| Total, | 61 | 60 | 63 | 57 | 3,514 | 37 | 191 | 984 | 462 |
KEY:
H: Number of births in the Reservation during the year preceding.
I: Number of deaths in the Reservation during the year preceding
J: Number of persons in the Reservation born in the State of New-York.
K: Number of persons in the Reservation born in any of the other States of the Union.
L: Number of persons in the Reservation born in G. Britain or its possessions.
M: Number of children in Reservation between the ages of 5 & 16 years.
N: Number of children in the Reservation attending private or select unincorporated schools.
Third ine:
M: Males.
F: Females.