But they said they would not take advantage of that, and were willing to pay us for it after the manner of their Ancestors. ![]() They told us they must have the whole: That it was already ceded to them by the great King at the time of making peace with you, and was their own. On the next day we let them know, that we were unwilling to sell all the Lands within their State, and proposed to let them have a part of it which we pointed to them in their map. They then left us to consider the bargain ’till the next day. On the day on which we finished the treaty atįort Stanwix, commissioners from Pensylvania, told our chiefs, that they had come there to purchase from us, all the Lands belonging to us within the lines of their State, and they told us that their line would strike the river Susquehanna below Tioga branch. Hear now we entreat you, what has since happened, concerning that Land. Your commissioners when they drew the line which seperated the land then given up to you, from that which you agreed should remain to be ours did, most solemly promise, that we should be secured in the peaceable possession of the lands which we inhabited, East, & North, of that line. But your anger against us must by this time be cooled, and altho’ our Strength has not encreased nor your power become less we ask you to consider calmly were the terms dictated to us reasonable and just? What they agreed to has bound our nation. Our Chiefs had felt your power & were unable to contend against you and they therefore gave up that Country. You then told us we were in your hand & that by closing it you could crush us to nothing and you demanded of us a great Country as the price of that peace you had offered us as if our want of strength had destroyed our rights. When we saw we were deceived and heard the invitation which you gave us to draw near to the fire you had kindled and talk with you concerning peace we made haste towards it. We were deceived but your people in teaching us to confide in that King, had helped to deceve us and wnow appeale to your hearts. We hearkened to them and were deceived until your army approached our towns. The men who claimed this promise said that you were children and had no Guns that when they had shaken you, you would submit. In obeying him we did no more than you yourselves had lead us to promise. What the Senecca Nation promise they faithfully perform and when you refused obedience to that King he ordered us to assist his beloved men in making you sober. What they said went to the bottom of our hearts: We accepted the invitation and promised to obey him. They told us he resided beyond the great waters where the sun first rises: That he was a King whose power no people could resist, and that his goodness was bright as that sun. ![]() They called us brothers and invited us to his protection. That assembled at them told us you were all brothers, the children of one great Father who regarded also the red people as his children. When you kindled your thirteen fires seperately, the wise men We asked each other what we had done to deserve such severe chastisement. 3 Every one said your hearts were yet swelled with resentment against us for what had happened during the war: but that one day you would reconsider it with more kindness. ![]() When our chiefs returned from the treaty of fort Stanwix, and laid before our Council what had been done there our Nation was surprized to hear, how great a Country you had compelled them to give up, to you, without paying us any thing for it. We mean to open our hearts before you, and we earnestly desire, that you will let us clearly understand, what you resolve to do. Do this and so long 2 as the Land shall remain that beloved name shall live in the heart of every Senecca. When you gave us peace we called you father, because you promised to secure us in the possession of our Land. 1 Our Councillors and warriors are men, and can not be afraid but their hearts are grieved with the fears of our women & children, and desire, that it may be buried so deep, as to be heard no more. When your army entered the Country of the Six Nations, we called you the Town-destroyer and to this day, when that name is heard, our women look behind them and turn pale, and our children cling close to the neck of their mothers. ![]() For we are about to speak of things which are to us very great. It may be very small in your ears, & we therefore entreat you to hearken with attention. The voice of the Senecca Nation speaks to you the great Councillor, in whose heart, the wise men of the thirteen fires, have placed their wisdom. The Speech of the Corn-planter, Half-town and the Great-Tree chiefs of the Senecca Nation. To the great Councillor of the thirteen fires.
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