THOMAR] FRENCH POLICY TOWARD THE INDIANS Ml 



at S'. Mary of the Sault. On the i"' of June, of the sam.' year, fourti-en tril.es by 

 their ambassadors repaired tliitber, and in their presence and that of a number of 

 Frenchmen, Siour de S'. Liisson erected there a post to which he affixed the King's 

 arms, and declared to all those people that he had convoked them in order to receive 

 them' into the King's protection, and in his name to take possession of all their lands, 

 so that henceforth ours and theirs should be but one; which all those tribes very 

 readily accented. The commission of said Subdelegate contained these very words, 

 viz' That he was sent to take possession of the countries lying between the East 

 and West, from Montreal to the .South Sea, as much and as far as was in his power. 

 This entry into possession was made with all those formalities, as is to be seen in 

 the Relation of 1671, and more expressly in the record of the entry into possession, 

 drawn up by the said Subdelegate. 



Althouah this is used by Ueuouville in tliis place, as an evidence of 

 the title of France as against that of England, yet it shows the French 

 custom of taking passession of new countries. Although not differing 

 materially from the method adopted in similar cases by other govern- 

 ments, yet it would seem from their dealings with the Indians that the 

 French considered this ceremony, where the Indians were persuaded to 

 join iu it, as absolutely passing to the Crown their possessory right. 



The commission to Marquis de Tracy (November 19, 1003), bestowing 

 on him the government of Canada, contains the following passage,' 

 which indicates reliance on the power of arms rather than in peaceful 

 measures : 



These an.l other considerations Us moving, We have constituted, ordained and 

 established, and by these Presents signed by our hands, do constitute, ordain and 

 establish the said Sieur de Prouville Tracy Our Lieutenant General in the entire 

 extent of territory under Our obedience situate in South and North America, the 

 continent and islands, rivers, ports, harbors and coasts discovered and to bo discov- 

 eied by Our subjects, for, and in the absence of, said Count D'Estrades, Viceroy, to 

 have command over all the (iovernors. Lieutenant Generals by Us established, in all 

 the said Islands, Continent of Canada, Acadie, Newfoundland, the Antilles etc. like- 

 wise, over all the OIHcers and Sovereign Councils established in all the said Islands 

 and over the French Vessels which will sail to the said Country, whether of War to Us 

 belonging, or of Merchants, to tender a new oath of fidelity as well to the Governors 

 and Sovereign Councils as to the three orders of the said Islands; enjoining said 

 Governors, OtHcers and Sovereign Councils and others to recognize the said Sieur 

 de Prouville Tracy and to obey him in all that he shall order them; to assemble 

 the commonalty when necessary: cause them to take up arms; to take cognizance 

 of, settle and arrange all difterences which have arisen or may arise in the said 

 Country, either between Seigniors and their Superiors, or between private inhabit- 

 ants; to besiege and capture places and castles according to the necessity of the 

 case; to cause pieces of artillery to be dispatched and discharged agaiust them; to 

 establish garrisons where the importance of the place shall demand them; to con- 

 clude peace or truces according to eircumstauees either with other Nations of Europe 

 established in saul Country, or with the barbarians; to invade either the continent 

 or the Islands for the purpose of seizing New Countries or establishing New Colo- 

 nies and for this purpose to give battle and make use of other means ho shall deeni 

 proper lor such undertaking; to command the people of said Country as well as all 

 our other Subjects, Ecclesiastics, Nobles, Military and others of what condition 

 soever there residing; to cause our boundaries and our name to be extended .as far 

 as he can, with full power to establish our authority there, to subdue, subject and 



' Hew York Colonial Documents, vol. IX, p. 18. 



