Desiring to make the munificence of the State as gratifying to the family
and friends of the good old Chief as possible, I appointed a time for
the erection and dedication of the monument, and was fortunate enough
to procure the services of Col. JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN, of Philadelphia,
to prepare an address suitable to the occasion, commemorative of the
character and services of the distinguished Chief.
These ceremonies took place on the 18th of October last, in presence of
the family and descendants of CORNPLANTER, about eighty in number, and
a large assembly of native Indians, remnants of the once formidable Six
Nations, from the Allegheny, Cattaraugus and Tonnawanda reservations in
the State of New York, and also a large concourse of the pale faces from
the surrounding country. Everything went off most satisfactorily, and to
the high gratification of our aboriginal friends. The exercises of the
day were conducted according to the following programme:
1. Invocatory prayer by the Chaplain.
2. Introductory address by your representative, as master of ceremonies.
3. Dedicatory address, by Hon. JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN.
4. Address on the personal character of CORNPLANTER, and the lessons it
taught, by Rev. W. A. RANKIN.
5. Responsive addresses, in the Seneca language, by JOHN LUKE, of the
Cattaraugus reservation, a Councillor of the Seneca Nations, and by the
Rev. STEPHEN S. SMITH, a native of the Tonnawanda reservation, Gennessee
county, N. Y., also a Seneca chief of the Six Nations.
These two latter addresses, as also those made by the Rev. Mr. RANKIN and
myself, were interpreted, as delivered, by HARRISON HALFTOWN and another
educated native of the Seneca nation. Before the dedicatory services
commenced, the assembly was addressed in the Seneca language, by SOLOMON
O'BAIL, a grandson of CORNPLANTER, and a chief of his tribe, dressed in
the full regalia of aboriginal royalty.
Three of CORNPLANTER'S children still survive, and were present to
enjoy the occasion; and, by them, I was solemnly charged to communicate
to your honorable bodies, their sincere and reiterated thanks for the
distinguished honor thus rendered to their beloved ancestor. I have
seldom seen deeper gratitude in human hearts than swelled the bosoms of
these now venerable children, and those of many grand-children of the
hero, whose virtues and memory it has delighted you to honor.
Of the excellent music, by a native brass band, that enlivened the
occasion, the pic-nic that followed, and the exciting war dance, that
closed the exercises of the day, I will not stop to speak.
There remains yet in my hands, unexpended, about $45 of the appropriation
made. The lateness of the season, the paucity of funds and the
pressure of other engagements, combined to prevent the erection of
such an enclosure around the monument as which Legislature evidently
contemplated, and as would be suitable for its permanent protection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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