298 Peter Penet among the Oneida Indians. 



Art. 7. If any mine or mines, shall be discovered in 

 any part of the Oneida territories, by any inhabitants set- 

 tling their lands, he or they shall immediately acquaint 

 the Chief of said nation, and he shall take notice of the 

 same. If it proves of value, the Oneida nation shall 

 receive the tenth part of the same. If any salt spring or 

 springs are discovered, or shall be discovered, they must 

 be reserved for the benefit of the nation in general. 



Art. 8. The Grand Council of Oneida shall have power 

 to inform the several families of our nation at Niagara, or 

 elsewhere scattered abroad, and, if when we call on them 

 to return to their native place, they shall return with us, 

 they shall be partakers of all our happiness and benefits, 

 and we will be as one in everything to the promoting of 

 our welfare. • But, if after one year and one day, they do 

 not mind to return, after being timely warned, they shall 

 not afterwards be benefitted by any of our incomes that 

 shall hereafter arise, by virtue of our lands and tenements; 

 but their rights must be forever confiscated to the use and 

 benefit of us now present. 



Art. 9. The Grand Council shall have power, (so soon 

 as the lands are rented out, and the rents drawn in), to 

 pay all debts which are due to every one in the nation. 

 Every one, however, to be paid out of his or her own 

 share of land so rented out. 



Art. 10. The Grand Council shall have power to call 

 on the state, to have an act or law passed, that in case any 

 person or persons settling on our lands, shall not comply 

 with their articles of agreement, we may appeal to the 

 first justice of the peace that may be found in any county 

 next to our territory, for rectifying our grievances, be 

 they of what nation soever. The same justice and law 

 shall also take place in this Grand Council, against any 

 man, woman or child, who shall hurt, wrong or defraud 

 any person or persons, inhabiting any of our said hired 

 lands. 



Art. 11. The National or Grand Council, shall consist 



