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.
Vaudreuil to the Council
(October 30, 1718)
Vaudreuil in: Wisconsin Historical
Collections, XVI, pp. 377-379.
1718: CONFERENCE OF WESTERN INDIANS
WITH GOVERNOR
VAUDREUIL, AT MONTREAL.
[Part of a letter from Vaudreuil to
Council; dated Oct. 30, 1718.
Source, same as that of preceding document, but fol. 143.]
There is no warlike movement among the nations of the upper country; and everything has been quiet there since the expedition Made in 1716 against the Renards- except among the Kikapous and the Maskoutins, who have continued the war against the Ilinois, against whom they have made incursions, as the Ilinois have against them.
The Renards, although they are allies of the Kikapous and Maskoutins, far from taking any part in this war, have shown that they Are disposed to maintain peace with all the nations who Are allied with us. For, in spite of their fear of being ill received on coming here, Because they were not able to fulfil all the conditions of the treaty made with them by Monsieur de Louvigny, they nevertheless sent Five of their principal chiefs, accompanied by some others of their people, who arrived at Montreal on July 20th last, under the conduct of Maurice Mesnard and Pierre Reaume, Interpreters. Three Saki chiefs arrived at the same time; and next day those of the sauteurs of Chagouamigon and of Keououenan on lake Superior arrived also, with Sieur de St. Pierre, who conducted them. Sieur de Vincennes had arrived on the 19th, with the principal chief of the Miamis and three of the Ouyatanons.
A few days afterward, having assembled the chiefs of the nations of the upper country who were at Montreal, And Those of the savages at Sault St. Louis, at Sault aux Rcolets, and at bout de l'Isle, I gave audience to the Renard Chiefs, who said that they were sent in behalf of Onechala of Kiuetonan and of all the other chiefs of their Village, by the Road which Pemoussa had made for them, to Beg me to take pity on Them. They confessed that it was owing to Monsieur de Louvigny that they still saw the light of day, and that they had not yet recovered from the fear which he had caused them when be had come among them. They added that they hoped I would be touched with compassion for their misery, and would not (page 378) treat them with severity; and would dissipate the fear which still Possessed them, by restoring to them some of their Children- that is, some of their people who were Slaves among the French.
As all the Chiefs of the nations who were to come to the general assembly had not yet arrived, I put off my reply to the Renards until the 4th of August. I spoke to them that day in the presence of our resident savages, and of the Chiefs of all the nations of the upper country who had come to Montreal, except those of the nations at Detroit, who, having set out to come to this assembly, had stopped short on hearing that there was sickness at Montreal. After addressing to them the reproaches which they deserved for not having done everything in their power for the Fulfilment of the treaty, I declared to them that, since they had come to prove their submission to me and to conclude peace with me and all my children, I was ready to receive them as a good Father, but on condition That they immediately restore the prisoners whom they may still have among them, and especially a huron woman from Detroit and two Sauteur women; and that they oblige the Kikapous and Maskoutins also to restore the people of our allies who may be prisoners among them. I told them that they must next year bring some Slaves to replace among our allies Those of their number who have been killed during the war; and that they must employ every means to prevent The Kikapou and the Mascoutin from continuing to make war against the Ilinois, as I have sent Sieur Deliette among the Ilinois expressly to put an end to this war, and to prevent them from making any movement against the Kikapou and the Maskoutin. I added also that, as they had asked me to restore to them some of their children, and as I had sent back last year one of the three whom I held as hostages, while one had died last spring, I would restore to them the one who still remained alive. I said that I was willing to let them take with them, also, some of those who were prisoners, and that I would not hinder those who remained here from returning next year; but that I desired that they should come to get them with some Chiefs of the Kikapous and Maskoutins, and particularly the one named (page 379) la Robe blanche [White robe], whom I summoned by a Collar which I gave them. After this Okinaouassent, brother of Vechala and of the hostage whom I sent back last year, spoke thus: "My Father, The Kikapou and the Maskoutin have not dared to set out on the road hither for fear of being harshly received. But when they learn how You have received the Outagami" (that is the Renard), "they will make no difficulty about coming to submit to a Father who is so good. Onechala himself, who has not been willing to keep his promise, fearing to expose himself to a harsh reception in coming here, will Doubtless be eager to come when we tell him what goodness you have shown us, and what good treatment You have given us."
As it was Extremely important to dismiss the Renards well satisfied, I believed that out of the seventeen prisoners of their nation whom they had asked for- among whom were the wife and son of one of the chiefs, the others being their relatives- I ought to grant them twelve. For this I had all the more reason, as the Miami Chief who was at Montreal had given back to them a Young woman, who was His slave, and as our Savages from the Sault had restored a man to them. I considered, in granting this favor to them, that it might induce Onechala, their principal chief, to come down next year to get the Renards who still remain in the Colony; and that it will stir up the chiefs of the Kikapous and the Maskoutins to come with him, in the hope of getting back the people of their nation who are slaves among the French. That favor I propose to grant, With the assent, of His Majesty, after they shall have restored to our allies the people whom they have taken From them, so as to confirm by this means a peace between all the nations of this continent with whom the French have any dealings.
[Endorsed: "Canada, No. 3. Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Oct. 30,
1718. In Council. Regarding the Savages of the upper country." "Carry
it to Monseigneur the Duc D'orleans,1 with the Map
of the Country on which are indicated the habitations of all those savages.
Discussed on Jan. 31, 1719: La Chapelle. Colonies: Monsieur de
Vaudreuil."]
_________________
1 Philippe, duc d'Orlans, who was regent during the minority of Louis XV (1715-23).-ED.
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