^'^ *'^M^^^. ^- . -^o ^--r ;>^ V -^.^ :m/>^^ %','' O > ,N f -- r . . ^^-V' '^ .'Vu^i ■ ** -^^.4 o, ---\''fc^" A ...» ,-h' ^^ .^.^.v^^. .-^'^ O <* .(•,^ -J ^oV" -^^0^ .f %>, *o„o' ^^ O > V ;. .S'^'" ^^^SK^ >. .v^'" /'••■ **V1'. :vr?^v. • ^. • o ", o ' ^'^ ^- -•n.o^' -v-siin^-. %/ ■•>^;-. V,.^ .v^S'. -^.,,/ .^^ .^ 0^ V '^:^'* ,#'^ ^o, ^^r--' ,0^ ^^^ '-r^^-' .^^ o. "^^ yi¥'.' /\ -.^K'" **'^-^^ . #► * o » ^ 0,> V <^ '> O 0-r ^-i- -v <^^ - ' . ^ ^' ;>V/h*'; -^ .c;^ •^^''??^'. >^ > .>^:K;- %^ ^ /V ^•^ .s^"^... A LONG-LOST SPEECH OF RED JACKET FOUND IN A RARE BOOK ONLY TWO COPIES OF WHICH ARE KNOWN TO EXIST AND HEREWITH REPRODUCED IN FULL BY JOHN W. SANBORN, A. M. MEMBER OF THE SCOTTSVILLE. N. Y. LITERARY SOCIETY Kj^ FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK 1912 AN exceedingly rare and valuable Book relat- ing to the Senfxa Indians, which was re- cently catalogued in "Americana" by the Anderson Auction Company, is described in their Catalogue as follows: "SENECA INDIANS. A Narrative of a mission- ary tour through the western settlements of the State of New York and into the southwestern parts of the province of upper Canada; performed by Lemuel Co- vell of Pittstown in company with Elder Obed War- ren of Salem, in the fall of 1803. With an Appen- dix containing several speeches to and from the Indi- ans. 16mo. Troy, N. Y.. 1804 * Excessively Rare. A copy is in the libra- ry of the American Antiquarian Society at Worces- ter; this may be the only other copy. Not .noted by Field, not in the Brinley collection, no record of any sale by auction, no copy in State Library, or in the Library of Conjiress, or in the Ayer collection, or in the New York Historical Society, or in the John Carter Brown Library, or the Lames collection. Various letters certifying to the rarity of this item are laid in. Fhe Appendix contains the speech delivered by Red jacket, in council with the principal sa- chems of the Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga Nations, to the Rev. L'kanah Holmes, missionary to the North-western Indians. 1 he council was held tode- cide the matter of building a house of worship and the education of the children in the Seneca village. Red Jacket spoke in favor of building the house. Also contains the talk of LIder Holmes to the sa- chems, chiefs, warriors, and others of the Tuscarora Nation. The speech of Red Jacket was interpreted by Johnson and Smith, Indian interpreters to DA- VID Thompson, Justice of •^he Peace, County of Genesee, and JOHN W. BR'vWNSON, Lieutenant of the Lleventh Regiment United States Infantry, who, over their signatures, vouch for the correctness of the translation, in a staten^ent dated 'BufFaloe Creek, 28th September, 1803.' " I T is a well known fact that Red Jacket, al- most all his life, cherished a deep animosity "*- toward clergymen. For the past thirty-hve years, covering the peri- od of my personal acquaintance with the New York Indians, there has been floating around at frequent intervals, a legend to the effect that a certain missionary, about one hundred years ago, so won the confidence of Red Jacket that when it was proposed to build a house of worship among the Senecas, Red Jacket actually made a speech in favor of the movement; but no one seemed to know anything definite about the speech. For thirty years I endeavored to find some trace of this speech, v.ith no success, and I came to the conclusion that, if ever such a speech was made, it was ne\'er recorded. In January, 1/12, it was my pleasure to be the guest, for a day, of Admiral Franklin Hanford, U. S. Navy, ( retired), at his home at Scottsville, New York. While there an interesting clue to the long-sought speech startled me. Admiral Hanford is a gentleman of extraordi- nary literary taste, and of wide research, and is an enthusiastic collector of choice literary gems. From him I received the Catalogue of ''Ameri- cana " to which reference has been made at the be- ginning of this brochure. And here, after thirty years' search, was a posi- tive proof of the existence of the coveted speech ! Through the kindness of Mr. C. S. Brigham, Librarian of The American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, Mass., I procured a copy of Red Jacket's remarkable speech, and