Red Jacket, 1816, #2

Brothers: We are happy to meet you both at our council. We of the Six Nations transact all our business openly, and not under the curtain.  I have observed with what attention you have listened to me. I hope you will be willing to unite with us in bringing back our friends from beyond the water, and making us one band.  Then we shall become one great family of children, under our great father, the president.

We ask your assistance.  Let the communication with the other side of the water be opened, and then we shall be able to bring back our friends from across the water.  Our great father we hope will not forget his red children; and as he now possesses much of our finest land, we hope he will be more liberal of presents than he has been.  You must now be sensible that we are well pleased with presents. You may know this by the influence of British presents.  They have won to the British cause many brave warriors.  I hope that you will take much pains, now that we are at peace, in uniting all.

Treat us well.  We in common with you possess this soil.  We have frequently heard your voice, when it was for our interest and happiness to listen to it.  It would conduce much to our happiness to listen to the voice of the United States, and not be poisoned by the language of the red coats.  To make us happy do not crowd our seats.  When you purchase lands still leave us some to move upon.  This you will make known to our father the president, and solicit his aid in opening our passage across the water to our friends.

Brothers of the Delawares: We received a message from you a number of years since, offering us a seat of land in your country.  You said you had not forgot the favors heretofore received from the Six Nations, who took you under their care, until at length you traveled west to the country of White river.  As you say you have not forgot past favors, are you now willing to offer the Six Nations, or any part of them, a seat in your country?  This invitation has been often repeated.  We now come forward to accept the offer. We request you will designate its extent, situation and boundary.  We have applied to our father the president for leave to move into that country, and to be assured that he will confirm your grant. We find it is necessary by his answer, that when you shall make such a grant, it must be done on paper, so that such convey ance may be confirmed.  We should be unwilling to leave our present seats without a secure and permanent grant, securing a seat for us, our children, and children's children, to the remotest generation.  We request that if you are not authorized of yourselves to make such location, you will communicate our wishes to the neighboring nations, proprietors of the land, that they may make such location.

This seat we shall expect to receive not as our exclusive property, but to be held in common for the benefit, as well of such of the Six Nations who may wish to settle upon it, as of any other Indians who may choose to take their seats there with us.