Inducements to ratify Indian treaty: Page #6

Transcription

the treaty was closed. Then the Cayuga cheifs and Richardson made their applications, and then I was informed that a law of the State (? as suggested in consequence of the long lease obtained of the Indians by John Livingston and others) allowed of leases for any term not exceeding twenty one years - and that at the treaty last year at Fort Stanwix Governor Clinton expressly assured the Cayugas that if they pleased they might lease their lands. The Cheifs discovered much anxiety and were importunate (the fish-carrier, their head chief in particular) to have the lease accomplished - I asked for the law referred to: the Statutes were produced but those at Newtown did not reach down to that Session of the Legislature in which it was said the law had been enacted. I was further informed that at a late session of the York Legislature (I think the last winter) a Petition had been preferred