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.
Journal
(Pittsburg, Oct. 7, 1773)
McKee, Alexander in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 1032-1036.
AN INDIAN CONFERENCE
Contemporary Copy1
|
Pittsburg October 9th, 1773- |
At a Meeting held with a Number of Chiefs, Six Nations, Hurons, Ottawas and Delawares-
Present
A Number of the principal Inhabitants of Pittsburg and Traders.-
Keyashuta after presenting a Speech sent here by the Chiefs of the Shawanese spoke as follows.-
Brethren
You have now heard this Speech wch. the Chiefs of the Shawanese have sent by your Traders to be delivered to me, and I have considered it, and assure you that it has given both me and the several Chiefs present some Concern, and with Respect to the Troubles it intimates so near at hand, We know nothing of them, although the Chiefs of the Hurons who are present are but lately returned from the Wabash where they have been negotiating some good Speeches sent by Sir William Johnson, and they have the Satisfaction to say their Belts were well received by all the Western Indians as far as the Ilinois, upon that head, Who have all faithfully promised to them to hold fast by the Chain of Friendship; So That this Mischief talk'd of by the Shawanese must be hatched amongst themselves at Scioto.-
Brethren
You may remember that Two Years agoe when I accompanied the Six Nation Deputies to Scioto, We did every thing in our Powers at that time to remove the scattering Mingoes from the Two Creeks and to settle them nearer home (That is the Six Nation Country) where they might be more contiguous to be advised and taken Care of by The Six Nation Chiefs; But our Brethren the Shawanese interfered and carried them from us to Scioto with promising at the same time to take Care of them and (page 1035) keep them out of Mischief, which they said their Scituation at the Two Creeks made them always liable to be involv'd in; From these Cercumstances The Speech of the Shawanese Chiefs appears to use the more extraordinary; However We shall speak to them as soon as their Chiefs arrive here fully upon this matter before you.-
A Huron Chief then spoke
Brethren
We must also tell you That the Indians will not be altogether to blame for the Troubles shou'd any unfortunately happen; You have likewise foolish People among you as well as us, who pay [no] Regard to the advice and Directions of their wise People.-
Brethren
You are all sensible that the Complaints of all Nations this way have been frequent against Spirituous Liquors being carried amongst them; This, Brethren, is the Scource of many Evils, and Cause of a great deal of our Unhappyness, by it our Young Men not only reduced to the Necessity of stealing to recover what they loose by Drunkeness, but deprived of their Reason and render'd incapable of listening to or taking the Advice of their Wise People.-
Brethren
If You who are Traders had conformed to orders by continuing to deal at the several posts which were fixed upon for this Purpose at the End of the last unhappy Disturbance it wou'd have prevented a great deal of Trouble to us both. We therefore now request you to take it into serious Consideration & do it, as it will be undoubtedly for both our advantage; When any Indian Nations have Peltries to trade with there are none who want Horses to carry them to Market.-
Brethren
Another Thing which adds to the present Discontent and Confusion is the Number of White People who are scattered (page 1036) down the River, building Houses and marking the Country wherever they go, far beyond the Limits (Sir William Johnson told us last Fall) were ordered to be settled by order of our Father The King of Great Britain. We have told you now the Cause of the imprudent Behaviour of our foolish Young Men and we desire you to be strong who is appointed to take Care of the Indians in removing every Obstacle that stands in the way of our future Peace and Tranquility. And We hope Our Brethren the Traders will also use their utmost Endeavours to assist you in this good Work which so much tends to the Wellfare of us both. This Brethren is all We have to say to you.-
|
A String.- |
FROM HECTOR THEOs. CRAMAH
A. L .S.2
|
Quebec 13th, October 1773- |
SIR
The Chevalier Lorimier, owner of thirty Packs of Pelleteries, lately plundered in Lake Ontario by some of the Seneca Nation, waits on you with this, in the Hopes that You will procure him a Restitution of his Furs, which otherwise will prove a heavy Loss to him, and obtain for the poor Widows and Children of the four unfortunate Canadians, the same Savages murthered, the best Redress and Compensation in your Power.-
It is needles for me, Sir, to urge the Necessity of insisting upon ample
Satisfaction for so flagrant an Injury, It is a Matter of great Importance to
The Kings Service in this Province, to convince our Fellow Subjects of the
Attention we pay to their Interests, and that their Lives and Fortunes are as
dear to Us as our own; the bad Consequences that would attend the Trade of this
Province, and in Effect the trade of Great Britain, was this inhuman Act passed
over unnoticed, are too self evident to require being dwelt upon.-
______________________________
1 In Canadian Archives, Indian Records, Vol. 16; inclosed in Alexander McKee to Johnson, Oct. 16, (1773); included in McKee's Journal.
2 (1, p. 1036) In Harvard University Library, Sparks Collection.
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