The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1878-12-14
BLUE SASH AND TREATY TREE.

The exhibition. for sale, in London
shop window, OF the "blue silk sash.
with tasselo, !" said to have been worn by
William Penn when the treaty Of peace
was made with the Indians, at Shacka-
maxon. in 1852, has called up the long.
buried discussion over the fact that no
treaty at the phoe and time is on record
among Penns3lvania's archives. and the
charge is made that the whole scene Of
Vests painting and the Treaty Tree is
fanoiful. The Offering of the "blue silk
sash, with tassels," for sale in London,
caused the following item to appear in
the Philadelphia Public Ledger;
In l7Ol there is record Of o treaty of
amity with stranger Indians" Conesto.
gas and Susquehannas and the tribes OF
ne Potomac. Although Pocahontas and
William Tell have been thrown over
board by the same commentators, to
tighten the chip OF history and make
room on board for nineteenth century
passengers. who may, in their turn. be-
come fables and sun.myths to their I'M
grateful descendants. there is still some
thing to be said for the old chronology
OF the Treaty Tree, with oil the weight
that letter gives from the Lord Pro-
prietary himself. In letter dated
Phila., 10th Of Sixth month. 1888, Will
liam Penn thus writes to the Free Society
OF Traders in very full account OF his
new purchase, and of its Indian occu-
pants: ut 10 admirable to consider how
powerful the kings are, and yet how they
move by the breath of their people. l
have had occasion to be in council with
them upon treaties for land, and to ad-
Just the terms of trade. The order 10
thus: The King sits in the middle OF
half moon, and hath his council. the old
and wise on each hand. Behind him, or
at little distance. sit the young fry in
the same figure. Having consulted and
resolved their business, the King ordered
one Of them to speak to me; he stood up,
came to me. and, in the name OF his
King, saluted me, then took me by the
hand, and told me he was ordered by bis
King to speak to me. and that what he
should say was the Kings mind.
have never seen more natural sSgacity.
considering them without the help II
was going TO say the spoil) Ct tradition;
and he will deserve the name of wise who
outwits them in any treaty about thing
they understand. When the purchase
was agreed great promises passed be-
tween us OF kindnesa and good neighbor-
hood, and that the English and Indians
must live In love 90 long as the sun gave
light; which done. another made q
speech 10 the Indians In the name Of all
the Shackamakers or Kingsi arst, to tell
them what was done; next, to charge
and command them to love the Christ
iaps, and particularly to live In peace
with mo and the people under my gov
eminent; that many Governors had been
In the river, but that no Governor had
como himself to live and stay here be.
fore, and having now suoh one, he had
treated them we'll. they should never do
him or his any wrong, ct every sentence
Of which they shouted. and said Amen,
In their way" This Was written in 1858
Nov. considering the fact shat in 1858
William Penn was writing to William
Popple somewhat humorous denial Of
the report that he himself had died 81
Jesuit In America" in 1852, it is not sur
prising that two hundred years shoul(
give occasion to commentators to pu
the presumptional wearing Of the blu
sash and the meeting under the treat.
elm tree SCORE OF years later than th
traditional date. and after this letter o
1858, which refers to an actual council
and agreement somewhere, and at tim
anteoedent TO it's date.