THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Cadillac Complains of Vaudreuil
(September 10 & 15, and October 1, 1707)
Cadillac, Sieur de La Mothe in: Michigan Historical
Collections, XXXIII, pp. 336-341.
(page 336) thank you, my brothers, for the promise you have
made him. Either we must keep it, and live in peace, or we must die.
Cadillac's Reply.
I had resolved to make you take away your furs. I would not even have given you a bone to gnaw; and you would have had nothing for your children to live upon. But because of your words, I permit you to trade, and to take away what you require for food. Do not abuse my kindness. What you take away will not go far; you will fall back into greater want again, like your brothers, if you fail in your word to me and my ears would forever be stopped [against your prayers]. I should never think of making peace again.
Tell your people that they are not to come here any more until peace is concluded. When the reparation that I demand of you has been made, then you may all come here with your heads erect. I will make the whole land smooth and level.
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CADILLAC COMPLAINS OF VAUDREUIL.
Endorsed- The Sieur de La Mothe Cadillac, the 10th and 15th of September and the 1st of October 1707.
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a bad way of talking; it is his duty to be submissive to his superior officer, otherwise I shall at last get weary of supporting him with all these [claims] of independence. |
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M. de Vaudreuil has always been strongly opposed to the establishment of the post of Detroit; he does not act openly, but, takes advantage of every opportunity he can find to undo everything that he [De la Motte] does in the interests of that post, and to put difficulties in his way. |
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M. de Vaudreuil is right; he must do so. it is his business to keep on good terms with M. de Vaudreuil, to win his confidence and friendship by the respect & obedience he owes him; otherwise he will be recalled, his post will fall, and his honor and fortune which are bound up with it. M. de Vaudreuil is right. |
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The said Sr. de Vaudreuil claims peremptorily that he should report to him in general on everything which takes place at that post, and that he should carry out blindly all the orders that he sends him, under the pretext that he is to be responsible for it. He says that if he were obliged to inform him of all his plans none of them would succeed; because he, and certain people surrounding him, seek only to thwart him, according to his experience of them; hence, when he has succeeded in any matter, then he informs the said Sr. de Vaudreuil of it, who complains that he gives him notice of what he does, too late. |
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As regards the orders which the said Sr. de Vaudreuil sends him, they are always contrary to the well-being and progress of his new settlement. He says that the said Sr. de Vaudreuil had ordered him to set himself to taking vengeance on the Illinois Indians who killed a Frenchman and wounded a Jesuit missionary; but, as that tribe is a powerful one, and moreover what took place with them arose from a quarrel between private individuals, and since it was not advisable to run into a war which might have disastrous results, he composed the matter without compromising the national honor. |
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his right course is to address his remonstrances and representations, with due deference to M. de Vaudreuil and then to obey, to send word here, afterwards, etc., after all this fine talk, there is a Frenchman killed and a missionary wounded without either satisfaction or vengeance which is not honorable to the nation. To see to it as soon as possible. He ought to have explained how, so that we might know. |
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So that there is now peace all around with all the tribes of savages in the neighborhood of Detroit, which is altogether honorable, for he has compelled the Outaouacks to bring him the chief of their tribe, whose head the said Sr. de Vaudreuil demanded, to do what he might think fit with it. |
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good-continue. |
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This savage managed to get out of the fort at Detroit, where he was detained, and to take refuge in the woods; but as his tribe has deserted him, and he has therefore no voice or influence with it now, he was sorry for his escape because, if he had put him to death he might have made some undesirable relations. |
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good. |
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The said Sr. de Vaudreuil claims that it was he who made the Outaouacks give the satisfaction which was required from them for the attack which this chief made at Detroit. It is easy to judge of that from the fact that these savages refused to give him the head of that chief. |
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childishness; he should always attribute the honor to his commanding officer, even if he had not done it. |
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It is true that the said Sr. de Vaudreuil referred this matter to him for adjustment, but he ought not to have allowed the envoys of the Outaouack savages who went to him at Montreal, to do any trade there, and to take away all the war stores they wanted, for that was putting that tribe in a position to take the post of Detroit. |
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he always tries to find fault with what M. de Vaudreuil does. a fine argument when they were sueing for peace. |
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He spoke so haughtily to such of these savages as were sent to him, in the presence of the other tribes in the neighborhood of Detroit, whom he had purposely summoned, that he brought them to [promise] what he wished. By this bold stroke he struck great terror into all the tribes round about his post, and he brought about a general peace which he is satisfied will be of long duration. |
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good. |
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good. |
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He has induced the Miami Indians, who number 400 men bearing arms, and were a long way from Detroit to come and settle at the Maurepas1 River which is only 12 leagues away; it is the finest land under heaven- fishing and hunting are most abundant there. |
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bad, very bad, he is not permitted to remove missionaries for others, it is for the Superior to do so, &c. |
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The Jesuit who was acting as missionary among these Miamis did all he could to prevent them from taking this step and would not follow them- this has obliged him to give this mission to a Recollet priest who will discharge the duty well. |
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He speaks as if he were supreme; it is for him to obey, otherwise show him the influence, and the injury he is doing himself, & c. Also write sharply to the Jesuits to control themselves. |
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As the Jesuits have refused to carry on the missions at the post of Detroit, he is determined not to receive any of them; he is convinced that they would thwart him in everything that they could. |
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good. write. |
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The savages that are in these parts, and know the permanence and strength of his post, flock to it from all parts to settle there; and he was also expecting the Outaouacks. |
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good. |
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He arranges all these savages so that they may not inconvenience one another, whether as regards lands or hunting. |
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As far as I am concerned, you are independent, and let him be referred to concerning it. |
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He begs that no change may be introduced in anything that concerns his post without hearing what he has to say, because all that he does is only done with the object of establishing it well, and that His Majesty may be pleased with him. |
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good. |
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He grants lands to the savages in the same way as he does to French people, and he will give an account of his action in that matter when he is in France, whither he asks for permission to come as he has family business of great importance to him. |
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cannot be done
without an order. good- see strictly to this. |
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He has given an order for all the brandy that is taken to
Detroit to be given to one man for sale, whether to the French or to the
savages on the same conditions. This man has pledged himself by an oath not
to give more than a certain quantity to either, so as to prevent drunkenness. |
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We know the meaning of this; to be always complaining of his superior officer is not the way to obtain credence, nor to please nor to advance himself. |
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M. de Vaudreuil had orders to give him what soldiers he
required for his post, without first picking out the best men to be left in
the country. This has not been complied with, so that he has only had the
scum of the troops. |
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