The Treaty of Canandaigua, 1794

Continued from last week.

Brothers

You have attended this treaty a long time the articles which we have signed we hope you fully understand now as we have shown them to you we would wish to know your opinion, whether we have made a good treaty or not, as we cannot read we are liable to be deceived, you have no doubt considered them, we want to know your minds whether there is any flaw or catch in them which may hereafter occasion uneasiness.

Brothers

If you think that peace is now established on a good foundation we wish you would come forward and sign the articles as you are a people who are desirous of promoting peace, and these writings are for that purpose, we hope you will have no objections but will come forward and put your names to them, and this would be a great satisfaction to us.

Friends replied that they believed there was no flaw or catch in the Articles and also gave satisfactory reasons why they declined signing them.

The Farmer’s brother then made the following conclusive speech:

Brothers

We are very glad to see you when we sent for you our desire was that you might sit by our sides and afford your assistance to make a good peace. Last year we invited you to come to Sandusky, you willingly rose from your seats and came forward. You know how things turned out, it was not the will of the Great Spirit that a treaty should take place; yet we thank you because you came so readily. We have many times heard the voice of Onas. It was always good to us, we have now heard it again, what you have said is good.

You have seen the writings by which we are bound, you say you are not concerned in public affairs and you do not think it best for you to sign them.

Brothers

We have no hard thoughts concerning you on account of your not putting your names on them.

The Great Spirit gave this Island to us. The white people have increased greatly, there is no difference between the red people and the whites they are all one and should be as brothers and live in peace with one another.

The address of Colonel Pickering of the preceding day was answered by Fish-Carrier, who took occasion to glance retrospectively at the relations which had existed between the Six Nations and the white men, since the landing of the latter “on this island”. When the white people first came, the Indians saw that they were men, and must have something to subsist upon. They therefore, pitied them, and them some land; and they had complained that the land had become too small for them, the Indians still pities them and from time to time gave them more. At length a great council fire was kindled at Albany, where a silver chain was made which was kept bright for many year, until the United States and the great King over the water differed. Then their brotherds in Canada talked to the Indians, and they let the chain fall out of their hands. Yet it was not their fault, but the white peoples.

But, notwithstanding their many causes of complaint, Fish-Carrier now that they had taken hold of the chain with the fifteen fires, pledged the Six Nations to hold on.

(Life of Red Jacket, Stone, p. 117)

A heavily pro-American version of the Canandaigua Council was written by Gawasowane (Arthur Parker) on the 125th anniversary of the treaty.

There were many lengthy discussions at the Great Council at Canandaigua and each party talked straight from the shoulder and from the heart. The good Quakers were with the Senecas to guide them and to protect them from frauds. Pickering did not object to them, but welcomed their help. He even allowed the notorious Jemima Wilkinson to give an exhibition of her knowledge of “unknown tongues” and to assert that she was a sort of Messiah. The Indians were more amused at her antics than edified and when she called upon them to repent they flung back at Colonel Pickering a demand that the white people repent first and they would follow suit.

There were feasting and social gatherings and many exhibitions of repartee there at Canandaigua…and there, to feed themselves, the Senecas killed 100 deer each day, and other game in proportion. Though it was November they had erected comfortable cabins and with their wives and children were as happy in their external surroundings as the knowledge of their fading national life would admit. They were still a little haughty and there still remained the lingering hope of some future conquest.

The moral effect of Harmer and St. Clair’s defeat by the western tribes had its impress. And then, at this very council came the disillusionment. A runner from the Tuscaroras came in from the fort at Niagara. He bore the news that Little Turtle and his Miami’s had suffered a stinging defeat at the hands of General Anthony Wayne.

Continued next week