The speech of the Cornplanter, Half-Town, and the Great-Tree, Chiefs and Councillors of the Seneca nation, to the Great Councillor of the Thirteen Fires.
Item
Type
Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document
Title
The speech of the Cornplanter, Half-Town, and the Great-Tree, Chiefs and Councillors of the Seneca nation, to the Great Councillor of the Thirteen Fires.
Description
Refers to Washington as the town destroyer. Wish to open their hearts. Mention Treaty of Fort Stanwix. Mentions the resentment toward Six Nations for supporting British during Revolutionary War. Refers to past broken promises regarding treaty lines drawn by Commissioners. Mention John Livingston and Mr. Phelps and dubious land claims and threats of war. Phelps never paid what he promised. Indians ask, "where is the land which our children, and their children after them, are to lie upon." State that they know that the United States is strong, and have heard that Washington is wise. Ask for an answer, that they may know that he is just.
year created
1790
month created
12
day created
01
sent from location
Philadelphia
secondary recipient
sent to location
Philadelphia
in collection
in publication
author note
Cornplanter; Half-Town; Great-Tree.
notable person/group
Joseph Nicholson, interpreter
Timothy Matlack
George Washington
Town Destroyer
Six Nations
commissioners
John Livingston
Phelps
Indians
Indian Nation
Seneca
Cornplanter
Half-Town
Great-Tree
councillor
counselor
Thirteen Fires
king
father
French
Street
Congress
notable location
Philadelphia
Fort Stanwix
frontier
territory
post
fort
Indian land
Niagara
Pennsylvania
line
Beaver Creek
Lake Ontario
hills
notable item/thing
treaty
notable idea/issue
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
Indian relations
Thirteen Fires
peace
hostilities
alliance
possession
land rights
ownership
cession
punishment
justice
document number
1790120190000
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: American State Papers | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Cornplanter, Chief of the Senecas | Philadelphia | Half-Town; Great-Tree; Councillors of Seneca nation; |
| Recipient | George Washington | Philadelphia | [n/a] |