Among these were a number of chiefs, of whom
in a conspicuous place, was Red Jacket, apparently in deep thought, with a
pile of little small sticks, two or three inches long, before him.
"I inquired of a gentleman who was conversant with Indian proceedings,
what Red Jacket was doing? He replied that he was studying his speech, and
advised us to retire, as he perceived it disturbed him. About this time
the commissioners, Governor Ogden, his friends, and the two celebrated
Indian interpreters, Parrish and Jones, and a large concourse of people,
gentlemen and ladies, began to assemble under another cluster of trees,
where benches had been prepared in two parallel lines, with a wide space
between, and seats across the upper end, for the commissioners. The long
seats were occupied on the right by Messrs. Ogden, their officers, and
other gentlemen and ladies; the left by Red Jacket, a large number of
chiefs, and other Indians.
"There was order, dignity, and perfect silence. The contest soon
commenced. Governor Ogden, a dignified, fine looking man, rose and opened
the case. Mr. Parrish, a man of large stature, stood up at the same time,
and interpreted it to the Indians, sentence by sentence." [Footnote:
Author's Scrap Book.]
The object was to buy the Indian title, as they had already brought the
pre-emptive right. Governor Ogden told them it was the wish of their great
Father, the President of the United States, that they should sell these
lands, and go down to a reservation on the Allegany river, where they
could live in peace, and have a good foothold forever; and used various
arguments in favor of such a course.
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