1742
Colonists naturally brought with them concepts of property dominant in the Mother Country, in which individuals owned-that is, exercised complete control over-property, and where, for an exchange of value, property ownership could be sold or acquired. Indians, on the other hand, saw land as held collectively by the tribe. While they exercised rights, such as hunting, fishing, and farming, Indians did not “buy,” “sell,” or “own” land. Indians could allow others to share in land rights, and would accept gifts in return. The colonists believed that giving the Indians trinkets and other merchandise bought permanent title to the land. These two conflicting views of land and attached rights led to continual misunderstanding between settlers and Indians. The problem can be seen in this exchange between the Iroquois chief Canassateego and Lieutenant Governor George Thomas of Pennsylvania. The disagreement is even more unfortunate in light of the good relations William Penn had earlier established between his settlers and the Indians.
See W. E. Washburn, The Indian and the White Man (1964); I. Sutton, ed,, Indian Land Tenure (1975), especially the piece on “Aboriginal Occupancy and Territoriality”; and A. F. C. Wallace, “Political Organization and Land Tenure … ,” 13 Sw. J. Anthro. 301 (1957). ‘
Source: Washburn, ed. The Indian and the White Man 329 (1964).
Canassateego:
Brethren, the Governor and Council, and all present,
According to our Promise we now propose to return you an Answer to the several Things mentioned to us Yesterday, and shall beg Leave to speak to publick Affairs first, tho’ they were what you spoke to last. On this Head you Yesterday put us in Mind, first, of William Penn’s early and constant Care to cultivate Friendship with all the Indians; of the Treaty we held with one of his Sons, about ten Years ago; and of the Necessity there is at this Time of keeping the Roads between us clear and free from all Obstructions. We are all very sensible of the kind Regard that good Man William Penn had for all the Indians, and cannot but be pleased to 1ind that· his Children have the same. We well remember the Treaty you mention,’ held with his Son on his Arrival here, by which we confirmed our League of Friendship, that is to last as long as the Sun and Moon endure. In Consequence of this, we, on our. Part; shall preserve the Road free from all Incumbrances in Confirmation whereof we lay down this String of Wampum. . . . ‘ · · ·
Brethren, we received from the Proprietor Yesterday, some Goods in Consideration of our Release of the Lands on the West-side of the Susquehanah. It is true, we have the full Quantity according to Agreement; but if the Proprietor had been here himself, we think, in Regard of our Numbers and Poverty, he would have made an Addition to them. If the Goods were only to be divided amongst the Indians present, a single Person would have but a small Portion; but if you consider what Numbers are left behind, equally entitled with us to a Share, there will be extremely little. We therefore desire, if you have the Keys of the Proprietor’s Chest, you will open it, and take out a little more for us. . .
We know oμr Lands are now become more valuable. The white People think we; do not know their Value; but we are sensible that the Land is everlasting, and the few Goods we receive for it are soon worn out and gone. For the future, we will sell no Lands but when the Proprietor is in the Country; and we will know beforehand, the. Quantity of the Goods we are to receive. Besides, we are not well used with respect to the Lands still unsold by us. Your People daily settle on these Lands, and spoil our Hunting. We must insist on your removing them, as you know they have no Right to settle to the Northward of Kittochtinny-Hills. In particular, we renew our Complaints against some People who are settled at the Juniata, a Branch of the Susquehannah, and all the Banks of that River, as far as Mahaniay; and we desire they may be forthwith made to go off the Land, for they do great damage to our Cousins the Delawares. ·
· We have further to observe, with respect to .the Lands lying on the Westside of the Susquehanriah, that though the Proprietor has paid us for what his People possess, yet some Parts of that Country have been taken up by Persons, whose Place of Residence is to the South of this Province, from Whom we have never received any Consideration. This Affair was recommended to you by our Chiefs at our last Treaty; and you then, at our earnest Desire, promised to write a Letter to that· Person who has the authority over those People, and to procure us his .answer, As we have never heard from you on this Head, we want to know what you have done· in it. If you have not done any Thing, we now renew our Request, and desire you will inform the Person whose People are seated on our Lands, that that Country belongs to us, in Right of Conquest-:-we having bought it with our Blood, and taken it from our Enemies in fair War; and we expect, as Owners of that Land, to receive such a Consideration for it as the Land is worth, We desire you will press him to send a positive Answer. Let him say Yes or No. If he says Yes, we will treat with him; if No, we are able to do ourselves Justice; and we will do it, by going to take Payment ourselves.
It .is customary with us to make a Present of Skins, whenever we renew our Treaties. We are ashamed to offer our Brethren so few, but your Horses and Cows have eat the Grass our Deer used to feed on. This has made them scarce, and will, we hope, plead in Excuse for our not bringing .a larger Quantity; If we could have spared more, we would have given more, but we are really poor; and desire you’ll not consider the Quantity, but few as they are, accept them in Testimony of our Regard, . . . . .
Lieutenant Governor Thomas:
Brethren,
We thank you for the ·many Declarations of Respect you have given us, in this solemn Renewal of our Treaties. We receive, and shall keep your String and ·Belts of wampum, as Pledges of your Sincerity, and desire those we gave you may be carefully preserved, as Testimonies of’ ours.
·In answer to what you say ‘about the Proprietaries: they are all absent, and have taken the Keys of their Chest with them; so that we cannot, on their Behalf, enlarge the Quantity of Goods. Were they here, they might perhaps be more generous; but we cannot be liberal for them. The Government will, however, take your Request into Consideration; and in Regard to your Poverty, may perhaps ·make you a Present, . . . .
The Number· of Guns, as well as every Thing else, answers exactly with the Particulars specified in your Deed of Conveyance, which is more than was agreed to be given you~ ·It was your own Sentiments, that the Lands on the West-side of the Susquehannah, were not so valuable as those on the East; and an Abatement was to be made, proportionable to the Difference in Value. But the Proprietor overlooked this, and ordered .the full Quantity to be delivered, which you will look on as a Favour.
It is very true, that Lands are of late becoming more valuable; but what raises· their Value? Is it not entirely owing to the Industry and Labour used by the white People, in their Cultivation and Improvement? Had not they come amongst you, these Lands would have been of no Use to you, any further than to maintain you. And is there not, now you have sold so much enough left for all the Purposes of Living? What you say of the Goods that they are soon worn out, is applicable to every Thing; but you know very well that they cost a great deal of Money; and the Value of Land is no more than It is worth in Money.’