The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-05-16
CLAIM OF cAueHNAwAeAs
First Appeared During Admlnistra-
ton Of Gov. Isaac Tichenor
lCntlnued from salurday's Bannerl

Continued from Saturdays Banner)
Mr. Redfeld's comprehensive re
port, denying the arguments that had
been set up in opposition to the
claim, and asserting that Indians, the
original possessors of the land, had
never alienated their title and had
never been driven out of the land but
had simply retired before the ad-
vance of a powerful race, afforded
much good material for the Indians
ana their advisers in subsequent
presentation of their claims and the
Redheld report was freely quoted
from to Justify their contention.
The legislature voted gratuity Of
$50 to the Caughnawaga chiefs at
tending the session OF 1854 and also,
impressed by the report made by Mr.
Redfield, authorized the appointment
of commissioner to examine into
the extent and value of the Indian
claims
James M. Hotchkiss who was APP
pointed such commissioner reported
that the Indians were rightful claim
ants upon Vermont for compensation
for their lands but he had trouble
in arranging terms with them.
He met at Massena, n Y, June IA,
1855, Joseph Kenataktah and Francis
Athorishan, representatives OF the
Caughnawagas and the Rev. Eleazer
Williams of the st. Regis tribe who
was afterward selected by the Indi-
ans for their interpreter Now that
it appeared probable that some pay
ment would be made by Vermont the
other scattered and feeble remnants
of the once powerful lroquois desired
to participate in the negotiations.
There had not been sufficient time to
communicate with them previous TO
the meeting, so a delay of some
weeks was granted At length the
two representatives above named APP
peared with authority from all the
chiefs that could be discovered claim
ing any relationship with the Caugh-
nawagas and any connection with the
Iroquois, authorizing Kanataktah and
Athorishan TO act for them and agree
ing to Williams as Interpreter.
The Indian is VIGOROUSLY fond Of
long winded negotiations and this
conference was lengthy one. Sew
! eral meetings had been held before
the commissioner could secure a def.
| mite demand from the Indians. The
Indian talent for conducting such ne
gotiations appears plainly in the re-
port of the meetings and an examine
ton Of the documents that passed be-
tween the chiefs and the commissions
er shows that they had the advantage
OF him so far as their natural talents
were concerned.
For instance, their first proposal
was that the state OF Vermont should
pay them a certain amount per acre
this amount TO be the average paid
by the United States or the several
states under 20 different treaties.
Commissioner Hotchkiss replied
that this could not be considered be
cause these treaties we're drawn uT
under varying conditions that they
did not state the amount of land
granted and that the terms Of pay
ment were so varied that even the
amount could not be determined with
accuracy.
In response the Indian emmissaries
stated that they had book contain
ing every acre granted and the
amounts of payment all reduced to Q
common basis, so that the average
price per acre could be found without
trouble, and put the climax 10 tn,
commissioners troubles by stating
| a. h.
state house so that he could examln,
them at any time II he cared to dc
so.
After more backing and filling tn,
Indians in response to a wrong re
\ quest from the commissioner. made 3
price OF four cents per acre for al
the land involved. or a lump sum OF
$500. He considered this amount
excessive as they had accepted some
thing like $4,000 for their rights In
New York which were more exten
siye.
Negotiations were therefore brok
en- or. the Indians stating that they
would present their claims directly
to the Vermont legislature and would
not ask any specific sum but would
be content to accept what the leglsla
ture might decide was right.
An act to pay them a certain
amount was passed by the Senate but
the House refused II n third reading
and the measure was lost, The
amount It was proposed to give then
cannot be learned as copies OF the
bills introduced are not preserved OF
that date.
This defeat was a serious blow tC
the Indians. A large delegation 81
them had been camped on the hill al
the rear OF the State House and will
them was their queen She becam,
seriously IN Immediately after thl,
defeat and placed in n specially con
structed canoe. was taken by her fol
lowers down the river to Lake Cham
plain and thence to their home neal
Montreal. where she died. That wat
the last Montpelier ever saw OF IN,
Caughnawagas In any considerable
numbers. For several years they Ia,
come here 10 press their claims an,
their camp has been place OF inter
est, while the digniiod bearing OF thi