Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-01-15


length convinced if the war should continue,
their total ruin would be nevitable-they there
fore became desirous of reconciliation and re-
sorted to stratagem to effect the downfall of the
Delawares. The mediators between the In
dian nations at war, are the women. The men
however weary of the contest hold it disgrace
ful and cowardly for a warrior with bloody
weapons in his hands to speak of peace. The
following message was therefore sent by the
Six Nations. at is not profitable that all the
nations should be at war with each other, for
this will at length be the ruin of the whole In
dian race. We have therefore considered of a
remedy for this evil One nation shall be the
r0mdn. We will place her in the midst, and
the other nations who make war, shall be the
men and live around the woman.-No one shall
touch or hurt the woman and if any one does
it we will Immediately say to him, "Why do
you beat the woman?" then all the men shall
fall on him who beat the woman The woman
shall not 60 to war but endeavour to keep peace
with all, therefore if the men that surround her,
beat each other and the war be carried on with
violence, the woman shall have the right Of ad-
dressing them 'Ye men, what are you about?
Why do ye beat each other? Consider, that
your wives and children must perish, unless We
desisi," the men shall then hear and obey the
woman" The message went on to say that
the function of the peace-maker was honorable
and dignifed-and could not be given to weak
and contemplate tribe-such would not be lis
tened to, but the Lennape would at once pos
sess influence and command respect.
The Delawares add, that not Immediately
perceiving the intention of the Six Nations they
had consented to become the woman. A great
feast was then appointed and solemn speech
made containing three capital points. FarSt,
that they declare the Delawares to be the ,OOman.
Second, that they look TO them fol the preserya-
ton of peace, and Third, by which they were
exhorted TO make the cultivation oil the earth,
their future employment and means of subsis-
tence.
Ever since this singular treaty, the Della
wares were styled Cousins by their crafty op-
ponents 1t took place at Albany in 1917, in
the fresepcs of the Dutch whom the Lennape
charge with having conspired with the Six Ma
;ions for their destruction. Having thus dis
armed the Delawares, the Six Nations assumed
over them, the rights of protection and COM
mand. But still dreading their strength they
contrived to involve them in a war with the
| Cherokees, and treacherously led them into an
ambush of their foes, and then deserted them.
| The Deawares at length when too late, per-
ceived the aim of their pretended friends, and
being still superior in numbers, resolved TO re-
sumo their arms, and crush them. The Euro
peans, however, were now making their settle
ments in their country in every direction, and
gave the discounted tribe, full employment.
On the contrary the Six Nations assert that
they conquered the Delawares by force Of arms
and forced them to adopt the defenceless state
of woman, to avoid total ruin, and though it
be said they are unable TO give the details OF
this conquest, it is more reasonable to suppose
il true, than that brave, numerous and warlike
nation should have voluntarily suffered them
selves to be disarned and enslaved by shall
low artiice or that discovering the fraud prac-
,ised upon them, they should without resistance
have submitted 20 it, Be this however as il
may, The advantage henceforward was on the
side Of the Six Nations-they claimed domin-
ion over all the lands occupied by the Delawares
and in many instances their claims were dis
tinclly knowledged-their parties occasion
ally took possession of the Lennape country
and wandered over it, at all times al their plea
sure.
About 1893, the Shawnees, who lived in
Florida, and had carried on long wars with the
Seminole tribe, were reduced to very small
number, moved to Pennsylvania, and at their
solicitation, were kindly received by the Della
wares-they obtained permission to live upon
their lands, and were called NephewS. Their
settlements were on the Ohio, the Susquehan-
ma and the .Delaware-the principal of which
was in this neighborhood in Smithfeld town
ship-an island in the river Delaware belong
ing to George Bush and others being still called
Shawnee Island. All writers unite in the opin-
! on that they were the most turbulent, perfidi-
ous, and cruel of all the Indian tribes, and in
our frequent wars it is certain, they were the
first to take up, and the last to lay down then
arms.
No correc, estimate can be formed OF the
number Of Indians inhabiting the territory COM
posing the present State of Pennsylvania at the
time when first settled by the whites but it is
supposed they amounted to 100000 that is prob
ably much too great
1t was the earnest desire of William Penn
to extinguish every kind of title and claim TO
The lands necessary for the accommodation Of