also of the felici- tous reply of the Rew Klkanah Holmes. In many respects Red Jacket's speech was the most remark- able he ever delivered, and the reply evinces such wisdom and skill, and breathes such a catholic spirit that it is not to be wondered at that this mis- sio'iary acquired ^reat influence over the Senecas and Red Jacket. This reply, uttered i:i the pres- ence of the Council, was precisely the kind of speech sure to win the favor of the Indians, and \ tt it was evidently uttered not with a special design to win favor — it was more the spontaneous expres- sion of a true and friendly heart. Red Jacket's speech and the reply of Rev. Mr. Holmes are printed in full in the Appendix of this rare hook, and 1 have, herewith, reproduced both speeches. I have also made use of f's for the old fashioned s's just as they appear in the book. — John Wentworth Sanborn. "APPENDIX. The reader will recollect, that mention has been made of a council, held at the Seneca village, on the fubject of build- ing a houfe at faid village for public vv'orfhip, and for edu- cating their children; and that Elder 1 5ulmes was waiting for their anfwer, when we arrived at BufFaloe. ThiG council was occasioned by the oppofi'Jon of a part of the nation, headed by a certain influential Chief by the name of Obail''' and a brother T of his, who pretends to be a prophet, againft the building of the houfe, receiving any books from the white people for the inftruction of their children, or hearkening to the gofpel and the maxims of civilization. At this council, the principal chiefs of ihe Onondaga and Cayuga nations were prefent. The object was to effect a reconciliation be- tween the two contending parties, fo that the houfe might be built, the missionary received, and the nation inftructed in the principles of the gofpel and civilization, by genera! and amicable agreement. — Much depended on the result oi: this council. The famous orator, Red Jacket, was a ftrenuous advocate for receiving the gofpel and building the houfe; and a majority of the nation were on his fide. After coun- felling together on the fubject upwards of ten days, they came to a conclusion to have the houfe built; and mvited Mr. Holmes to meet them at their cnuncil-houfe, where Red Jacket delivered him the following fpeech, in the prcfence of the nation, and of the gentlemen hereafter named, who committed the fame to writing, as appears by the annexed certificate, bearing their fignatures. *Cornplanter. Afterwards became a warm friend of the whites. flliindsomo T.ake" railed himself "the Great Reformer." A SPEECH Delivered by Red Jacket, a Sachem of the Seneca nation of Indians, in Council with the principal Sachems of the Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga Nations, to the Rev. Elka- nah Holmes, Miflionary to the Northweftern Indians. FATHER — We thank the Great Spirit above, for the op- portunity of meeting together this day. We are forry that we have made fo many delays on our part, and for not letting the Miffionary Society know our minds before. FATHER — We are forry that you have been detained fo long on our account. We have now made up our minds, and concluded, in a general council, that hereafter there fhali be no difficulty arifing on our part. FATHER — We have heard the advice which you have repeatedly given us, and have taken it coolly into consider- ation, fo that all our people may underftand it. \ourcuftoms are different from ours: We agree to yours; but are not con- tent to forget fome vl our own cuftoms, which have been handed down to us by our forefathers. FATHER — Some years ago, the reason which we affign for our forefathers not laying hold of the gofpel, and the cuf- toms of the white people, is, that theyfupposed that they in- habited a tract of country fulficiently extenfive to render them independent of the white people; but you paffed by and looked over us, and went to vifit more weftern nations. FATHER — Our friends, the Indians, have found the evil of not attending to good advice. For inftance, here are a number of different nations — Delawares, Tuscaroras, and others — who, from a want of education and a knowledge of your cuftoms, have been deceived by the white people, and become their flaves, and have been