COUNCILS. — SACHEMS. Ivii 



never adverse to the popular inclination. The new chief 

 was " raised up," or installed, by a formal council of the 

 sachems of the league ; and on entering upon his office, 

 he dropped his own name, and assumed that which, since 

 the formation of the league, had belonged to this especial 

 chieftainship. 



The number of these principal chiefs, or, as they have 

 been called by way of distinction, sachems, varied in the 

 several nations from eight to fourteen. The sachems 

 of the five nations, fifty in all, assembled in council, 

 formed the government of the confederacy. All met as 

 equals, but a peculiar dignity was ever attached to the 

 Atotarho of the Onondagas. 



There was a class of subordinate chiefs, hi no sense 

 hereditary, but rising to office by address, ability, or 

 valor. Yet the rank was clearly defined, and the new 

 chief installed at a formal council. This class embodied, 

 as might be supposed, the best talent of the nation, and 

 the most prominent warriors and orators of the Iroquois 

 have belonged to it. In its character and functions, how- 

 ever, it was purely civil. Like the sacliems, these chiefs 

 held their councils, and exercised an influence propor- 

 tionate to their number and abilities. 



There was another council, between which and that of 

 the subordinate chiefs the line of demarcation seems not 

 to have been very definite. The Jesuit Lafitau calls it 

 " the senate." Familiar with the Iroquois at the height 

 of their prosperity, he describes it as the central and con- 

 trolling power, so far, at least, as the separate nations 

 were concerned. In its character it was essentially popu- 

 lar, but popular in the best sense, and one which can 

 find its application only in a small community. Any man 

 took part in it whose age and experience qualified him to 

 do so. It was merely the gathered wisdom of the nation. 



