Speech of John Scanando, Oneida Chief

My warriors and my children! Hear! It is cruel, it is very cruel! A heavy burden lies on my heart, it is very sick. This is a dark day.  The clouds are black and heavy over the Oneida nation and a strong arm is heavy upon us, and our hearts groan under it.  Our fires are put out, and our beds are removed from under us.  The graves of our fathers are destroyed, and their children are driven away.  The Almighty is angry with us; for we have been very wicked: therefore his arm does not keep us.  Where are the Chiefs of the rising Sun?  White Chiefs now kindle their ancient fires! &nbp;There no Indian sleeps but those that arc sleeping in their graves.  My house will soon be like theirs; soon will a white chief here kindle this fire.  Your Scanando will soon be no more, and his village no more a village of Indians.*

The news that came last night by our men from Albany, made tins a sick day in Oneida.  All our children's hearts are sick, and our eyes rain like the black cloud that roars on the tops of the trees of the wilderness.  Long did the strong voice of Scanando cry, children, take care, be wise, be straight.  His feet was then like the deer's, and his arm like the bear's.  He can now only mourn out a few words and then be silent; and his voice will soon be heard no more in Oneida.  But certainly he will be long in the minds or his children, in white men's Scanando's name has gone far, and will not die.  He has spoke many words to make his children straight.  Long has he said, drink no strong water; for it make you mice for white men, who are cats.  Many a meal have they eaten of you.  Their mouth is a snare and their way like the fox.  Their lips are sweet, but their heart is wicked.  Yet there are good Whites and good Indians.  I love all good men; and Jesus whom I love, sees all.  His great day is coming;  He will make straight; he will say to cheating Whites and drinking Indians begone ye, begone ye, go, go, go.  Certainly my children, he will drive them away.  In that day I will rejoice.  But oh! great sorrow is in my heart that many of my children mourn.  The great Jesus has looked on all the while the whites were cheating us; and it will remain in his mind, he will make all straight again.  Long have I believed his good words; and as long as I live, I will pray to him. He is my good Savior, my blind eyes will be open.*  I shall see him.  Children, his way is a good way.  

Harken, my children!  When this news sounds in the council house toward the setting sun, and the chiefs of the Six Nations hearken and they send to the council by the great lake, near the setting sun and they cry, make bows and arrows, sharpen the tomahawk, pat the chain of friendship with the whites into the ground, warrior, kill, kill!  The great chief at the setting sun won't kill any of the Six Nations that go into his land, because they have a chain of friendship with the whites; and he says the whites have made us wicked like themselves and that we have sold them our land.  We have not sold it; we have been cheated; and my messengers shall make true words in the great council house toward the setting sun, and say, yet bury the tomahawks; Oneidas must be children of peace.

Children! Some have said your chiefs signed papers of white men that sold our fires.  Your chiefs signed no papers; sooner would they let the tomahawk lay them low.  We know one of our men was hired by white men to tell our men this, and will now tell you so, (himself.)  Papers are wicked things; take care sign none of them but such as our minister reads to us.  He is straight. You now see his tears running like ours.  Father, you are our minister, dry up your tears.  We know if your arm could it would help us.  We know wicked men speak ill of you for our sakes.  You suffer with us.  But youvare Jesus' servant and he will love you no less for loving Indians.  Children, Our two messengers will run and carry our sorrows to the great council-fire toward the setting sun. Run, my children, and tell our words.  Give health to all the chiefs assembled round the great fire.  And may Jesus the great Savior, bring you back safe.  [Two men then set off immediately for Buffalo.] P. C.