"Certainly not," said Mr. Morris,--"you had a right to refuse to sell your
lands;" but he added, the treatment he had received from his people at the
close of the council, especially in allowing a drunken warrior to menace
and insult him; while they were yelling in approbation of his conduct, was
uncalled for, and ungenerous. He had not deserved this from them. They had
for years had food at his house in Canandaigua, and liquor as much as was
for their good, and whenever any of them had been at Philadelphia, his
father had treated them with equal kindness and hospitality.
Farmer's Brother acknowledged that all this was true, and regretted that
the council fire had been extinguished so hastily, or they might have had
a meeting, to smooth over these difficulties.
"Yes,"--said Mr. Morris, "and here is another ground of complaint. Red
Jacket assumed the right of covering up the fire. This did not belong to
him. For according to your custom, he only who kindles the council fire,
has a right to cover it up."
"That is so,"--said Farmer's Brother.
"Then as I did not cover it up the council fire is still burning."
After thinking a moment he replied,--"_Yes_:"--and appeared to be
pleased that it was so, and proposed to have the council convene again.
Mr. Morris signified his pleasure to delay a few days, to give him time to
look over his accounts, pay for the provisions that had been consumed,
collect his cattle that had not been slaughtered, and arrange other
matters preparatory to his leaving the treaty ground.
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