"[A small belt.]
"'Therefore we say. Brothers, take care—hold fast to your covenant chain. You know our disposition towards you, the Six Nations of Indians, and your allies. Let this our good talk remain at Onondaga, your central council house. We depend upon you to send and acquaint your allies to the northward, the seven tribes on the river St. Lawrence, that you have this talk of ours at the great council-fire of the Six Nations. And when you return, we invite your great men to come and converse farther with us at Albany, where we intend to re-kindle the council-fire, which your and our ancestors sat around in great friendship. Brothers and friends!
"'We greet you all, FAREWELL.'"
[The large belt of intelligence and declaration.]
Such was the talk transmitted to the Six Nations by the Commissioners from Congress. The process of communication to the Indians, through interpreters, is very slow. Every thing must be performed with great deliberation, and the Indian language is composed of such lengthened compounds, that the labor of delivering and translating a speech is exceedingly tedious. The delivery of this talk from Congress occupied the business hours of two days. At the close, Kanaghquaesa, one of the Chiefs, replied:—
"Brothers,—We have sat round, and smoked our pipes at this our ancient place of kindling up our council-fires. We have heard all you have said, and have heard nothing but what is pleasant and good. As you have communicated matters of great importance to us, we will sit down to-morrow and deliberate coolly upon them; and the day following will give you answers to every thing you have laid before us."
Having convened again on the 31st of August, Little Abraham, the Mohawk Sachem, spoke, in answer to the Commissioners, as follows:—
"Brothers, Great Men deputed by the Twelve United Colonies, attend!—We are this day called to meet you in council, in order to reply to what you said to us. We hope we need not recapitulate the whole of your discourse. We shall only touch upon each head. At our last conference in this house, we promised to return you our answer the day but one following. We did not do it, and we mean to make you an apology. We hope you have taken no offence. We were not prepared by that time, and that was our reason. Brothers, you informed us that there was a great council of sixty-five members convened at Philadelphia, and that you were appointed by them to deliver a talk to the Six Nations. It seems you, our brothers, having a desire to rekindle a council-fire, took to your assistance the descendants of Quedar, and have kindled up a council-fire that shall never be extinguished. To which the Six Nations reply: This you have done by order of the great Council at Philadelphia. We are glad to hear the news. It rejoices our hearts, and it gives exceeding joy through all the Six Nations.
"Brothers,—As you desired your belts might not be returned, but be deposited at our central Council House, we shall only make use of them to refresh our memories, and speak upon them as we go on with our answers. Brothers, we shall not recite every particular, as we before mentioned. You observed, when these commotions first began, a council of sixty-five members convened together at Philadelphia; and you put us in mind of what Cannassateego formerly said at Lancaster respecting the necessity of a union among you. An old sachem, a brother of Cannassateego, is here present, and remembers the words of his brother. You illustrated the necessity and use of a union by one and twelve arrows. You said your grandfathers had inculcated this doctrine into their children. You said, that as the tree of peace was formerly planted at this place, you desired that the Six Nations might come down, and sit under it, and water its roots, till the branches should flourish and reach to heaven. This the Six Nations say shall be done. Brothers, we need only remind you of a few of the things you said to us, as you have them all written down. You informed us, that by an ancient covenant with the King of England, you were to enjoy the same privileges with the people on the other side of the great waters, that for a long time you did enjoy the same privileges, by which means you and your brethren over the water both became a great people; that lately, by advice of evil counselors, you are much oppressed, and had heavier packs put upon you than you could bear; that you have frequently applied to be eased of your burthen, but could obtain no redress; that finding this the case, you had thrown off the packs. The Six Nations thank you for acquainting them with your grievances, and the methods taken to obtain redress. You likewise informed them of what resolutions you had formed in consequence of these matters.
"Brothers,—After stating your grievances, and telling us you had not been able to obtain redress, you desired us to take no part, but bury the hatchet. You told us it was a family quarrel; and therefore said, 'You Indians, sit still, and mind nothing but peace.' Our great man, Col. Johnson, did the same thing at Oswego; he desired us to sit still likewise. You likewise desired us, that if application should be made to us by any of the King's officers, we would not join them. Now, therefore attend, and apply your ears closely. We have fully considered this matter. The resolutions of the Six Nations are not to be broken or altered. When they resolve, the matter is fixed. This, then, is the determination of the Six Nations, not to take any part; but as it is a family affair, to sit still and see you fight it out. We beg you will receive this as infallible, it being our full resolution; for we bear as much affection for the King of England's subjects on the other side the water, as we do for you, born upon this island. One thing more we request, which is, that you represent this in a true light to the delegates from all the Colonies, and not vary; and that you observe the same regard for truth when you write to the King about these matters for we have ears, and shall hear, if you represent any thing in a wrong point of light. We likewise desire you would inform our brothers at Boston of our determination.