The Treaty Held with the Indians of the Six Nations at Philadelphia, in July 1742: To which is Prefix'd an Account of the first Confederacy of the Six Nations, their present Tributaries, Dependents, and Allies
History
The Treaty Held with the Indians of the Six Nations at Philadelphia, in July 1742: To which is Prefix'd an Account of the first Confederacy of the Six Nations, their present Tributaries, Dependents, and Allies
Indians of North America -- Treaties; Iroquois Indians -- Treaties
'You have often heard of the Care that your great and good Friend and
Brother _William Penn_ took at all Times to cultivate a perfect good
Harmony with all the _Indians_: Of this your Nations have ever been
fully sensible; but more especially a Number of your Chiefs, about ten
Years ago, when, on the Arrival of a Son of your said great Friend
_William Penn_, large and valuable Presents were exchanged by us with
you; a new Road was made and clear'd; a new Fire kindled; and the Chain
of Friendship made stronger, so as to last while the Sun and Moon
endure.
'And now we cannot but congratulate ourselves that your Coming should
happen at a Time when we are in daily Expectation of a War being
declared between the King of _England_, and the _French_ King, well
knowing, that should such a War happen, it must very sensibly affect
you, considering your Situation in the Neighbourhood of _Canada_. Your
Coming at this Juncture is particularly fortunate, since it gives us an
Opportunity of mentioning several Things that may be necessary to be
settled between People so strictly and closely united as we are.--An
Union not to be express'd by any thing less than the affectionate
Regards which Children of the same Parents bear for each other, as
conceiving ourselves to be one Flesh and one People.
'The utmost Care therefore ought mutually to be taken by us on both
Sides, that the Road between us be kept perfectly clear and open, and no
Lets, nor the least Obstruction be suffered to lie in the Way; or if any
should by Accident be found, that may hinder our free Intercourse and
Correspondence, it must forthwith be removed.
_To inforce this, We lay down a String of_ Wampum.
'In next Place, We, on our Part, shall inlarge our Fire that burns
between us. We shall provide more Fewel to increase it and make it burn
brighter and clearer, and give a stronger and more lasting Light and
Warmth.
_In Evidence of our sincere Intentions, We lay down this Belt
of_ Wampum.
'In the last Place, considering the Obligations we are mutually under by
our several Treaties, _That we should hear with our Ears for you, and
you hear with your Ears for us_. We shall at all Times very willingly
give you the earliest and best Intelligence of any Designs that may be
form'd to your Disadvantage.--And if you discover any Preparations that
can hurt us, we desire you will immediately dispatch some suitable
Person in whom we can place a Confidence, to give us a proper
Information.'
_To inforce this Request, as well as to brighten the Chain, we
lay down this other Belt of_ Wampum.
On the Governor's concluding the Speech, the solemn Cry, by way of
Approbation, was repeated by the _Indians_, as many Times as there were
Nations present; and then _Canassateego_ rose up and spoke.
'_BRETHREN_, [Transcriber's Note: original has "BRRTHREN"]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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