Interview between Farmer’s Brother and Thomas Morris—Mr. Morris addresses
the women—Distributes presents—Negotiations continued—Treaty concluded
with the women and warriors—Manner of payment—Inquiries about a Bank—
Their reservations—White woman—Young King’s dissent—Charge of
insincerity.
The Indians appeared to regard the breaking up of
the council at Big Tree, with great satisfaction.
Their joy was unbounded; they made the forest ring
with their wild yells, inveighing loudly and insultingly
against Mr. Morris, and the commissioners, and assuming
such menacing attitudes, as fairly to intimidate those
unaccustomed to their rude manners.
To all present but Mr. Morris, the prospect of accomplishing
any thing after this seemed utterly hopeless, and
it was with some difficulty the commissioners were
persuaded to remain, for the purpose of giving him
the opportunity of another trial. Yet his hopes
of success were so sanguine, as to induce them to
tarry a short time longer.
The day after the breaking up of the council, Farmer’s
Brother called on Mr. Morris, expressed his regret
at what had transpired, and the hope that it might
not destroy the interest he had manifested for his
nation. “Certainly not,” said Mr.
Morris,—“you had a right to refuse
to sell your lands;” but he added, the treatment
he had received from his people at the close of the
council, especially in allowing a drunken warrior to
menace and insult him; while they were yelling in
approbation of his conduct, was uncalled for, and
ungenerous. He had not deserved this from them.
They had for years had food at his house in Canandaigua,
and liquor as much as was for their good, and whenever
any of them had been at Philadelphia, his father had
treated them with equal kindness and hospitality.
Farmer’s Brother acknowledged that all this
was true, and regretted that the council fire had
been extinguished so hastily, or they might have had
a meeting, to smooth over these difficulties.
“Yes,”—said Mr. Morris, “and
here is another ground of complaint. Red Jacket
assumed the right of covering up the fire. This
did not belong to him. For according to your
custom, he only who kindles the council fire, has
a right to cover it up.”
“That is so,”—said Farmer’s
Brother.
“Then as I did not cover it up the council fire
is still burning.”
After thinking a moment he replied,—“Yes:”—and
appeared to be pleased that it was so, and proposed
to have the council convene again.
Mr. Morris signified his pleasure to delay a few days,
to give him time to look over his accounts, pay for
the provisions that had been consumed, collect his
cattle that had not been slaughtered, and arrange other
matters preparatory to his leaving the treaty ground.
He had become so well acquainted with Indian customs,
that he had resolved upon another expedient, when
his negotiations with the sachems had failed.
