We do not
doubt that the sealed document you produced, contained the words of the
President, our great Father. When first informed of your appointment, we
supposed that you were coming to meet us on a very different subject.
Since the war of the Revolution, we have held various councils with our
white brothers, and in this same manner. We have made various speeches,
and entered into several treaties, and these things are well known to our
great Father; they are lodged with him. We, too, perfectly understand them
all. The same interpreters were then present as now. In consequence of
what took place during the late war, we made it known to our great Father,
through our interpreter, that we wished to have a talk. Our application
was not complied with. We sent a messenger to brighten the chain of
friendship with our great Father, but he would not meet around the council
fire, and we were disappointed. We had supposed that the commissioner he
has now sent, came forward to brighten the chain of friendship, to renew
former engagements. When we made a treaty at Canandaigua with Colonel
Pickering in 1794, we were told, and thought that it was to be permanent,
and to be lasting, between us and the United States forever. After several
treaties had been entered into under our great Father, General Washington,
large delegations from the Six Nations were invited to meet him. We went
and met him in Philadelphia. We kindled a council fire. A treaty was then
made, and General Washington then declared that it should be permanent
between the red and white brothers; that it should be spread out on the
largest and strongest rocks, that nothing could undermine or break; that
it should be exposed to the view of all.
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