NYYM_scrapbook_121

Remonstrance of the Chiefs in regard to their removal to the West From the Six Nations. 10 mo 2. 1837 To the President of the United States We the undersigned Sachems, Chiefs, and Chief Warriors of the Six Nations assembled in Council at the Council house on Buffalo Creek Reservation in the State of New York, Present the following Communication for the purpose of saying to our Father the President, That I.J.Schermerhorn United States Commissioner, having been appointed to remove the New York Indians to the West; In July last he passed through all the settle- ments of the Six Nations and took with him some of our men of his own selection, for the purpose of forming An exploring party to the West. This was his own delegation and not ours. We consider this an unlawful and improper exercise of authority which strikes at the very fundamental principles of our laws and treaties. We cannot therefore recognize persons so selected as regular appointed delegates. Father--We will now explain to you our minds on the subject. We have not any desire of again exploring the Western Country. The repetition can confer on us no benefit inasmuch as we have still the same de- termination to remain upon the premises which we now hold in the State of New York Father--We have concluded a treaty of peace more than forty years ago, which we still adhere to for our guide. In that treaty we have mutually stipulated that all our national transactions should be performed in open Council. This stipulation was agreed to by the parties mutually. In that Treaty all secret meetings to transact national