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.
An Abridgment
of the Indian Affairs
(Nov. 18, 1723 - Sept. 19, 1724)
Wraxall, Peter in: Harvard Historical
Studies, vol. XXI, pp. 149-154.
. . . 18 Novr. The Commissrs having received information that the Govr of Canada had sent Agents among the far or Western Indians to endeavour to prevail on them to assist the Eastern Indians in their war upon New Engd Laur. Claasse the Interpreter is dispatched to the Sennekas Country to get some Indians there to carry Belts to the sd Far Indians in behalf of this Govt to dissuade them from joining with the sd Eastern Indians. . .
. . . 4 May 1724. Two principal Sachems of the Sennekas appeared before the Commisrs & acquainted them, that the Sachems of Onondaga had sent Deputies to the Govr of Canada to acquaint him that they were affraid from the great Number of far Indians who passed thro their Country to go to Albany some Mischief might be comitted by some of them wch they should certainly revenge.
That the Govr of Canada replyed he had the same Fears & that there was one way to prevent it wch was for the 5 Nations to admit him to build Two Forts, one at Niagara & the other at the Mouth of Onondaga River at the Entrance into Cadaraqui Lake (where Osswago is now built) & gave the sd Messenger a Belt of Wampum to carry to the 5 Nations to enforce this Proposal. (P. 138) The said Belt was produced at Onondaga & the Govr of Canadas Proposal debated by the Assembly there, to wit the Sachems of the Sennekas, the Cayouges, Tuscaroras, & Onondagas; the Oneida & Mohawk Sachems not being present.
But the sd Assembly rejected the Belt & Proposal of the Govr of Canada, & it was resolved that the Belt (page 151) should be returned him & a Message sent to him that he should not be admitted to build any Fort on their Land. This resolution being afterward imparted to the Sachems of Oneida & the Mohawks was approved by them.1 -
There was also information that Jean Coeur was coming up to Niagara to build a Fort there.-. . .
& in pursuance thereof should imediately dispatch proper Messages to the Eastern Indians to send Deputies to Boston to meet them there & if they would not comply herewith & make Peace upon reasonable Terms that the 6 Nations should send them word they would oblige them to do it Sword in hand.
The 6 Nations say will comply with this Request of the Commissrs
14 July Several Far Indians arrive to Trade with Bever &c & say the French used every Artifice in their Power to prevent their coming to Albany & had by promises & Threatenings prevailed upon 30 Canoes of Indians to go to Canada who had never been at Albany & intended to have come with them hither
7 Augt Several Indians of the Kenondadie Nation to the westward come to Albany to Trade.
17 Augt 1724. The Commissrs resolve to send Particular Messengers with Belts of Wampum to the Indians who deserted from Schaakkook to request them to return to their former habitations, they having made several [Indians] Inroads upon the Inhabitants of New England.2
Albany 15 September 1724. Govr Burnet meets the 6 Nations & makes them a Speech in wch he renews the Covt Chain with them in behalf of this Colony & all the British Dominions in North America. he tells them that several Persons are willing to go & live up at the Mouth of Onondaga River in order to Trade with the far Indians & that he proposes for their Accommodation to build a Block house there & hopes & expects that the Six Nations will behave (page 153) like Bretheren to the people who are to (p. 140) go & settle there.3
The Six Nations Answer.
"The Town of Albany has been of old a place of Meeting & Treaty between us, & since that time it has been agreed that this should be the place only of Treaty not only between this Govt & us but with all our Neighbouring Colonies of North America to be a fixed & settled Place to treat of Peace & Tranquility & those who had any occasion to treat with us might come & meet us here."
They solommly renew the Covt not only in behalf of this Govt but all the British Dominions in North America.
They tell the Govr his kindness to them exceeds that of his Predecessors. The Trade is the cheapest Motive to promote Friendship.4
They are well pleased with his Excellencys Design of building a Block house at the Mouth of Onondaga River & say if those who settle there will sell as Cheap as they do at Albany it will prove a Bever Trap & catch all the Bever.
