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.
Colden to Clinton
(New York, Aug. 8, 1751)
Colden, Cadwallader in: "The
Letters and Papers
of Cadwallader Colden," vol. IV, 1921, The
Collections of the New York Historical
Society for the year, 1920,
pp. 271-287.
pp. 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282.
. . .
The Govr. in the conduct of the Indian affairs, is under a double disadvantage. The Assembly will grant His supply, for the usual expense of Commissrs for that Service, unless the Creatures of the Factions be apointed, & who by their past conduct appear no way proper to be intrusted: & on the other hand Coll Johnson by the large sums allowed him for that Service in time of War, & by something in his natural temper suited to the Indian humour, has gained such an ascendency over them, that they insist on his continueing & will be dissatisfied with any other apointment, as fully appears by the minutes of what passed at Albany in the last meeting with the Indians. Both seem to have its view in opposition to each other to make it impracticable to carry on the Indian affairs unless the one be seperately employed exclusive of the other, & thereby the Govt is disabled to employ either or any other.
I shall next observe on what ahs been don by the French in Canada in the same time. Tho the gaining the Indians, the preserving them in their fidelity, the keeping them in readiness to join our Forces on the expedition intended against Canada, & the sending out parties of Indians against Canada, was attended with a greater expence, than had ever been incurred on the like Service before. Yet we were assured by the French officers, who came from Canada after the Peace on the Exchange of Prisoners, that the Govt of Canada was at a much greater expence on account of the Indians they employed than we were. Every Indian employed by them occasioned an expence they said, that could not be Credited. The power of the Brittish Colonies is so much superior to that of the French, that they could have no hopes of coping with us, in any regular attack with reg- (page 278) ular troops or militia; & consequently had no other method of making war but by numerous of their Indians, & which they were therefor under a necessity of procuring at any rate.
The same reasons lay them under a necessity of endeavouring by all means to enlarge & spread their influence among the numerous nations on the Great Continent: and as they could not fail of being assured of the Difficulty the administration in this Govt laboured under they thought it the most proper time to redouble their endeavours; believing that no time could be more proper for an extraordinary expence than this, in order to carry their purposes.
With these desires they from time to time sent some of the Caknuaga Indians among the six Nations, to excite them to make Incursions on the Southern Indians, in Amity with South Carolina with whom the Six Nations & Caknuagas had both been at War beyond the memory of any man living: thereby to weaken the Indians who depended on the English Colonies & are faithfull to them by setting them on to destroy one another.
The Messisagues an Indian Nation who formerly lived to the Northward of the lake Huron & traded with the French, joined with the six Nations in declaring war against Canada. After the Peace, the Govr of Canada resolved to make this Nation sensible of his resentment, & incited the Utawawas to join him in making war on the Messisagues, this obliged them to leave their Country & come to settle near the Senekas on the East side of Lake Erie & as the Messisagues have received no support or protection from the English any other nation must be deferred from following the example of the Messisagues in joining hereafter with the English. A Considerable Number of Indians Originally of several nations formerly living near Hudson's river, Delaware & Susquehana & several of the six Nations settled near the head of Branch of the Mississipi, called Ohio by the French, & Allegheny by the People of Pensylvania, & with whom a considerable trade is carried on from Pen- (page 279) sylvania, & they are in hopes of bringing the Twightures a considerable nation on the same branch more westerly, to join with them & the six Nations in Confederacy. In order to defeat this Union, the Govr of Canada sent a body of regular troops with a number of Indians to draw of these Indians from the English Interest, by force it if could not be otherwise don. But when the French came they found themselves too weak to attempt any thing by force, & were only able to disturb the English trade, by sending in some of their Indians to surprise the English traders, as they were upon their Journey. Which at several times the French Indians did, & carried the traders to the French Fort at Oniagara, where they were detained prisoners & used with more severity than is used between civilized nations to prisoners in time of War. This is certainly in direct violation of the 19th article in the Treaty of Utrecht, by which a free trade with the Indians is expressly stipulated. But it was don with design to deter the English from any attempts, for the future, to trade with these Nations. If care be not taken to prevent the like again otherwise than by complaints to the Govr of Canada or Court of France they will at last effectually put an end to that Trade.
The French have priests among the several nations in Amity with them as well as smiths & Traders who by presents with which they are furnished out of their Kings stores & by other artifices endeavour to gain the affections of the Indians, & infuse prejudices to the English. The French missions are often among the Six Nations & some of them trade among them tho' they have not been able to settle any priests any where in the villages of the Six Nations. Most of these priests are for the most part engaged at a cheap & easy rate by a spirit of enthusiasm, & others by the hopes of preferment. One lately tried to have admission at Onondaga, but he could not obtain it. This man is now settled on Cadaracknie river, near where it comes from the lake of the same name, His residence being near the five nations, & not far from Oswego, he has all means to draw the Indians (page 280) to him, & to gain their affections, by distributing large presents among them, & by other artifices: for which purpose he is not only liberally suplied from the Kings stores, but, it is said, that he is a person of considerable estate, which he converts to the same use, on the promise he has of a Bishoprick after some certain time of service among the Indians.