feen at their doors, cut- ting wood and making brooms, to earn their bread; when, if they had followed the cuftoms of their forefathers, they would have known better, and would not have been there. FATHER — This is the reafon why we gradually comply with what the Miflionary Society has recommended to us, that we may not be deceived and taken advantage of, like thofe we mentioned before. We have great hopes from the information we have received from the young Chief, whom the Miffionary Society have now under their care, that he will be of great fervice to us, and be able to read our pa- pers, and explain all writings which we may receive from the Miffionary Society, or on any other bufinefs. FATHER — It has been recommended to us by your great Chief, General Washington, that we Ihould be united as friends and brothers, and learn to cultivate the foil, and at- tend to everything that would be for our comfort and hap- pinefs. FATHER — You have been fent here by a number of thofe who wear the fame cloth with yourfelf: Their good in- tention in fending you among us was to open our eyes, and to inhruct us in thofe things which will be for our good. FATHER — We are convinced that the Miffionary Soci- ety are friends to the Indians. FATHER — You have taken a great deal of pains and trouble, in coming among us to inftruct us for our good; but we make not the fmalleft doubt that there are a number of white people who have doubted v/hether we fhall ever lay hold of the gofpel, and of the good inftructions which you have come fo far to give us: But we hope to convince thofe of that opinion, that our children will lay hold of all the good which you have, from time to time, given us. We, the chiefs of the Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga na- tions, have agreed to liften to what has been recommended to us: — not that we say that all will liften; but that the great- er part have agreed to hearken to what our fathers, the Mif- fionaries, have faid to us. FATr lER — We have been a long time counfelling among ourfelves about building the houfe for worfhip, and for edu- cating our children, which you have recommended to us; and are now all agreed that it fhail be built, at the place where you have ftuck the ftake; and hope that it may be- come ufeful to our children, and make them wise. FATHER — We thank the Great Spirit above, and the Miffionary Society, for fending you among us. We have heard the good elTect it has had, by the care they have tak- en of the young chief. We return our fathers, the Miffion- ary Society, thanks for their attention and care of him, and for the benefit we hope to receive from him hereafter. FATHER — We have given up this young chief to your charge; but we cannot fay how far you are going to carry him in learning; but will leave it to our fathers, the Miffion- ary Society, to fay how far they think proper to carry him; fo that, when he returns to us, he may be capable of tranf- acting our public bufinefs equal to the white people. FATHER — Upon this fubject we will ftop; but probably fay fomething further on another fubject. FATHER — Look around the room, and you will fee a number of us with the appearance of old age upon our coun- tenances, who have no idea of leaving ofT fome of our an- cient cuftoms; but we will leave our children to judge for themfelves. FATHER — You have vifited us at our villages when we were attending to our cuftomary worfhip, about the middle of cold weather. We make it a cuftom to meet together at -« _ /' . that time, at our feveral villages, (which is a cuftom hand- ed down to us by our foretathers) to return thanks to the Great Spirit above, for the succefs we have had in hunting our game for the lupport of our families. FATHER — There is another time when we return thanks to the Great Spirit: It is when our crops become fit to ufe, it being from Him that we receive all thofe good things. Thefe cuftoms now mentioned we intend to continue in; and we hope you will have no objection to our following them. FATHER — You would not like to have us deprive you of any of your cuftoms ! How would you feel if we were to infift on your leaving off your cuftoms, and adopting ours? For this reafon, Father, we will retain the cuftoms before mentioned, and