Senghnagenrat, one of the Oneida chiefs, in behalf of the Six Nations, speaker:
“Brothers of ALBANY: We beg you will acquaint us when your body is complete.
“Brothers of ALBANY: The day is now come that we have arrived in consequence of your invitation. When you saw four of the Oneida Nation, you said you was glad to see them at your council chamber. We are now here in consequence thereof. You told us you would be glad to see us again, that you rejoiced to see them, and that you would open the ashes and rekindle the old council fire at Albany. We are glad to see that some sparks of that old council fire yet remain. We rejoice even to excess to find it so.
“Brothers, attend: I have one addition to make to what passed between four of the Oneida Nation and you, when last at your council chamber. When you found, from our conference with your brothers at the German Flats, that our sentiments of publick affairs so much coincided with
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yours, you further told us that all the Governments of America, on the sea-coasts, were anxious to know whether we were disposed to peace; and that you, the Twelve United Colonies, were resolved to support your civil constitution and liberties, and you rejoiced to find that we all so firmly resolved to maintain peace.
“Brothers of ALBANY: You further observed, in the intercourse you had with four of the Oneida Nation, that you greatly rejoiced at the conference you had at the German Flats. You further said that you were surprised about a letter Guy Johnson had received from the chief warriour, General Gage, about removing the ministers from among us; that you rejoiced that the Indians were instructed in the Christian religion, and that the ministers that were among us might continue.
“Brothers of ALBANY, attend: We have something further yet to relate of your speech. You desired, at the intercourse you had with the four messengers, that we should acquaint the Six Nations with your speech, and that thereafter three or four of each nation should come down. You further said that you would have been glad to have attended at the council fire at Guy Johnson’s, to hear what he should say to the Indians, and see if his sentiments and yours should coincide; but you then soon heard that he had removed from there to Fort Stanwix, from there to Oswego, that you despaired of hearing any thing from him, and therefore desired us that we would let you know what was done at that fire.
“Brothers, attend: You made another proposal at the intercourse you had with four of our nation, which was this: that you had heard that there was to be a council of the whole of our nation at the German Flats. You desired our people that they would let you know what passed between us and them. Our Delegates, in our names, then told you that it would be more agreeable that two or more of your members should attend, and hear themselves what passed there. This, brethren, is the substance of what passed between you and the four of the Oneida Nation.
“Brothers of ALBANY, attend: We are now, upon this day, going through with what passed between some of your members and us, when the conference ended at the Germam Flats. You said, brothers, let us both endeavour to keep peace, that we may continue to enjoy its blessings. We desire not that you should trouble yourselves in the least with these disputes between us and those over the great waters; only exert yourselves in maintaining the covenant that was made between your and our forefathers at this place of our council fire. Your Delegates told us at the German Flats, that although you should be drove back from the sea-coasts by your enemies, yet you would not ask our aid.
“Brothers of ALBANY, further attend: Two things more you delivered at the German Flats; the first was this: that we, the Oneida Nation, should give a kind ear to your speech. You there produced two ancient belts of wampum, one of twenty rows, which was the old covenant between the whole, Oneida Nation and Queder Gorah; another that was given by the Six Nations, by the the Indian called Kayinguaraghtoh, of the Seneca Nation, You also said that these belts should again be produced, for the inspection of the whole Six Nations, at the intended council fire to be rekindled at Albany.
“Brothers of ALBANY: We have now finished the principal subjects that passed between you and us; the Oneida Nation, and we, all of us, the Six Nations, are here now present to hear what has passed, and to prevent any false reports that may be propagated by news-carriers.
“Brothers of ALBANY, now attend: You, also, the Commissioners, who are here present, lend your ears, and hear our voices:
“You, our brothers of Albany, have desired the sentiments of the Six Nations. We, the Six Nations, and our allies, which extend to Detroit, Ohio, and Caughnawaga, upon our first hearing the bad news that circulated along the eastern shore of this island, assembled and resolved upon a union amongst us Indians, and to maintain peace; and we rejoice that nothing more has been asked of us. There is nothing different in our minds than what we have now told. We shan’t take notice of any hostile propositions that may be made to us, for we bear an equal proportion of love to you, and the others over the great waters, in the
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present dispute; and we shall remain at peace and smoke our pipes, and the Six Nations will always keep the path open; and we call God to witness to the truth of what we now say, and it proceeds from our hearts. — (A belt of eight rows.)
“Brothers of ALBANY now attend, and incline your ears to what we have now to say:
“We, the Six Nations, have heard the voice of a bird called Tskleleli, a news-carrier, that came among us. It has told us that the path at the western communication, by Fort Stanwix, would be shut up either by the one party or the other. Brothers, let it not be, and let the communication be open, for passing and repassing, and let not our country be stained with blood; and be always compassionate to the old women, and let the young ones grow up and enjoy the blessings of peace. Brothers, let not that passage be shut up by you, but confine yourselves to the dispute to the eastward, for this western communication lies near our council fire, and the consequences might be fatal. Indeed, brothers, your language and Colonel Guy Johnson’s coincides, in some things, with one another, and the party that applies to us to shut up that passage we will look upon as deceivers and transgressors; and we despise a double dealer from our hearts, and whom we look upon God Almighty will hereafter punish as such. And we hope that when you give your answer, you will speak from the integrity of your hearts, as we now have done. — (A belt of fifteen rows.)
“Brothers of ALBANY, attend: The Five Nations just now said they would open their minds in full to you; they would tell you every thing they brought with them. This belt respects the letter Guy Johnson received from Gen. Gage, concerning the removal of the ministers from among us. Our father, the minister who stands here, we love; we love him exceedingly. Perhaps, in a little time, he may be wrested from us, carried off like a prisoner. Our hearts tremble for him; we tremble greatly. He has been threatened, and should he be taken, it might overthrow the whole Five Nations. Our brothers, the white people, would perhaps say that the Oneida Nation had delivered up their minister, and that the Six Nations did not regard their missionaries. But truly we regard our father the minister, and missionaries; therefore we propose to your consideration whether it be not wise that the missionaries retire for a little while, particularly our father the minister, Mr. Kirkland, should reside a short space with his family, as we hope this quarrel cannot subsist long, because you are brothers, both of one nation and blood, and we hope it will soon be settled; and when a reconciliation takes place, let our missionaries immediately return to us. This, however, we refer to your consideration, and leave at your pleasure. Now, brethren, we have unburdened our minds and opened our bosoms, and delivered what we had to say.”