The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-15
From the albany Argus.
ELOQUENCE OF RED JACKET

we were present at Circuit Court held at
Buffalo, IN the county of Erie, on the 18th inst.
where an Indian chief of the Seneca nation.
called Soo-non-guize, or Tommy JENNY, was
arraigned TOR the murder of a Squaw of that
nation, within the territory reserved by the
indians, and over which they claim exclusive
jurisdiction and sovereignty. The novelty of
the case created an unusual degree of excite
ment, and the utmost soliCitude was evinced
Ior the tate OF the prisoners, not only by his red
orethren, but among the white people assem-
bled at the trial.-Judge Yates, who presided
at the circuit, directed that convenient part
OF the court room should be allotted to the In
dlans, and the principal warriors and sachems
OF the nation, who were called as witnesses
on the occasion.
1t appeared upon the inquest of the coroner.
that the deceased had been accused of witch
craft before the assembly of chiefs, and that
she was condemned to die for that offence
and the prisoner in confessing the murder al
leSed IN eXtenuation, that she was by their
usaSes an outlaw-that he acted as minister
OF justice, in compliance with their custom
from time lmmemorial, sanctifed to them by
the traditions OF their ancestors, and in re-
venge of the death of various individuals of
his tribe who had persisted by the sorceries of
the defunct.
The ridicule which this doctrine excited
among those to whom it was promulgated. was
warmly resented by the chiefs and warriors
and the famous Red Jacket, upon being told
of the absurdity of belief in witchcraft. indig-
nantly exclaimed" What do YOU denounce
us as fools and bigots, because we still contin-
lie to believe that which you yourselves sed-
ulously inculcated two centuries ago? Your
dlvines have Numbered this doctrine from the
pulpit-your judges have pronounced itfrom
the bench-your courts of justice have sane
toned 1t with the formalities of law-and YOU
would now punish our unfortunate brother for
adherence to the superstitions of his fathers
Go to Salem Look at the records of your
government, and you will find hundreds ex-
ecuted for the very crime which has called
forth the sentence of condemnation upon this
woman, and drawn down the arm of ven
geance upon her. What have our brothers
done more than the rulers of your people have
done and what crime has this man commit
ted by executing, in summary way, the laws
OF his country and the injunctons of his
God ?"*
Exceptions were taken TO the jurisdiction
OF the Court, on the ground that the Seneca
nation OF Indians were an independent nation,
and claimed by treaty the exercise of jursdic-
ton and sovereignty in the punishment of
delinquents of their own nation, for offences
committed within theirreservadons, upon their
own people; and various witnesses were called
to prove the frequent exercise of this right by
the assembly of chiefs, in the punishment of
criminals, or in directing atonement to the rel.
atives of the party destroyed 1.-THE decision
was against the jurisdiction of the Court, but
not final.
There is much reason to doubt whether
this highly wrought speech was uttered by
= Red Jacket" 1t lacks the peculiarities of In
dian eloquence. ISM.
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