34 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



his co-operation in countemcting the designs of the lessees. 

 The general court declared the leases " null and void," but 

 Gov. Hancock, in his reply, stated that Massachusetts, on 

 account of " the embarrassed condition of the commonwealth, 

 was about to comply with the proposals of some of her 

 citizens for the purchase of the pre-emption right." 



The 1st of September was fixed as the period for the 

 treaty, and Fort Schuyler was designated as the place. Ac- 

 tive preparations for it were going on through the summer, 

 under the general supervision of John Taylor, who had the 

 zaalous co-operation of Gov. Clinton. In ail the villages 

 of the Six Nations the lessees had their agents and runners 

 or Indian traders in their interest. Even the Rev. Mr. 

 Kirkland had been either deceived or corrupted by them, 

 and had played a part inconsistent with his profession and 

 his obligations to Massachusetts. It was reported to Gov. 

 Clinton that, in preaching to the Indians, he had advised 

 them to lease to the New York and Canada companies, as 

 their territory was so wide he could not make his voice heard 

 to its full extent. At the treaty in Kanadesaga, when the 

 '' Long Lease" was procured, he had acted efficiently for 

 the lessees. To counteract these strong influences, agents 

 and runners were put in requisition by the New York com- 

 missioners, and during the summer the poor Indians had 

 but little peace. Preparations for the embassy to the lu- 

 dian country at New York and Albany were formidable 

 ones. A sloop came up from New York with Indian goods, 

 stores for the expedition, marquees and tents, specie for 

 purchase money, members of the board of commissioners 

 and their associates who resided in New York, and many 

 curious spectators, among whom were Count Monsbiers, the 

 then French minister, and his sister. The board of com- 

 missioners and their retinue started from Albany on the 

 23d of August, the goods and baggage going up the Mo- 

 hawk in bateaux, which had been built for the purpose. 



They arrived at Fort Schuyler on the 28th.. A wild 

 and romantic scene was soon presented. The veteran sol- 

 dier, George Clinton, pitched his marquee, and was as much 

 the general as if he had headed a military instead of a civil 

 expedition. Among his associates in the commission and 

 his companions were many who had been with him con- 

 spicuous in the Revolution, and were the leading men of 

 the ten young States. They were surrounded by the camp- 

 fires of the numerous representatives of the Six Nations, 

 amounting to thousands, who had been attracted to the 

 spot, some from the interest they felt in the negotiations, 

 but far the larger portion from the hopes and promises of 

 feasts and carousals, Indian traders from all their localities 

 in New York and Canada, with their showy goods and trin- 

 kets and their " fire-water," were upon the ground ready to 

 dispose of either when the Indians should be paid their 

 money, and equally ready to espouse the cause of the les- 

 sees. Some of the prominent lessees from Albany, Hud- 

 son, and Canada had preceded the Governor, and were in 

 the crowd, secretly and insidiously endeavoring to thwart 

 the object of the council. Irritated by all he had heard of 

 the machinations of the lessees, and learning that one of 

 their principals, John Livingston, of Livingston Manor, 

 was present, with the concurrence of his associates. Gov- 

 ernor Clinton " took the responsibility," as did Gen. Jack- 



son at New Orleans, and ordered him in writing to '' leave 

 in three . hours" and retire to the distance of forty miles 

 from Fort Schuyler. 



" After this. Gov. Clinton organized a species of court, or 

 inquest, and summoning Indians, Indian traders, and run- 

 ners in the interest of both the State and the lessees, took 

 affidavits of all that had transpired in procuring the long 

 lease. It exposed a connected scheme of bribery, threats, 

 intimidation, and deception practiced upon the Indians. 

 Finding that the Senecas were holding back from the 

 treaty, and that many of the head men of the Cayugas and 

 Onondagas were absent, and learning that there was a 

 counter-gathering at Kanadesaga, messengers were sent 

 there who found Dr. Benton surrounded by Indians and 

 his agents, dealing out liquor and goods, and delivering 

 speeches, in which he assured the Indians that if they went 

 to Fort Schuyler the Governor of New York would either 

 cheat them out of their lands, or failing in that, would fall 

 upon them with an armed force. Many of the Indians were 

 undeceived and finally induced to go to Fort Schuyler, 

 when they had recovered from the state of beastly intoxi- 

 cation they had been kept in by Dr. Benton and other 

 agents of the lessees. Such had been the excesses into 

 which they had been betrayed, to keep them away from the 

 treaty, that many of them, when becoming sober, were sick 

 and unable to reach Fort Schuyler ; and a Cayuga chief, 

 Spruce Carrier, died on the road. When they were en- 

 camped at Scawyance, twelve miles east of Seneca Lake, on 

 the eastern trail, Debartzch, a French trader at Cashong, 

 in the interest of the lessees, went there and by intimida- 

 tions, and the use of rum and promises of presents, in- 

 duced them to turn back. It was not until the 8th of 

 September that the diff'erent nations were so far represented 

 as to warrant proceeding to the business of the council. 

 Gov. Clinton addressed the Onondagas, informing them 

 minutely of the positions in which the Six Nations stood 

 in reference to their lands ; that they were theirs to dispose 

 of when they pleased, but that to protect them from frauds, 

 the State had reserved to itself the right to purchase when- 

 ever they were disposed to sell. He told them the acts of 

 the lessees were the acts of " disobedient children" of the 

 State, and that they were a " cheat," at the same time in- 

 forming them that, as commissioners of the State, he and 

 his associates were there prepared to purchase. He cau- 

 tioned them also to keep sober during the council. Black 

 Cap, in behalf of the Onondagas, replied, assuring the Gov- 

 ernor that the Onondagas disapproved of the proceedings 

 with the lessees, had made up their minds to sell to the 

 State, but wanted a little further time to talk among them- 

 selves. On the 12th of September the treaty was con- 

 cluded, and the deed of cession of the lands of the Onon- 

 dagas, some reservations excepted, was executed. The con- 

 sideration was one thousand dollars in hand and an annuity 

 of five hundred dollars forever. After the treaty was con- 

 cluded, additional provisions were distributed, presents of 

 goods made, and congratulatory speeches interchanged. 

 " As the business on which we had met," said the Gov- 

 ernor, " is now happily accomplished, we shall cover up the 

 council-fire at this time and take a drink, and devote the 

 remainder of the day to decent mirth." 



