The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-29
'HAVE THEIR OWN
INDIAN NATIONS FORMED
THE STRONG BODY
Various Tribes Are Given Duties
And Stations In The
Organization

respondence or The Associated Press
The League of Nations covenant
ratified by various European powers,
and the center OF the political whirl-
pool of discussion in the United
States, In many respects Is not UNI
like the League Of Indian Nations,
which figured prominently Id the his
tory of the establishment of the thir-
teen colonies, local historians point
out.
The time of the origin Of the Indian
league Is not definitely known to
historians. and the history Of its con.
ception and organization is handed
down through Indian, lore and tradt-
tionary records. The early mission
aries to America tell of the existence
of league of Indians, known among
them as the League of the lroquois.
according to available histories.
The missionaries relate +N"+ the
league was a banding together OF
i've Indian nations, later six, to re-
move danger OF perpetual warfare
among the various nations. Their pur-.
pose was to knit the whole race OF
Indians together under such system
of relationship that by its natural ex-
pansion an Indian empire would be
developed SO as to enable them to
control surrounding nations. In
this way, the Indians hoped to secure
a lasting peace.
The Indian league originally was
made up of five Nations. the Mohawk,
Onondaga, Seneca, Oneida and Cay
uga nations, but later the Tuscaror
nation requested admission to the
league and was formally accepted.
Start OF League
The project of the league original
ed with the Onondagas, among whom II
was first conceived to be used as a
means of more adequately resisting
the pressure of contiguous nations.
Tradition holds that the Iroquois chiefs
assembled on the northern shore of
the Onondaga Lake to agree upon
terms and principles of the compact, by
(which their future dealings would be
linked.
Although nothing definite is known
of the time, of origin of the league
some incidents connected with the
first intercourse with the whites in
dictate that the league had subsisted
about century and half prior to the
era Of the Dutch discovery.
When the league was Instituted,
tradition holds that fifty sachems. or
representatives Of the i've nations,
were appointed to act, and when unit
ed formed the council of the league.
Ac "OE0
uneQlally between the nations of the
league, but without giving thereby any
nation q preponderance Of political
power.
Subsequent Scholarships in the In
dian league became hereditary, hand
ing down alike the names and powers.
The sachems, although given similar
authority as that invested in the re-
personalities to the present league
OF nations, had a more extended pow
er in the matters OF government OF the
league Of Indians and were authorized
to pass on matters pertaining to the
welfare OF an individual nation.
The Onondaga Nation being situated
IN a central position geographically
were made keepers of the council
brand and the Wampum with which
the structure and principles of their
league or government and their laws
and treaties were recorded. q.
Powers or Body
The councils of the league were
usually held at Onondaga at stated
periods OF the year, usually autumn.
but II an eIigency arose, a special
would not necessarily be confined to
Qnondaga. 1t could be appointed in
the territory of either of the nations.
The league had power to declare
war. make peace send and receive en-
passies, enter into treaties of alli-
enoe, regulate the affairs of subjugat-
% nations, receive new members, in :
20 the league, extend its protection
over the feeble tribes, and to take any
action which wosld promote the well
fare and peace of tho League Of the
II a nation warred against a mem.
Der ofth league. It would be consid-
cred as an enemy to all nations, and
the warriors OF the six nations would
be sent to tho help Of their fellow
members,
The Senecas, at the institution of the
league, due to their geographical DO
sition, were made the door keepers
of theieague. apd were expotd to take
TO the battle field hrst upon the ap-
proaoh OF an enemy tribe. '...7'
Open the entry Of the Tusoaroras
en- an equal alliance with other ma
lions and did not receive saohem,
could sit an an equal In tho council
OF the sachems, The i've nations, an.
parently. were unwilling to enlarge
the framework of the league. For
purposes Of government however, the
Tuscaroraa were organised like other
nations, With eimilar tribes, relation
ships and institutions. Thy also had
D nolfnnl equality IN the councils of
Of the leasus. bat had no national do
Bignation-
Advice on AotIons
Each sachem had his corps OF ad :
yiserz, who would SIT at the council
Pres, and although they had no voice
N the mat.ar Of deciding any ques
Hon were often called upon by the
eeoherns to interpret the various cues :
lions arising, II requires unanimous
ponsent OF all sachems to declare war
Ind make tresties of alliance.
II the envoy of q foreign people de
sired to submit proposition to the
lachems OF the league and apple to
The SenecaE, keepers OF the doors, the
sachemA OF that nation would frst de-
eerInine whether the<qnestion was of
Bufhoient Importance TO authorize A
eoucil meeting. II they arrived AT
The affirmative the various members
pf the league would be notified and q
meeting OF the council held.
Dnarfnhitv wes n fundamental law
n the league and each decision reach .
ID by unanimous consent, The idea
f matorities and minorities was not
Known 70 the Indians. The founders
pf the league seeking 20 obviate "a
lar 40 possible alteration IN council
ffyfded the sadhens Of each nation
Into ciassea. usually two or three 70
hank No aanhana ~ n aa~kafu "a.