CORNPLANTER "very well knew," says Mr. STONE, in his life of RED JACKET,
that by assenting to the large cessions of territory exacted by the
treaty, he was jeopardizing his popularity with his people. But if others
had not, he had the sagacity to perceive, that although he and his
people had served the crown of Great Britain with all fidelity, they had
nevertheless been abandoned to their fate by their more powerful ally,
and the alternative was presented to them of giving up as much of their
territory as the United States demanded, or of yielding the whole of
it. His course, and it was also the course of wisdom, was prescribed by
the necessity of the case, and by the energy and ability with which he
conducted the negotiation, he yet retained for his people an ample and
beautiful territory. He was the most prominent Indian Chief in the treaty
of Fort Harmer, in 1789.
By this treaty other grants of land were made. The cession of the
Presque Isle lands, is dated January 9, 1789, in which the signing
Chiefs acknowledge the right of soil and jurisdiction over that tract of
country, ceded by New York and Massachusetts, on the margin of Lake Erie,
including Presque Isle, and the bays and harbors above the margin of Lake
Erie. This territory was afterwards, namely, on the 13th of April, 1791,
purchased from the United States, by the State of Pennsylvania, for the
consideration of $151,640 25, paid in Continental certificates of various
descriptions.
CORNPLANTER was present as a prominent Chief, at the treaty held with
the Indians, in Marietta, Ohio, in the year 1789. On this occasion, an
elegant entertainment was provided The utmost satisfaction appeared to
prevail among all the parties to the treaty. Good wine was served after
the dinner, and CORNPLANTER being called on for a toast, took up a glass
and said: "I thank the Great Spirit for this opportunity of smoking the
pipe of friendship and love. May we plant our own vines, be the fathers
of our own children, and maintain them."
The services of CORNPLANTER on this, and other occasions, were highly
appreciated by the Ohio Land Company. This company was formed in 1786,
by officers of the army of the Revolution. At the close of the war of
1783, the officers and soldiers were paid in Loan Office certificates,
worth, in specie, about 2_s._ 6_d._ in the £. On the 16th June, 1783,
a large number of them, with the approval of WASHINGTON, memorialized
Congress for lands to settle on north-west of the Ohio river. The action
of the Government in this matter does not very clearly appear, although
it seems that the officers of their Treasury recognized the validity of
an arrangement to receive loan certificates in payment for the land. In
1786, the Ohio company was organized, and by their agents contracted
with the Government for 1,500,000 acres of land, in the North-Western
territory, for $1,000,000, in Loan Office certificates, reduced to specie
value.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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