attend to yours; and pray to the Great Spir- it, that both may lead us to happinefs. FATHER — This is all we have to fay at this time — only that we wish that u copy of the Talk delivered this day may be fent to our fathers, the Miffionary Society, and that one may be left with us; fo that it it fhould be forgotten by our old men, it may be feen and underftood by our children hereafter. AN EXTEMPORANEOUS REPLY TO THE FOREGOING TALK, BY THE REV. ELKANAH HOLMES, MISSIONARY. My Children — I thank the Great Spirit above, that I am allowed to meet with the chiefs of the Senecas, Onondagas and Cayugas this day. I thank you all, my Children, that you have been fo kind as to meet me here at this time. I have had a great desire, ever fince I met you, at your fire- place, last fall, to meet you again m council. I observe that you have faid tome, that you are forry that you have occafioned any delay; but I remember, that when I firft came to vifit you, I requefted you to be deliberate, and cool; and to do nothing in a hurry. You, doubtlefs, remem- ber, that I have often told you that it was a great thing fo re- ceive and obey the gofpel of JESUS CHRIST. I have alfo often told you, that if you were haft\' in making up your minds, you would be hafty in forgetting; that, therefore. there was a neceffity of calm deliberation upon matters of such threat importance. I have been well acquainted, ever fince laft fall, that you have had a great deal of trouble and dif]icult\- in your na- tions; and I have been much concerned about it. Since that time, I have often prayed to the Great Spirit above, that He would help you to fettle your diflficulties, In a way that would make for peace. Now I thank the Great Spirit that He has heard my prayers fo far, that you have peace and good-will among you. Now, Children, if I had time, I would be glad to remark upon everything that you have fpoken to me this day; but 1 have not time at prefent: But 1 will tell you this; I am well pleafed with the moft of what you have faid. Now, one thing more, Children, I will fay to you. 1 hope, by the leave of the Great Spirit, to return home, and to con- fider of the Talk that you have delivered to me at this time; and to return with my interpreter, and give you an anfwer in writing; that you, and your children after you, may always have it in your power to know what 1 fay, in reply to what you have fpoken this day; and also to fend a copy of it to the Miffionary Society, that they may know what I have faid to you. I will, according to your requeft, fend them a copy of your Talk to me at this time, and alfo leave one with you. All that I have further to fay, is, that I pray that the Great Spirit may blefs you with peace and good-will among yourfelves, and make you happy in this world, and prepare you for happinefs after death. Bulfaloe Creek, 28th Sept. 1803. We, the subscribers, do hereby certify, that we were present when the speech of Red Jacket, a Sachem of the Seneca nation of Indians, was delivered to the Rev. Elka- nah Holmes, Missionary to the Northwestern Indians; and that the above is a correct translation of it, as interpreted to us by Messrs. Johnson and Smith, Indian interpreters: — And, Likewise, tha^t the extemporaneous reply of the Rev. Elkanah Holmes to the Sachems of the Seneca, Onondaga, and Cayuga nations, assembled in council at the time of the delivery of the aforesaid speech, is also above correctly DAVID THOMPSON, Justice of the Peace, County of Genesee. JOHN W. BROWNSON, Lieutenant of 11th Regiment U. States Infantry." Printed by John W. Sanborn, Friendship, M. ¥., Mailed for 16c. copy Kititioii limited to l'i!i Copies. •a. ■^ 1.0 -n*. .*' "'^ **>, '^^<,''- lV.>-, 0^ ;#^'' '^o >*^^ Hq. ^^-U.. *^ ^-..4^' ■^ v-^. -^s.^^ ^^I'^- c" '^ ^^'^^|^.* >^'\ Vv'^'^^V '^•^''% ^^P"/,^^' ^.;-^?r:^'-y^^ --.•-'^'^•■/ \'^^''^ ^° C, vP ■.' .^■^'""*, ^>^#v' -^•^'% \^iiT>.'° *^^"''\ ''•>^s.^.- ■^'^ .V ^. .0 ,^ %. ^ 0.0- \0'^ -. ^ "^ .V ^. c" ♦ ^>m>^^^ .^" /. .o-t. -^^0^ sO ^^ »' 'bV^ .40, ii^i,^^; ^0^^ 4 O .^•n.^ V .40. > v^ **'<-:'-v <^^ lk-„AhY BINDING y ci» '^y*.* ^ v-^' o ^^^Mi-'n^i *■ LiunAhY BINDING ^i. ST. AUGUSTINE /" [' ]^ ""-'/. »^ ."^ ^>~^^ FLA. "^0^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS llll 010 742 696 6 ^