Seneca Nation of Indians

Red Jacket near Cleveland, July 9th, 1816

Brother: We understand that you have been appointed by our great father the president to make these communications to us.  We thank the Great Spirit for this pleasant day given us for our reply, and we beg you to listen.

Red Jacket near Cleveland, 1816

Brothers: We have been preserved in health, strength and spirit, to meet you again at our council fire. The Great Spirit has protected us, and we are thankful again to meet you.  You will recollect, brothers, that we listened with attention to what the com missioner said, and to the words of our great father through his mouth.  As this council was called by the voice of our great father, you barely told us of his care for his red children.

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.

Red Jacket, 1816

Brothers of the Council — Listen!  You must recollect that a few years since some delegates from your elder brethren, the Six Nations, came to you.  That council fire was kindled at Browns-town, by the mutual consent of the Six Nations; but we then requested that all important business should thereafter be transacted at this place.  A few years after this, another delegation came to this council fire from your elder brethren, the Six Nations.  We then thought appearances looked squally.

Cornplanter, Philadelphia, 1790

You then told us that we were in your hand, and that by closing it you could crush us to nothing, and you demanded from us a a great country as the price of that peace you had offered us — as if our want of strength had destroyed our rights. Our chiefs had felt your power, and were unable to contend against you, and they therefore gave up that country. There were but few chiefs present, and they were compelled to give it up; and it is not the Six Nations only that reproach us for having given up that country.

Tanacharison (Half King) to French

George Washington was sent as an ambassador to meet with the French in current day Pennsylvania in 1753.  When he and his men were about 140 miles south of the French location, Washington met with Tanacharison to ask about his recent trip to meet the French.  Tanacharison (Half King) recited the following speech he delivered to the French commander:

Logans Lament, 1754

"I appeal to any white to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, "Logan is the friend of white men."

Red Jacket at Buffalo Creek, 1805

"Friend and brother; it was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day.  He orders all things, and he has given us a fine day for our council.  He has taken his garment from before the sun, and caused it to shine with brightnes upon us; our eyes are opened, that we see clearly; our ears are unstopped, that we have been able to hear distinctly the words that you have spoken; for all these favors we thank the Great Spirit, and him only.
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