BROTHERS,

You likewise put confidence in me, it is by your sole request that I am now here, and why ask or seek for a British agent, I say

spy, to be present at this Council? nor can I think of his further attendance, nor will I sit with him in Council, and whilst he remains here, no business can be done.

BROTHERS,

I will now explain to you the usage of the British Government towards the United States, you well know the United States sent Commissioners to treat with the hostile Indians-I was one of these Commissioners appointed for that purpose, and on our arrival at Niagara, Governor Simcoe was applied to for a vessel to convey us to the Westward, which was not only readily granted, but said if one was not sufficient he would let us have another, now,

BROTHERS,

Listen to the sequel & you will find out the Intrigues and Insidious conduct of the British Government and their usage towards us. During our stay at Niagara Deputies arrived from the Westward accompanied by Colonel Butler and Captain Brant at which time Governor Simcoe already told us, that we could expect no Treaty or Peace to take place that Season now,

BROTHERS,

How or by what means could that come to his knowledge? I will again tell you it is the same British and their agents, that prevented that good work of Peace from taking place, about leaving Niagara Governor Simcoe said that the vessel should be perfectly at our discretion to carry us where we thought proper, and taking me by the hand again and again and wishing every success to our Commission.

BROTHERS,

On our arrival at the mouth of the River Detroit, thinking that the distance between us and the Indians, was too great for expeditious communications, we therefore wished to go to the Miamis Bay. But judge of our Surprise and Astonishment when we were told by the Captain that he was not under our directions but those of Captain Bunbury, who taking a Paper from his Pocket said if we chose to go to Sandusky we might proceed there.

BROTHERS,

For what purpose? but to remove us to a greater distance from

the Indians, as the British well knew the Treaty was not to be held at that place.

BROTHERS,

The British and their agents are the sole causes and fomenters of these disturbances between us and the hostile Indians. Now judge yourselves, how we must have felt, from the Insults and insolence of these People, and again explaining.

BROTHERS,

You will not wonder now at the Indignation and Abhorrence that I feel at seeing in the Bosom of our Council their Agents and Spies I have alluded to.

BROTHERS,

I will tell you when I was at Niagara, I was shown a letter by Governor Simcoe's Secretary from Lord Dorchester, forbidding the Interference of the British across the Line (of which I have a copy) and what must you now think of the Insolence of the British towards us, when I have to inform you that only a few days ago, he Governor Simcoe sent two of his young officers to the Big Sodus, where Captain Williamson was making improvements on Land which he had bought, to order him to desist, as he was then encroaching on the British Rights, and by the same Right brothers he may order all our Settlers in this Quarter from our farms. BROTHERS,

The People of the United States cannot, nor will they patiently bear all their gross Insults, and in order to redress them they have sent Mr. Jay to the British Court as Ambassador to demand back all those vessels which they have taken from us on the high seas, to supply our Friends & your Fathers the French with Provisions who are now fighting for liberty and who have cut off their King's Head being the last badge of slavery & tyranny, and have now become a free and Independant People as you are Brothers, and as we are and are now fighting entirely to destroy that Yoke of Slavery and tyranny under which they have too long groaned. But our friends we are happy to say prove not only victorious in every Quarter against those Red Coats, altho' they have other Nations to assist them in endeavouring to keep that Yoke of Tyranny around their necks, but are adding to their Territory and making conquests in other Countries; and we now perceive the British Again wish to be on a friendly footing with us, but,

BROTHERS,

I tell you untill they give up the Posts (mentioning them each particularly and in vehement manner) we cannot live friends with them for which purpose amongst other things we have sent, to the British Court, Mr. Jay, and if the Posts are given up we may live friendly with them, and if there is not a general Peace, it will be owing to the British Pride.

True it is the United States have never asked the assistance of British Mediation, nor will they ever; They despise it but your assistance we have asked, and we may ask it again, and for which already the United States return you many thanks, and we are convinced you have done every thing in your power to bring about a Peace, and the British Agents done every thing in their power to prevent its taking place, now,

BROTHERS,

I have mentioned but a few Instances of their reiterated Insolence, as it would take up too much of your time for me to tell the half of it. They have even a very few weeks ago encroached upon the limits and rights of the United States, in building a Fort at the Miamis Rapids.

