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dissatisfied; some malicious person fanned the flames of discontent and actually impressed on the minds of some of our weaker Brethren a belief that, we, in conjunction with Captain Brant our principal Chief and Warrior had embezzled their money. Brothers: Conscious that in all our transactions we had adhered to the strictest Rules of Justice, we for a long time disregarded these unfounded aspersions, when we found however that our very silence was construed into guilt and the evil spread wider and wider, we convened a Council of all the Sachems at the Mohawk village in June 1804, at which the Commandant of Fort George and the Deputy Superintendent General assisted. At this Council all the Acts of our Chiefs were approved and to be buried in oblivion. Nothing however was sufficient to satisfy the malcontents, like the Jacobins of France they panted for nothing less than a total change in the whole order of things, an abolition of all the customs and institutions of their ancestors and to accomplish this, it was necessary in some way or other to sacrifice our much esteemed Brother and Principal Chief Captain Brant and the other Chiefs who adhered to him and his Council. Defeated however in this malicious scheme in a Council of the nations who are the only competent Judges of their Chiefs who know and acknowledge his great merit and usefulness to the Nation who had often witnessed and admired his valor in the field and his wisdom in the council, they repaired to Buffalo Creek within the limits of the United States and held a Council with the Senecas and others. What was transacted at that strange self created Council it is impossible for us to say, but as the leaders do not tell us of anything we conclude they found their powers too weak and inadequate to the task they had undertaken, and yet discouraged, they repaired with all speed to the King's Council Fire at Niagara to regulate our affairs and make Chiefs for our Nations. Articles of impeachment were there drawn up without citing us to appear at their tribunal, and without even the form and ceremony of a treat, we were deposed and five new Chiefs with the title of Warrior Chiefs appointed in our stead. Permit us to ask what right the Senecas have to intermeddle in our affairs, let us ask these august legislators from whence they deserves the Right of putting down and raising up Chiefs at their pleasure. Is it from our customs or the customs of our ancestors. Can any Chief or Sachem be made except by the Chief and Sachems of his Nation and at their Council fire and is not merit the only ladder by which they attain to that honor and distinction and can these Warrior Chiefs claim any for themselves? Brothers: We earnestly hope that the Superintendent of Indian Affairs will discourage and frown upon these unjust and unwarrantable proceedings, we hope he will endeavor to promote a spirit of peace and harmony amongst His Majesty's Indian allies and that he will not calmly look on, and suffer those who have often shed their blood, and who will always be ready to do it for the service of the King, to become the sport of a few designing men. We hope the eyes of our people may be opened and that they may see the evil consequences of discord and disunion and to distinguish their real from pretended friends; such proceedings as we have now stated appear like the act of a mob, who imagine that numbers authorize them to trample upon honor and Justice; if any of our proceedings are wrong or that we have acted against the interest of the King our Father we earnestly request that we may be informed of it, that if in our power it may be rectified. Brothers: As the proceedings in the late Council at Niagara appear to be leveled chiefly against Captain Brant, permit me in a few words to state some of his services. By his going to England he was highly instrumental in obtaining for us the lands and also a remuneration for our losses during the war which was paid us in money and goods at Black Rock; how often has he been to Quebec to the Westward and to the United States upon our Service, and have we ever contributed one shilling to bear his expenses, and shall we after he is grown old in the public service be led away by designing men; No, we cannot be so ungrateful, we hope the time is not far distant when the eyes of our Brethren may be open and that we may yet live in that unity that has always been recommended by our Ancestors and by our Brethren the British. We therefore Brothers confirm the Rank that Captain Brant has heretofore held amongst us and to which we will adhere as long as we live. Present at this meeting the Principal Chiefs of the Mohawks, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Oghgwagos (sic) or Oneidas and all the Delawares.