A History of the Treaty of Big Tree: And an Account of the Celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Making of the Treaty, Held at Geneseo, N. Y., September the Fifteenth, Eighteen Hundred Ninety-seven |
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Common terms and phrases
acres alias Allan annuity Applause appointed attend behalf Big Tree treaty Buffalo Creek Canandaigua ceded Centennial Chapin Charles Williamson chiefs and warriors Colonel Wadsworth commissioners commonwealth of Massachusetts congress Cornplanter council fire County Historical Society county of Ontario deed delivered dollars due west east Farmer's Brother father Genesee river Greig and Henry Handsome Lake heirs and assigns Horatio Jones Indian title John Greig Joseph Ellicott Lake Erie Little Beard Little Billy Livingston County Historical Mary Jemison Morris's Nathaniel Gorham nation of Indians Niagara Oil Spring Oil Spring reservation Oliver Phelps parties Pennsylvania Phelps and Gorham Phelps and Nathaniel Philadelphia pieces or parcels pre-emption present President Red Jacket reservation Robert Morris sachems sell Seneca Nation Six Nations sold speech square miles Thomas Morris tion tract of land treaty of Big United village Washington Western New York whereof whole Young King
Popular passages
Page 87 - Tuscarora nation of Indians, held at Buffalo Creek, in the county of Erie in the State of New York, on the fifteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, when the within instrument was duly executed in my presence, by the sachems, chiefs, and warriors of the said nation, being fairly and properly understood and transacted by all the parties of Indians concerned and declared to be done to their full satisfaction* I do therefore certify and approve the...
Page 53 - Putting myself out of the question, the sole motive is the public good ; and this motive I confess comes home to my feelings. The contest we are engaged in appeared to me, in the first instance, just and necessary ; therefore I took an active part in it. As it became dangerous, I thought it the more glorious, and was stimulated to the greatest exertions in my power, when the affairs of America were at the worst.
Page 38 - York, being part of a tract of land, the right of pre-emption whereof was ceded by the State of New York to the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by deed of cession executed at Hartford, on the sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, being all such part thereof as is not included in the Indian purchase made by Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham...
Page 54 - I must again repeat that I have the fullest sense of my own inability. I shall, however, strive to find such assistance as will enable me, in some measure, to answer the reasonable expectations of Congress, to whom I can promise for myself nothing more than honest industry. You will readily perceive that much time must be consumed in procuring proper officers ; fixing on men for assistants whose abilities and integrity may be depended on ; in laying plans for obtaining money with the greatest ease...
Page 51 - Perfectly sensible of the honor done me by this strong mark of confidence from the sovereign authority of the United States, I feel myself bound to make the acknowledgments due, by pursuing a conduct formed to answer the expectations of Congress, and promote the public welfare. Were my abilities equal to my desire of serving America, I should have given an immediate determination after this appointment was made ; but conscious of my own deficiencies, time for consideration was absolutely necessary....
Page 53 - Finance is incompatible with commercial concerns and connexions, the point is settled ; for I cannot on any consideration consent to violate engagements or depart from those principles of honor which it is my pride to be governed by. If, on the contrary, Congress have elected me to this office under the expectation that my mercantile connexions and engagements were to continue, an express declaration of their sentiments should appear on the minutes, that no doubt may arise or reflections be cast...
Page 55 - Another consideration of great magnitude, to which I must also pray the attention of Congress, is the present public debts. I am sure no gentleman can hope that these should be immediately paid out of an empty treasury. If I am to receive and consider the applications on that subject, if I am to be made responsible, that alone will, I fear, be full employment for the life of one man, and some other must be chosen to attend to the present and provide for the future. But this is not all ; if from that,...
Page 55 - Time is necessary to each ; and therefore the removal of those evils we labour under can be expected from time only. To hold out a different idea would deceive the people, and consequently injure the public service. I am sure it is unnecessary to add, before I close this letter, that I confidently expect my measures will meet with the fullest support from congress, so long as they are honestly directed to the general welfare. In this conviction, and with every sentiment of respectful attention, I...
Page 53 - I have the honor of a seat, has demanded and continues to demand my constant attendance. So far as the station of Superintendent of Finance, or, indeed, any other public station or office, applies to myself, I should, without the least hesitation, have declined an acceptance ; for after upwards of twenty years...
Page 75 - York, hath, ... in or to all the lands and territories within the following limits and bounds, that is to say: Beginning in the north boundary line of the State of Pennsylvania, in the parallel of forty-two degrees of north latitude, at a point distant eighty-two miles west from the northeast corner of the State of Pennsylvania, on...