BROTHERS,

As an Individual I am not proud, It is not for my high offices I hold under government. No!!! nor is it for my Riches, for I have them not! nor for my understanding, for I have but little of that, nor for my eloquence, for I possess it not. But I am proud as an honest and upright man, and as a member of a free & Independant Community.

BROTHERS,

How, now can you think I can sit Quietly in Council with one of these Agents, or Spies for I will call them by no other name (then making use of many menacing gestures in order to inflame the minds of the Indians against me) and said that I had hid from them the news of Governor Simcoe's arrival, and for what reason? because he waited for the Instructions from him, meaning Governor Simcoe, and other Insinuations of the same kind, why could not I have accompanied my friend Mr. Street who had been there already ten days? No he has not had assurance enough, but now comes in a cowardly manner.

BROTHERS,

Now again I say, how can I sit in Council with People of this stamp, no, I can never submit to it, as it is my orders to allow no British Agent or Spy to be present at the Council fire of the United States, and

BROTHERS,

Should you insist upon it, That bright chain of friendship which now exists between you and the United States must rust, and I will say that rust will destroy that chain and I will be under the necessity of covering up our Council fire, for as long, as he is here (pointing to me) we can do no business.

BROTHERS,

I know you to be men of sense, and understanding, and leave you to judge for yourselves. The White People after this left the House & the Chiefs to themselves.

In the evening the Chiefs came to my quarters, O'Bail Speaker, and expressed their sorrow, that things of so disagreeable a nature had taken place that day when they could not conceive they had done amiss in taking me by the hand & in wishing me to attend their Council; That the whole Business that had been mentioned that day, they were utter strangers to, and that they had felt for the treatment I had met with, but hoped that it would make no Impression on me, and as Pickering had so determinedly opposed my being in that Quarter, they wished for Peace sake, I should remove, but that I might depend that they would insist before leaving that place, that every transaction should be committed to writing, that I might judge of their Proceedings and that they should be sent to Governor Simcoe.

O'Bail still Speaker.

We will send a message by you to Capt Brant, that he may make his mind easy, for that we will not deviate from the agreement made with the Lake Indians last year in regard to the Boundary Line, and as soon as we have heard what Colonel Pickering has to say we will return to Buffaloe Creek, and attend our Council fire agreeable to his desire.

WM. JOHNSON,

Interpreter Ind. Dept. Upper Canada.

[Q 71-1, p 113]

LT. GOV. J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER.

Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant Governor Simcoe to the Right Honble Lord Dorchester dated Navy Hall October 24th 1794. "I inclose to Your Lordship my reply to my reply to the Indian the Indian Speech; which had it been seasonable I should have published.

I had not received the General proceeds, properly arranged from Colonel McKee when I sailed, on my receipt of them they shall be duly transmitted to Your Lordship, the speech was to require positive assistance from the British and Six Nations, and to say they were ready to accompany us on an immediate attack on the Forts." My reply followed and it was understood the Council was ended. However the next day, Brant passing over that part of the address meant for himself, spoke in behalf of all the Nations, desiring of me to communicate their wishes to your Lordship and to request to know from you what assistance could be given them."

Endorsed: B.

In Lord Dorchester's No. 15 to the Duke of Portland, of the 1st Jany 1795.

[Q 71-1, p 109 ]

SPEECH OF COL. PICKERING AT COUNCIL AT KONONDAIGUA.

In a Council at Konondaigua Saturday October 25th 1794. Present

Col. Pickering Commissr. of the United States, Four gentlemen of the Society of Quakers, who had come from Philadelphia to attend this Treaty at the request of the Chiefs at Buffaloe Creek, other Citizens of the United States, and the Chiefs and others of the Six Nations.

Captain O'beal or the Corn Planter rose, and spoke, the following are extracts from the Corn Planter's speech.

"I wonder what is the reason, that ever since the peace the "British, and Americans, people of one colour, cannot sit side by "side with the Indians, when we concluded to attend this Treaty, we "the Sachems and Warriors requested, that the person who had the "care of us, (meaning William Johnstone the British interpreter) "should be present to see what passed and we are well, pleased to "see him here," then the Corn Planter repeated the Speeches which Mr. Johnston had brought from Captn Brant who had just returned from a Council with the Western hostile Indians.