The great advantage the English have over the French is there being able to furnish the Indians with goods at a cheaper rate than the French can, to remove this disadvantage, as much as possible the French officer at Oniagara has orders, to sell goods as cheap or cheaper than is don at Oswego; tho' it should be don with the loss of 30,000 livres a year, which he is promised shall be recompensed out of the Kings Stores or from the Treasury. The Indians, who trade at Oswego generally pass by Oniagara. The french hope that if they can once persuade the Indians that they sell as cheap or cheaper than the English, the grand objection which the Indians make to them erecting fortified trading houses, will be removed, & if they can once be well secured by fortifications, at all the passes between the lakes, they can then speak in a different tone to the Indians: & by force prevent their going to Trade any where but with them. The French have already a Fort, & a settlement of French Farmers sufficient to supply themselves with Provisions, at a place Called Detroit between Lake Erie & the Lake of the Hurons. But the five Nations would never suffer any Fortification, at the streights between Lake Erie & Cadaracknie Lake, till since Queen Annes War the French obtained leave to build a store house, to save their goods in transportation over the pass between the lakes which they insensibly fortified. But now they are attempting a Fortification of a different kind, which , if they can accomplish & finish as it is projected will be of great consequence, not only as it will keep the Six Nations at all times in awe, but likewise intercept all the Indians to the Westward of it & where the great bever hunting, is in their way to trade with the English. Be- (page 281) sides these Forts, the French keep a small armed Sloop on Cadarackni lake, which may be of great consequence in preventing trade with Oswego. The Six Nations in general are very sensible how much their Liberty will be affected by these forts, & are much displeased with them, tho the French by presents & other artifices gain some particular Indians to favour their designs. The Indians would gladly prevent the building of these forts but they have such an opinion of the French power & good Policy that they dare not attempt anything of themselves by force, while they can not depend on being effectually supported by the English, which our Conduct of late has given them too good reason to doubt of.
The English only complain, & expostulate with the Govr of Canada or the Court of France. The French give amusing or evasive answers, but still go on in their works, & in pursueing their grand design: till they shall have brought their work to such perfection, that they can without fear avow their Intention.
The grand advantage the French have is, that their affairs among the Indians are all directed by one Council, & no expence is thought too great, which is necessary for their purposes at the same time it is certainly true that they do perform the same service at half the expence the English do I shall now humbly submit my opinion, of what may be proper to be don in order to secure the fidelity of the Indian Nations allready in Amity with the English Colonies, to promote our Interest & Trade among them & all the other nations in North America, & defeat the Designs of the French to our prejudice. For these purposes, It seems in the first place necessary to take off all Duties & imports from the goods used in the Indian trade. For since the principal advantage the English have over the French is, in their being able to furnish the Indians with goods at a cheaper rate, the laying duties on Indian goods is in a great measure giving up that advantage. Besides by the artifices used in collecting these duties, the Trade is much hampered, & the (page 282) fair trader discouraged, & the knavish part of the Traders get an advantage of the honest.
Next, Some law aught to be passed, whereby the Indians, on their Complaints, may get justice don them speedily, by summary process. And that, in all dealings between Indians & Christians, Indian evidence be allowed. They, who are acquainted with the Indians & the Indian traders, I am confidence, will allow that the Indians have the telling a lye in evidence as much in abhorrence, as the traders have the swearing a falsehood.
After long observation of the conduct of Indians affairs I am of opinion, that they can be only well managed by one Single person of sufficient ability as superintendent of Indian affairs who shall not be allowed to trade in any shape, directly or indirectly. For all the abuses & negligencies in the management of these affairs have arisen, from the private views the Commissrs of Indian have had, to promote their own trade, & to lay the other traders under difficulties & disadvantages. This of the trade raises perpetual Jealousies among the people employed in it & likewise with our neighbouring Colonies & brings the Commissrs into Contempt among the Indians many instances of which can be given, & are well known to all who have any knowledge of the Indian affairs. If the Frauds & abuses in Trade be not effectually prevented but by apointing some single person of sufficient ability, & with authority to redress the Injuries which the Indians receive, & to prevent their receiving the like for the future, & that he have an allowance, sufficient to encourage a gentleman fitly qualified for these purposes.
That he be enabled to send Smiths to reside among the Indians, men of the best probity & sense that can be found for that purpose: & to send other Messengers, both Indians & Christians to the distant nations upon any emergency, & as occasion shall require.
No doubt it will be of great use to have missionary
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