.ODkx.NTU5OTI

make peace, but thro' fear were obliged to sign any papers that was laid before them; & it has since appeared, that deeds of cession were signed by them instead of Treaties of peace. - "Brothers - You then say, "After some time it appeared that a number of people in your Nations, were dissatisfied with the treaties of Fort McIntosh & Miami: therefore the Council of the U. S. appointed Gov. St. Clair, their Commissioner, with full powers, for the purpose of removing all causes of controversy relating to trade & settling boundaries, between the Indian Nations in the Northern Departm: of the U. S. He accordingly sent messages inviting all the Nations concerned, to meet him at a Coucil fire he kindled at the Falls of Muskingum. While he was waiting for them some mischief happened at that place & the fire was put out. So he kindled a Council fire at Fort Marmar, where near Six hundred Indians of different Nations attended. The Six Nations then renewed & confirmed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix; & the Wyandots & Delawares renewed & confirmed the Treat of Fort McIntosh. Some Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies & Sacs were also parties to the treaty of Fort Harmar.- "Now Brothers, these are your words; & it is necessary for us to make a short reply to them.- "Brothers - A General Council of all the Indian Confederacy was held, as you well know in the fall of the year 1788 at this place: And that General Council was invited by your Commission Gov. St. Clair, to meet him for the purpose of holding a treaty with regard to the lands mentioned by you to have been ceded by the treaties of Fort Stanwix & Fort McIntosh.- "Brothers - We are in possession of the Speeches & letters that passed on that occasion between those deputed by us, the confederated Indians & Gov. St. Clair, the Commissioner of the U. S. These papers prove that your said Commissioner, in the beginning of the year 1789, after having been informed by the General Council of the preceeding fall, that no bargain or Sale of any part of these Indian lands, would be considered as valid or binding, unless agreed to by a General Council, nevertheless, persisted in collecting together a few Chiefs of two or three nations only, & with them held a Treaty for the Cession of an immense Country, in which they were no more interested, than as a branch of the General Confederacy, & who were in no manner authorized to make any grant or cession whatever.- "Brothers - How then was it possible for you to expect to enjoy peace & quietly to hold these lands, when your Commissioner was informed long before he held the treaty of Fort Harmer, that the consent of a General Council was absolutely necessary to convey any part of these lands to the U. S.? The part of these lands which the U. S. now wish us to relinquish, & which you say you are settled, have been sold by the U. S. since that time.- "Brothers - You say, "The U. S. wish to have confirmed all the lands ceded to them by the Treaty of Fort Harmer, & also a small tract at the Rapids of the Ohio, claimed by General Clark, for the use of himself & his Warriors: And in consideration thereof, the U. S. would give such a large sume in money or goos as was never