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.
Minutes of the Provincial
Council of Pennsylvania
(March 15, 1758)
In: Minutes of the Provincial
Council of Pennsylvania,
Vol. VIII, pp. 32-35.
At a Conference in the Council Chamber, at the State House in Philadelphia, Wednesday the 15th March, 1758.
PRESENT:
The Honourable William Denny, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
|
Benjamin Shoemaker, |
|
|
William Logan, |
} Esquires. |
|
Richard Peters, |
|
The Speaker, with several Members of the Assembly, and many of the Inhabitants of the City.
|
|
Indians. |
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Teedyuscung, |
Tepiscaway, |
Willymegahany |
|
Moses Tatamy, |
Mohowliekon, |
Gillapawmen, |
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Capt. Harrison, |
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Sundry other Indians,
Isaac Stille, Interpreter.
Teedyuscung's Speeches were taken down by the Secretary, and read, Sentence by Sentence, to the Indians. The whole was afterwards settled by Mr. Logan and the Secretary the same Day, and are as follows:
Teedyuscung, addressing himself to the Governor, said:
Brother:
"I hope your wise men of the Council and Assembly are now present to hear what we have to say." ON which the Governor answered him they was, and told him that he was now ready to hear what he had to say.
Teedyuscung then taking out a Large Calumet Pipe filled it with Tobacco, and rising up said:
Brother:
"The Governor and all your wise men present, hearken to what I am now going to say: At the Treaty at Easton, you desired me to hear you and publish what passed there to all the Indian Nations. I promised you to do it; I gave the Halloo and published it to all the Indian Nations in this Part of the World, even the most distant have heard me. The Nations to whom I published what passed between us have let me, Teedyuscung, know that they had heard & approved it, and, as I was about so Good a Work, they sent me this Pipe, the same that their Grandfathers used on such Good occasions, and desired it might be filled with the same Good Tobacco, and that I, with my Brother, the Governor, would Smoke it. They further assured me that if at any Time I should perceive any Dark Clouds arise, and would Smoke but two or three whiffs out of this Pipe, these Clouds would immediately disappear." (page 33) Teedyuscung then lighted the Calumet Pipe that was Sent to them from the Indian Nation, first smoaked out of it himself, then gave to the Governor, who, with the Council and Members of Assembly, smoaked it.
Teedyuscung then proceeded, and taking hold of a Long Belt said:
Brother:
I told you when we Consulted together I would not do as had been done heretofore. I would not hide or conceal any part of it in my Bosom, but would hold it up and Publish it, that all the World may hear and see it, and this I shall ever continue to do.
Brother:
You may remember I promised I would Give a Halloo; I have done it, and all the Nations you see represented by this Belt, which I now hold in my Hand, have heard whatever you and I have talked together when we were promoting the Good Work; I have made all these Nations as One Man. All the Indian Nations from the Sun Rise to these beyond the Lakes, as far as the Sun setts, have heard what has passed between you and me and are pleased with it, and they have said to me, "Now, Brother Teedyuscung, we see that you and your Brothers, the English, have been talking about what is good; We, therefore, send you this Belt to Let you Know that we, the Nations who Live some of us at the Sun Rise, and others at the Sun sett, have taken hold at the two Ends of this Belt, and we desire you and your Brothers, the English, to take hold of the Middle, and always, when you are Consulting about what is Good to hold it fast, as our Lives and Safety will intirely depend upon it." As he was giving over the Belt to the Governor, he further said:
Now Brother, the Governor:
As Ten Nations joined before, and now Eight more have taken hold of the Covenant Chain, we make, in all, now Eighteen Nations who have hold of this Belt.
Gave a Belt of Ten Rows, which had in the Center of it two figures of Men taking One Another by the Hand, which Teedyuscung said was represented himself and the Governor; at Each End of the Belt were two figures, representing the Sun Rising and the Sun Sett, and between these figures were Eight figures in White Wampum, representing the Nations who have taken Hold of it.
Then Teedyuscung proceeded and Said:
Brother:
Hear me, and all that are present take Notice.
You know I told you at Easton that all the Power was in my (page 34) Hands, and as I held what was Good in my hand, I told you I would hold it up, and if I saw any that were Willing to Live Quietly and Peaceably, I would deliver it into their Hands, and all the World should see to whom I did deliver it.
Brother:
I am heard now by all the Indians, and they are pleased, and have said to me, Brother Teedyuscung, You are now promoting what is Good; We have looked and Enquired who has been the Cause of the Darkness; There are Three concerned, English, French & Indians. We have found one of these three have been the Cause of it, and he shall die. After a Pause Teeyuscung said something was forgot, and added that the Man was a Frenchman.
Brother:
There is a Good Deal of News going backwards and forwards, but tho' it be so, I have stopped his Ears and blinded his Eyes, so that the News runs right before his Breast, he shall Hear Nothing of it, That is, tho' the Indians who have Joined me Live behind the French, must pass by them to come to us, Yet they shall know nothing of what Passes Between us.
Now, Brother, as I have blinded the Eyes of the French and stopped their Ears, I hope you will do the same.
Gave a Belt of 12 Rows.
Brother, And all present attend to what I am going to Say:
You may remember you told me I was so Capable a Man as you were; I see you tell true, you are really a Greater Man than I, and these Words Encouraged me. I have also received Encouragement from the Indian Nations. How, Brother, Press on with all your might in Promoting the Good Work we are engaged in; Let us beg the God that made us to bless our Endeavours, and I am Sure if you Exert your selves, and God will grant a Blessing, we shall Live.
Gave a Belt of 8 Rows.
Brother, the Governor, and all present:
The Indians who Live back Encourage you and me; they have seen us Hold Councils together, and they press us on to Execute what we have begun. They have said to me: "Do you, Teedyuscung, and your Brothers Press on and don't be discouraged. It is a Work of Great Moment which You have undertaken. When you begin a Great Work, you Can't expect to finish it all at Once, therefore do you and your Brothers Press on, and let nothing Discourage you till you have intirely finished what you have begun." Now, Brother, As for me, I assure you I will Press on, and the Contrary Winds may Blow strong in my face, yet I will go forward and never will turn back, but Continue to Press forward until I have finished, & I would have you do the Same.
Brother:
One word more; I earnestly desire you to Press on; Let us proceed in the Good Road and finish the Work we have undertaken. I desire you Would Open and Clear your Eyes and Look upon our Wives and Children with Pitty and Compassion, and finish the Work as Soon as you can. Tho' you may Hear Birds Singing on this Side and that Side, you must not take Notice of that, but Hear me when I speak to you, a lay it to Heart, for you may always depend that what I say shall be true.
A Belt of 7 Rows.
Then he arose and taking the Governor by the Hand, said: "At Present I have no More to say, but when I hear any News you also shall hear it, for your Ear and mine are One."
The Governor Replied to Teedyuscung and Said:
Brother Teedyuscung:
I thank you for what you have now said; as it is a Matter of Great Consequence, I will take time to Consider, and will Let you know when I am ready to return an Answer.
N.B.- The Eight Indians Nations mentioned are-
The Ottawaw's who live N. Wt. of Fort de Troit.
Twightwees,
Chippewas,
Toawaws, live So. of Lake Erie.
Caughnawagos,
Mahoowa, live on an Island in one of the Lakes.
Pietoatomaws, live Westward of De Troit.
Nalashawawna, live No. of New England.
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