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.
Conference of Indian Envoys
With Governor Vaudreuil
(September 27, 1703)
In: ([Surry: AC., C11, 21:60] [Surry-July
14-Oct. 25, 1703])
and in Wisconsin Historical Collections,
16: pp. 221-227.
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1703: CONFERENCE OF INDIAN
ENVOYS WITH
GOVERNOR DE VAUDREUIL.
"Speaches of the Outaouaes of Misilimakinac, 27, September, 1703.1
1. They are come to bewail Sieur de Callieres' death and to cover his corpse, though they be poor.
[A token of good friendship.]
2. They are instructed by their chiefs to say to the Governor that they wish to die in their villages; notwithstanding all that can be said to engage them to remove, they will not quit their village which they have just put up anew; therefore, whatever (page 222) Sieur de la Motte may do to engage them to go to detroit, they will not remove thither. This is their sentiment and that of all their chiefs, who have sent them to communicate it to the Governor.
[Nothing more strongly indicates the determination of those Outaouas never to leave their village of Misilimakinac, and not remove to Detroit, though Sieur de la Motte do all he can to draw them thither; these words expressed to the Governor-general, in presence of the Intendant, the clergy, officers, and principal men of the country, cannot be called in doubt; whilst those of Sieur de la Motte, who is alone, can be questioned. My advice would be to station a Jesuit at Detroit, to let those of Misilimakinac alone, and to permit the Indians to do as they like in this matter. Constraint may do more harm than good in these cases.]
[Concl. To be added to the Detroit business.]
3. They are also instructed to ask the Governor for a French Commandant; they know not what they are doing since they have none.
[I do not believe any is necessary for them; it would be the means of absolutely destroying Detroit, which has no more need of one than Missillimakinac. Let us learn by experience that these commandants apply for these posts merely for the purpose of trade, and to promote their own interests, and they encourage the Indians to demand them.]
[Concl. Embarrassing.]
4. They are surprised to see the Sauteurs, the Sacs and Outagamis at War; they have sent them some presents to allay this disorder. As they are in their midst, they fear somebody will be killed in their village, and that they will be thus drawn into the War.
[They act wisely in making presents to avert the consequences of this war.]
[Good.]
M. de Vaudreuil's Answer.
He thanks them for coming to bewail Sieur de Callieres' death: assures them that they will find in him the same fatherly heart.
[He answers well.]
[Good.]
Though the chiefs of Misillimakinac be resolved not to abandon their fort, notwithstanding they led Sieur de Callieres to expect that they would remove to Detroit, it is a matter worthy consideration; he will communicate to them his resolution on this subject by the person he intends to send to Misillimakinac in the fall.
[Sieur de Vaudreuil does well not to give them a decisive answer on their resolution not to go to Detroit, and to postpone to another occasion the communication of his opinion thereupon, because he will, meanwhile, have my Lord's orders.]
As Sieur de Callieres, to whom they had already applied for a Commandant, has written on the subject to the King, he will let them know his Majesty's pleasure on the arrival of the ships.
[It is important that my Lord communicate his pleasure in this regard. A commandant as Misillimakinac is unnecessary; he is on the contrary prejudicial. It has ever been the policy of Governors and officers to have commanders at Misillimakinac and everywhere else, in order to increase their powers.]
[Good. To send positive instructions.]
He will give orders to the person he intends to send to Misillimakinac to put a stop to the War between their neighbors, and to oblige them to execute the general treaty of peace; he, meanwhile, expects them to contribute thereunto on their side.
[Well answered and well done to expect them to maintain peace. His orders to that effect can be sent to the Missionaries to be communicated to the Indians, instead of sending private persons thither who go there only for the purpose of trading.]
[Concl.- Appears good.]
Speeches of the Hurons to M. de Vaudreuil, 14th July.
That it is their custom to speak of news before business.
[Such is their custom.]
The Mohawks have come on the part of the English to invite the Hurons to Orange.
[This is the work of Quarante Sols, already mentioned, which shows that it is not proper to have the Outaouas, Hurons, and other Indians friendly with the Iroquois. Some adroit effort must be made to prevent them becoming good friends.]
[Good. With address: to write it to Vaudreuil.]
They [the Mohawks] told the Miamis whom they found with the French of Detroit that, if they would remove, they will furnish them goods at a cheap rate, and do them every sort of kindness.
[This is a proof of it.]
Sieur Vaudreuil beholds in them his children who are coming to speak to him with the Miamis, who are united together; they have understood that he was desirous they should settle at Detroit.
[A sign that these wish to settle at Detroit. They must be encouraged to do so.]
[Good. Strongly. Concl.]
That the late Sieur de Callieres having invited them to settle at the Miamis, they request him to tell them whence arises the unwillingness to their residing there. He had exhorted [them] to draw the Tionontate to Detroit, but the latter would not consent to it, affairs being in confusion.
['Tis true, Sieur de Callieres invited those Indians to the River St. Joseph, but it was only with a view to reunite the farther Miamis together, in order eventually to draw them to Detroit; therefore they must now be encouraged to return thither, under the (care of a missionary).]
