The proclamations of the governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania, we have here in our hands. Brothers If, after all these precautions of our Great Chief, any hostilities should be committed north of the Ohio, they must proceed from a few disorderly people, whom no considerations of public good can restrain. But we hope and believe that none such can be found.

"Brothers: After these explanations, we hope you will possess your minds in peace, relying on the good faith of the United States that no injury is to be apprehended by you during the treaty. Brothers: We now come to the second. point: Whether we are authorized to run and establish a new boundary line between your lands and ours. Brothers: We answer explicitly that we have that authority. Where this line should run, will be the great subject of discussion at the treaty between you and us; and we sincerely hope and expect that it will then be fixed to the satisfaction of both parties. Doubtless some concessions must be made on both sides. In all disputes and quarrels both parties usually take some wrong steps; so that it is only by mutual concessions that a true reconciliation can be effected. Brothers: We wish you to understand us clearly on this head; for we mean that all our proceedings shall be made with candor. We therefore repeat, and say explicitly, that some concessions will be necessary on your part as well as on ours, in order to establish a just and permanent peace. After this great point of the boundary shall be fully considered at the treaty, we shall know what concessions and stipulations it will be proper to make, on the part of the United States; and we trust they will be such as the world will pronounce reasonable and just. Brothers: You told us you represented the nations of Indians who owned the lands north of the Ohio, and whose chiefs are assembled at the rapids of the Maumee. Brothers: It would be a satisfaction for us to be informed of the names of those nations, and of the number of chiefs of each so assembled. Brothers: We once more turn our eyes to your representation of warlike appearances in our country. To give you complete satisfaction on this point, we now assure

you that as soon as our council at this place is ended we will send a messenger on horseback to the great chief of the United States, requesting him to renew, and strongly repeat, his orders to his head warrior, not only to abstain from all hostilities against you, but to remain quietly at his post until the event of the treaty shall be known."

Much more was said by the commissioners, which may be omitted in this connection, since in the communcation of the Indians, in reply to the speech of the commissioners, the former have embodied the most important statements of the latter, with their comments on them. In reply to the inquiry of the commissioners, as to the tribes then at the rapids, Brant said: "Yesterday you expressed a wish to be informed of the names of the nations, and number of chiefs, assembled at the Maumee; but, as they were daily coming in, we can not give you exact information. You will see for yourself in a few days. When we left it the following nations were there, to wit: Five Nations, Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanoes, Munsees, Miamies, Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Nantikokies, Mingoes, Cherokees. The principal men of them were there.

The reader will remember that the treaty of Fort McIntosh, made January 21, 1785, was with the Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa, and Ottawa nations only; and St. Clair's treaty, of January 9, 1789, was with the above named and the Pottawatomies and Sac nations only. The Miami, Kickapoo, Eel River, Wea, Piankashaw, Kaskaskia, and other tribes northwest of the Ohio river, had no lot or part in either. The St. Clair, or Harmer treaty, was made about eighteen months after the adoption of the ordinance of 1787. In that ordinance the following provision is found: “The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights, and liberty they shall never be invaded or disturbed unless in just and lawful wars, authorized by Congress; but laws, founded in justice and humanity, shall, from time to time, be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them."

The talk of the United States commissioners, in reply to the speech of Brant and his associates, at the Niagara meeting, was made in July, 1793. The final reply to this talk was adopted in a general council of the confederate Indian nations, held at the foot of the rapids of the Maumee, on the 13th of August, 1793. Its importance will be perceived on the perusal of the document itself. It is as follows: "TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE UNITED STATES:

"Brothers: We have received your speech, dated the 31st of last month, and it has been interpreted to all the different nations. We have been long in sending you an answer, because of the great importance of the subject. But we now answer it fully, having given it all the consideration in our

power.

"Brothers: You tell us that after you had made peace with the king, our father, about ten years ago, it remained to make peace between the United States and the Indian nations who had taken part with the king. For this purpose commissioners were appointed, who sent messengers to all those Indian nations, inviting them to come and make peace;' and after reciting the periods at which you say treaties were held at Fort Stanwix, Fort McIntosh, and Miami, all which treaties, according to your own acknowledgment, were for the sole purpose of making peace, you then say: Brothers: The commissioners who conducted these treaties in behalf of the United States, sent the papers containing them to the general council of the States, who supposing them satisfactory to the natives treated with, proceeded to dispose of the lands thereby ceded.'

