Six Nations reply to speech delivered by General Chapin on 10 February 1794

100%
⇣

No human transcription currently available for this document.

Type

Copy of document

Description

Speech, declines invitation to Council at Venango; discusses boundary lines; discusses Indian confederacy; mentions Revolutionary War; mentions Congress; discusses Indian hostilities; discusses hostile Western Indians; discusses individual land purchases.

Date

04/21/1794

Author

Six Nations of Indians

Recipient

Henry Knox

Repository

New-York Historical Society: Manuscript Department

Collection

Henry O'Reilly Collection

Document number

1794042190001

Page start

1

Note

Addressed to General Knox and delivered by Clear Sky, an Onandaga Chief.

Notable persons

Governor [Arthur] St. Clair
Captain Brandt
Colonel Butler
Clear Sky
General Chapin
Jasper Parrish
General [Henry] Knox

Notable locations

Buffalo Creek
Lower Sandusky
Muskingum
Fort McIntosh
Rocky river
Fort Stanwix
Great Britain
Venango
United States
Buffalo Creek

Notable items

patience is now entirely worn out
rise from our seats and attend your council
invitation
claim lands west of that line
we are of the same opinion with the people of the United States
consider yourselves as independent people
original inhabitants of this country and sovereigns of the soil look upon ourselves as equally independent and free as any other nation or nations
country was given to us by the Great Spirit above
passage along the lake
discouraged from persevering any longer
belt and speech
pointed out methods to be taken
offers we made should be confirmed by our confederacy
recollect the number of chiefs who have at divers times waited on Congress
withdraw your claim to the boundary line and lands within the line
borne everything patiently for this long time past
welfare of our nations
many advantages have been taken of us by individuals making purchases from us
fraudulent conduct towards us
anxious for a peace between us
cause of the western nations being somewhat dubious as to our sincerity
adopt measures that would be for the general welfare of our Indian nations
people of our color
we went to the westward to transact our private business
intention of taking an active part in the troubles subsisting between them and our western brethren
wished for the friendship of the United States
purpose of forming our confederacy
Wyandots, a few Delawares and some others met the commissioners, though not authorized, and confirmed the lines of what was not their property but a
boundary line was then proposed by us and refused by Governor St. Clair
Six Nations
exerting ourselves to keep peace since the conclusion of the war
advised the confederate nations to request a meeting
steps might be taken such as to bring about a peace
Congress appointed commissioners to meet us at Muskingum
peace has not taken place, because you have held up these ideas owing to which much mischief has been done to the southward
held that our country was ceded to them by the King
confused the chiefs that attended there and prevented them from making any reply to the contrary
warriors were at their back
protection from Great Britain
commissioners from Congress
commissioners conducted the business as it to them seemed best
pointed out a line of division and then confirmed it
not now in our power to accept your invitation
you would conduct the business as you might think proper
treaties held with us since the peace
commissioners
conclusion of the war between you and Great Britain
listen to what we are going to say to you
sitting side by side with the intent of hearing what we have to say
wish to do no business but what is done open and above-board
make your mind easy on account of the long time your President's speech has been under our consideration
told you it was a business of importance and required some time to be considered
answer you brought us is not according to what we expected
reason of our long delay
business would have been done with expedition had the United States agreed to our proposals
collected our associates and repaired to Venango
representing the King
Clear Sky, on Onandaga chief, spoke as follows
happy to see that you are arrived safe at our council fire
preserved by the great Spirit in good health
reply of the six nations assembled at Buffalo Creek
speech from General Knox, Secretary of War to the United States
delivered by General Chapin
interpreted by Jasper Parrish
interpreters