Washington continued to be the friend of Cornplanter to the end of his public career, and this confidence and friendship afforded a source of consolation to the Chief, for the dissatisfaction of a portion of his tribe, led on by the crafty Red Jacket, who opposed some of the treaties, and favored a continuance of the war, by the Indians, on their own account.
In these and subsequent transactions, which the limits of this address prevent me from presenting in detail, Cornplanter exerted his power and influence in favor of peace. As early as 1791, he advocated the cultivation of the soil, and the adoption of the arts of civilized life, including the education of the Indian children. In a letter of that year to Friends in Philadelphia, he says: "Brothers, the Seneca nation see that the Great Spirit intends they should not continue to live by hunting, and they look around on every side and inquire, who it is that shall teach them what is best for them to do? Your fathers dealt honorably by our fathers, and they have engaged us to remember it. We wish our children to be taught the same principles by which your fathers were guided. Brothers! We have too little wisdom among us, and we cannot teach our children what we see their situation requires them to know. We wish them to be taught to read, and write, and such other things as you teach your children, especially the love of peace." I may here remark, that the Friends did respond to this call, and through a long series of years, put forth the most disinterested and philanthropic efforts in behalf of the Seneca nation.
In 1791, Cornplanter was employed by Washington, on behalf of the government of the United States, to proceed into the country of the North-Western Indians, then at war with the United States, on an embassy of peace and reconciliation. This arrangement was made during Cornplanter's visit to Philadelphia in that year. Before proceeding on his mission, he returned to his home on the Allegheny, and soon afterwards called a Council of the Six Nations. The result of which was the appointment of representative Chiefs of the Six Nations, to attend a Council with the Western Indians. This Council was held at Au Glaize, (Fort Defiance, Ohio,) in October, 1792. Cornplanter, accompanied by a large number of the Chiefs of the League, was in attendance. The hostile Indians were determined to insist upon the river Ohio as their boundary; and besides the encroachments of the whites upon their territory, they had other grievances of which they complained. The Shawanese, especially, were opposed to peace, except upon such terms as they well knew would not be accepted by the United States. Their principal orator said: "The President well knows why the blood is so deep in our paths." Cornplanter's efforts to effect a reconciliation between the Western tribes and the United States failed.[S]
[S] Western Annals, p. 606.
Cornplanter, at this period, was perhaps the only Chief of the Senecas and Six Nations, who remained firm and unshaken in his friendship for the United States. About this time the repulse of General Harmar, by the Western Indians, had greatly emboldened them, and it was with great difficulty that the peaceful suggestions of Cornplanter were acquiesced in by the Six Nations, many of whom still desired to make common cause with the Western tribes. In company with Colonel Proctor, of the United States army, he proceeded to the country of the hostile Indians, and endeavored to reconcile them to the United States. His mission failed, chiefly through the evil influences of Brant and Red Jacket, aided by the machinations of British officers. At a subsequent period Cornplanter renewed his efforts for peace, and even called forth in favor of his measures, the opinions of the Indian women, who, as is natural to their sex, were the friends of peace. On this occasion, Red Jacket, among other remarks, said to the United States commissioners: "You know what we have been doing so long, and what trouble we have been at, and you know that it has been the request of our head warrior, Cornplanter, that we are left to answer for our women, who are to conclude what ought to be done." * * * *
"Colonel Butler, of the British, told us he must take our writings down to Colonel Gordon,[T] as he is a very wise man, and perhaps he may have something to say to us that may be for our good, and we want his assistance, as he is the man that keeps all the vessels that are on the Lake; therefore, my brother, make your mind easy, for your request is granted. And when we hear from our brothers, the British, then we shall know what time to start. And you must not be uneasy, that our brother, ABeel, (Cornplanter,) can not go with you, for he is very tired, (referring to his former journey,) and must rest awhile, and take charge of our young warriors, to keep them in peace while they are playing—for fear of danger."
[T] The British commandant at Niagara.
The intrigue of Red Jacket, aided by the action of the British officers, kept Cornplanter from this mission. There was, as suggested by a learned historian, Mr. Stone, (in his life of Red Jacket,) another reason lying still deeper in the minds of the Indian women, under whose influence these proceeding's were had. Cornplanter was not only the principal war Chief of the Senecas, but he was a man of great bravery and sagacity, and withal a sincere friend of peace. The times were critical, and the Indians at Buffalo creek, and the adjacent country, were in frequent alarm. They wished to retain Cornplanter, as he could best restrain the warlike propensities of the young warriors, while they could repose greater confidence, both in his bravery and discretion, in the event of actual danger during the absence of the messengers to the Western Indians, than in any leader of their nation. This mission failed entirely. "The man that kept the vessels on the Lake," refused to recognize Colonel Proctor in his official capacity, and prohibited the passage of the Indian deputies to Sandusky, on Lake Erie, their place of destination.
A treaty held at Painted Post, in June, 1792, between Colonel Pickering and the Six Nations, was productive of peaceful and good results. It checked the disposition of the young warriors to take part with the Western Indians, and it led to another mission of peace, at the head of which was the brave old Stockbridge Chief, Henry Aupumut. It was also at this treaty, that Washington, through his agent, Colonel Pickering, made an influential demonstration towards winning the attention of the Chiefs to the policy of having permanent habitations, where they could cultivate their lands, and commence the work of civilization among their people.
After this period, Cornplanter made another, but an unsuccessful embassy to the hostile Indians. His efforts being unavailing, the war with the Western Indians continued to rage until the year 1794, when, on the 20th of August of that year, Gen. Wayne achieved his decisive victory over them at the battle of the Miami, It was mainly due to Cornplanter's influence and exertions, that the Six Nations were not involved in that battle, and its fatal consequences to the hostile Indians engaged in it.