"Brothers: This is telling us plainly what we always understood to be the case, and it agrees with the declarations of those few who attended those treaties, viz: that they went to your commissioners to make peace, but through fear were obliged to sign any paper that was laid before them; and it has since appeared that deeds of cession were signed by them, instead of treaties of peace.

"Brothers: You then say, 'after some time it appears that people in your nations were dissatisfied with the treaties of Fort McIntosh and Miami; therefore, the council of the

United States appointed Governor St. Clair their commissioner, with full power, for the purpose of removing all causes of controversy, relating to trade and settling boundaries between the Indian nations in the northern department of the United States. He accordingly sent messengers inviting all the nations concerned to meet him at a council fire to be kindled at the falls of the Muskingum. While he was waiting for them some mischief happened at that place, and the fire was put out; so he kindled a council fire at Fort Harmer, where nearly six hundred Indians of different nations attended. The Six Nations then renewed and confirmed the treaty of Fort Stanwix; and the Wyandots and Delawares renewed and confirmed the treaty of Fort McIntosh; some Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawatomies, and Sacs were also parties to the treaty of Fort Harmer.' Now, brothers, these are your words, and it is necessary for us to make a short reply to them.

"Brothers: A general council of all the Indian confederacy was held, as you well know, in the fall of the year 1788, at this place; and that general council was invited by your commissioner, Governor St. Clair, to meet him for the purpose of holding a treaty, with regard to the lands mentioned by you to have been ceded by the treaties of Fort Stanwix and Fort McIntosh.

"Brothers: We are in possession of the speeches and letters which passed on that occasion, between those deputed by the confederated Indians and Governor St. Clair, the commissioner of the United States. These papers prove that your said commissioner, in the beginning of the year 1789, and after having been informed by the general council of the preceding fall, that no bargain or sale for any part of these Indian lands would be considered as valid or binding, unless agreed to by a general council, nevertheless, persisted in collecting together a few chiefs of two or three nations only, and with them held a treaty for the cession of an immense country, in which they were no more interested than as a branch of the general confederacy, and who were in no manner authorized to make any grant or concession whatever.

"Brothers: How, then, was it possible for you to expect to

enjoy peace, and quietly to hold these lands, when your commissioner was informed long before he had the treaty of Fort Harmer, that the consent of a general council was absolutely necessary to convey any part of these lands to the United States? The part of these lands which the United States now wish us to relinquish, and which you say are settled, have been sold by the United States since that time.

"Brothers: You say 'the United States wish to have confirmed all the lands ceded to them by the treaty of Fort Harmer, and also a small tract at the rapids of the Ohio, claimed by General Clark, for the use of himself and his warriors. And in consideration thereof, the United States would give such a large sum of money or goods, as was never given at any one time, for any quantity of Indian lands, since the white people first set their feet on this island. And because these lands did every year furnish you with skins and furs, with which you bought clothing and other necessaries, the United States will now furnish the like constant supplies. And, therefore, beside the great sum to be delivered at once, they will every year deliver you a large quantity of goods, as are best fitted to the wants of yourselves and your women and children.'

"Brothers: Money to us is of no value, and to most of us unknown; and as no consideration whatever can induce us to sell our lands on which we get sustenance for our women and children, we hope we may be allowed to point out a mode by which your settlers may be easily removed, and peace thereby obtained.

"Brothers: We know that these settlers are poor, or they never would have ventured to live in a country which has been in continual trouble ever since they crossed the Ohio. Divide, therefore, this large sum of money, which you have offered to us, among these people. Give to each, also, a proportion of what you say you would give to us, annually, over and above this large sum of money; and as we are persuaded, they would most readily accept of it, in lieu of the land you sold them. If you add, also, the great sums you must expend in raising and paying armies, with a view to force us to yield our country, you will certainly have more than sufficient