But they propose the intended Block House to be at the End of the Oneida Lake & desire the Govrs Opinion thereon.
The 19 Sepr 1724. Govr Burnet made Answer to the above Speech of the Six Nations viz.
I always like to hear your Answers that come from yourselves but I do not like the Answers wch the Traders here put into your Mouths, for they neither love you nor me, but mind only their own Profit, & therefore I expect that for the future you make all your Answers yourselves & never (p. 141) Advise with any of these Traders what you shall say for I can always find out what is your own & what comes from them.
As to the Block house it must be at the Onondagas River Mouth & not at the Oniedas Lake for the far Indians pass only at the Mouth of the said River & do not come up to the Oniedas Lake, so that the Bever Trap would then be so far off that it would catch no Bevers at all, And this is a thing the Traders put into your head on purpose that the Bevers may all go to Canada where they had rather Trade with the French than with you, by wch you may see they are not your Friends.
Another false story they have put into your heads is, that Goods should be as cheap at the Onondagas Country as here wch they know cannot be for then there would be no allowance made for the Trouble of carrying them wch however I will order them to make as small as they can afford it.
I am always ready to show you what kindness I can but I will not suffer my People who are under my Govt to put Notions into your heads contrary to my Desires for your Good & if I knew them I would punish them for their Presumption in doing it, so that I must expect from you as a proof of your thankfulness to me that you will be advised in these things by none but me & these Officers whom I think fit to appoint & then we shall always remain good Bretheren.5
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N. B. |
That influence wch private Persons from their own Selfish & Lucrative views have upon the public Speeches of the |
|
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Indians wch Govr Burnet above complains of, is more or less the Case in most Conferences to this day. the Indians where they do not perceive their imediate Interest are easily persuaded to speak according as it dictated to them, & few of their public Speeches are the genuine produce of (p. 142) their own Wills & Sentiments, they often unknowingly enter into the Personal Views & resentments of others, this Collusion with the Indians very often misleads |
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1. Does not this prove the French were conscious these Parts where they wanted to build Forts belonged to the 5 Nations, & it is certain the Indians had annexed these parts of their Country in particular to the Crown of Gt Britain as has been often mentioned. However the French have now Two Forts One at Niagara the other at the Head of Lake Erie, both on that Land Annexed to the Crown.
2 (1, p. 152) these Indians were once Numerous, Powerful & faithful Allies to this Govt & a Barrier to it on the N. E. towards Canada, & if they were drove away by the Injustice & Encroachments of the People who settled near them as their Complaint formerly mentioned seems to point out. It was no less Impolitick than Cruel & perfidious. For my own part I am of opinion that the Dutch of Albany & the adjacent Country have ever made an imediate temporary Interest their only rule.
3 (1, p. 153) This Block House is now the Trading House wch is called the Fort at Oswego abt 300 Miles from Albany, as I have been informed by an Lieut of the Indept Companys lately posted there, in a poor condition & little capable of making any great Defence, & from a rough Plan of it given me by Mr Evans the Map maker there is a high hill within Musket Shot of it wch overlooks & commands it.
4 (2, p. 153) The Indians frequently repeat that Trade was the foundation of their Alliance of Connexions with us & that it is the chief Cement wch binds us together. And this should undoubtedly be the first Principle of our whole System of Indian Politics.
5 (1, p. 154) The above is faithfully extracted from the Govrs Speech as recorded, & seems to me an incontestible proof in Point with how much Justice I have Attempted to Delineate the Character of these Albany Traders in the Strictures to these Abstracts. They are People from whom I have received no Personal Injury & towards whom I am not conscious of any ungrounded Prejudice. My reflectionss arise from Facts against them, their well-known Character & my sense of & Love for the Public Good, to wch they have (in general) been & I am affraid are still [Insensebl] Insensible.
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