[To encourage them to it, dependent however on the decision respecting Detroit.]
They would greatly desire a cordial union between themselves and the French, and request him to communicate it to those of Misillimakinac and to Sataresky, and that they make him master of their wigwams.
[Sieur de Vaudreuil is to act according to this request.]
[Good.]
The late Sieur de Callieres loved them; he settled them where they were, and promised to protect them. They request Sieur de Vaudreuil to do the same, and to permit them to make war against the Scioux, as the French were waging it against the English.
[This shows that these Indians, though afar off, are aware that we have operated against the English, and regard this act as an infraction of the general peace.]
[Concl.]
M. de Vaudreuil's Answer.
He tells Quarante Sols and his tribe what Sieur de la Motte ought to have told him- that he was informed he wished to go to the English to learn if they, as well as the Miamis, would be well received; that the English had assured them of a good reception, and requested him to remove his village to a distance from the French forts, so as to be able to settle near them at Lake Erie, offering physical aid in case the French would offer any opposition.
[This is the intrigue of Quarante Sols, which seems but too well founded, although Sieur de la Motte ridiculed the Jesuits when they notified him of it, saying it was a game arranged among themselves to prevent the Indians coming to Detroit.]
[Detroit affair.]
To-day he tells them that he did not wish to answer their belts without hearing their speech.
[That's right.]
He must be aware that the French are now at war with the English, and he cannot go to them without giving displeasure. His tribe is forbidden to do it, and, if any one contravene this prohibition, he believes that it will be himself, being sorry for his young men.
[Sieur de Vaudreuil does well to intimidate Quarante Sols, and to tell him that he does not wish him to go to the English.]
[Good. Keep the hand on him.]
He is glad to see the Hurons and Miamis united, and exhorts them to continue so. The late Sieur de Callieres had invited him to settle at Detroit; he does the same, and would permit Sastaretsy to go and join him there.
[Well answered.]
[Good.]
He declares to him and to all the nations that he [the Governor] does not pretend thereby that any person should settle at Detroit, or at Lake Erie, without his permission, or that of Sieur de la Motte; that he understands that, after Sieur de la Motte had marked a place for him, he had passed the bounds, and had extended himself towards the French fort, and that this (page 226) had been done on hearing that Sieur de la Motte had been ordered not to grant any lands in the rear of his village, intending that part for fields.
[That's well done.]
[Good.]
He has reason to say that Sieur de Callieres loved him; he [M. de V.] does not love him less. If he wage war against the English, it is because their Kings are at war; as regards the Scioux, they were included in the peace like the rest, but if they attacked his nation, they would promise to defend [him].
[Well answered.]
[Good.]
Speeches of the Miamis, on the 14th July.
He beholds his children the Miamis, who come to tell him that their fathers are dead, that the Scioux had killed them; that they, however, did not wish to revenge themselves, but had allowed themselves to be directed by Sieur de Callieres, whose death they bewail, assuring M. de Vaudreuil moreover that they will do only what he pleases.
[That's well.]
[Good.]
They have come to see him, and to behold the face of the late Sieur de Callieres.
[A token of friendship.]
M. de Vaudreuil's Answer.
He is pleased that they have come so far to see him; they know that all differences were terminated by the General peace; if the Scioux wage war against them, he does not prevent them defending themselves.
[That is well and regularly answered.]
[Good.]
He is glad they have mentioned their chief's names; exhorts them to invite them to [continue] in the obedience they owe the government; he understands, however, that they are invited to go to the English, whom one of their chiefs went to visit; if (page 227) they continue the same course, they will not please him; as he is at war with the English he would be sorry to meet any of them there; he forbids them that road; and let them tell their young men that, should they go to the English, he will no longer look on them as his children.
[Perfectly well.]
[Good. Keep a check on them.]
Speech of Le Pesant ("the Heavy man"), an Outaois, 14th July.
In the name of the Kiscacons, the Outaois of Sinago, and Outaois of the Sable, he bewails Sieur de Callieres. They rejoice that he has succeeded; they hope he will love them; the Scioux wage war against them, but they will not defend themselves till they know his will.
[This disposition of these Indians is very good. It would be better to give them audience and to govern them by the councils they hold at Montreal, than to send them so many commandants, who make them say what they like, and distribute the King's presents among them only as they please; whilst they receive at Montreal all that the King orders them.]
[Concl. Appears good.]
It would have afforded them much pleasure to see the Intendant; they had come in that expectation; they would greatly wish him to love them as much as he who is gone away.
[I am very certain that they will like Sieur de Beauharnois when they will see him.]
[Good.]
M. de Vaudreuil's Answer.
They may rely on it, that he will love them as much as the late Sieur de Callieres, if they continue obedient. Sieur de la Motte writes him that he is satisfied with them. He exhorts them and the tribe to be always attached to him; he does not wish them to make war on the Scioux, but if these commence they can defend themselves; that he had greatly wished the Intendant had attended the Meeting, so that they might see that he was as good a father as he who had gone away.
[Very well answered.]
[Good.]
APPROVED.
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