A Long-lost Speech of Red Jacket

by John Wentworth Sanborn, Sagoyewatha and Elkanah Holmes

Layout 2

A Long-Lost Speech

OF

Red Jacket

Found   In a Rare Book
Only two copies of which
are know to exist
and herewith   Reproduced
in Full   By John W. Sanborn, A. M.
Member of the Scottsville, N. Y.,
Literary Society     Friendship, New York
1912

AN exceedingly rare and valuable Book relating to the Seneca Indians, which was recently catalogued in "Americana" by the Anderson Auction Company, is described in their Catalogue as follows:

"SENECA INDIANS. A Narrative of a missionary tour through the western settlements of the State of New York and into the southwestern parts of the province of upper Canada: performed by Lemuel Covell of Pittstown in company with Elder Obed Warren of Salem, in the fall of 1803. With an Appendix containing several speeches to and from the Indians. 16mo.

Troy, N. Y., 1804

*Excessively Rare. A copy is in the library of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, this may be the only other copy. Not noted by Field, not in the Brinley collection, no record of any sale by auction, no copy in State Library, or in the Library of Congress, or in the Ayer collection, or in the New York Historical Society, or in the John Carter Brown Library, or the Eames collection.

Various letters certifying to the rarity of this item are laid in.

The Appendix contains the speech delivered by Red Jacket, in council with the principal sachems of the Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga Nations, to the Rev. Elkanah Holmes, missionary to the North-western Indians. The council was held to decide the matter of building a house of worship and the education of the children in the Seneca village. Red Jacket spoke in favor of building the house.

Also contains the talk of Elder Holmes to the sachems, chiefs, warriors, and others of the Tuscatora Nation. The speech of Red Jacket was interpreted by Johnson and Smith, Indian interpreters to David Thompson, Justice of the Peace, County of Genesee, and John W. Brownson, Lieutenant of the Eleventh Regiment United States Infantry, who, over their signatures, vouch for the correctness of the translation, in a statement dated 'Buffaloe Creek, 28th September, 1803.'"

IT is a well known fact that Red Jacket, almost all his life, cherished a deep animosity toward clergymen.

For the past thirty-five years, covering the period of my personal acquaintance with the New York Indians, there has been floating around at frequent intervals, a legend to the effect that a certain missionary, about one hundred years ago, so won the confidence of Red Jacket that when it was proposed to build a house of worship among the Senecas, Red Jacket actually made a speech in favor of the movement; but no one seemed to know anything definite about the speech.

For thirty years I endeavored to find some trace of this speech, with no success, and I came to the conclusion that, if ever such a speech was made, it was never recorded.

In January, 1912, it was my pleasure to be the guest, for a day, of Admiral Franklin Hanford, U. S. Navy, (retired), at his home at Scottsville, New York. While there an interesting clue to the long-sought speech startled me.

Admiral Hanford is a gentleman of extraordinary literary taste, and of wide research, and is an enthusiastic collector of choice literary gems.

From him I received the Catalogue of "Americana" to which reference has been made at the beginning of this brochure.

And here, after thirty years' search, was a positive proof of the existence of the coveted speech!

Through the kindness of Mr. C. S. Brigham. Librarian of The American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, Mass., I procured a copy of Red Jacket's remarkable speech, and also of the felicitous reply of the Rev. Elkanah Holmes. In many respects Red Jacket's speech was the most remarkable he ever delivered, and the reply evinces such wisdom and skill, and breathes such a catholic spirit that it is not to be wondered at that this missionary acquired great influence over the Senecas and Red Jacket. This reply, uttered in the presence of the Council, was precisely the kind of speech sure to win the favor of the Indians, and yet it was evidently uttered not with a special design to win favor—it was more the spontaneous expression of a true and friendly heart.

Red Jacket's speech and the reply of Rev. Mr. Holmes are printed in full in the Appendix of this rare book, and book, and I have, herewith, reproduced both speeches. I have also made use of s's for the old fashioned s's just as they appear in the book.

—John Wentworth Sanborn.

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"APPENDIX.

The reader will recollect, that mention has been made of a council, held at the Seneca village, on the subject of building a house at said village for public worship, and for educating their children; and that Elder Holmes was waiting for their answer, when we arrived at Buffaloe. This council was occasioned by the opposition of a part of the nation, headed by a certain influential Chief by the name of Obail^[1] and a brother^[2] of his, who pretends to be a prophet, against the building of the house, receiving any books from the white people for the instruction of their children, or hearkening to the gospel and the maxims of civilization. At this council, the principal chiefs of the Onondaga and Cayuga nations were present. The object was to effect a reconciliation between the two contending parties, so that the house might be built, the missionary received, and the nation instructed in the principles of the gospel and civilization, by general and amicable agreement.—Much depended on the result of this council. The famous orator, Red Jacket, was a strenuous advocate for receiving the gospel and building the house: and a majority of the nation were on his side. After counselling together on the subject upwards of ten days, they came to a conclusion to have the house built: and invited Mr. Holmes to meet them at their council-house, where Red Jacket delivered him the following speech, in the presence of the nation, and of the gentlemen hereafter named, who committed the same to writing, as appears by the annexed certificate, bearing their signatures.

A SPEECH

Delivered by Red Jacket, a Sachem of the Seneca nation of Indians, in Council with the principal Sachems of the Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga Nations, to the Rev. Elkanah Holmes, Missionary to the Northwestern Indians.

FATHER—We thank the Great Spirit above, for the opportunity of meeting together this day. We are sorry that we have made so many delays on our part, and for not letting the Missionary Society know our minds before.

FATHER—We are sorry that you have been detained so long on our account. We have now made up our minds, and concluded, in a general council, that hereafter there shall be no difficulty arising on our part.

FATHER—We have heard the advice which you have repeatedly given us, and have taken it coolly into consideration, so that all our people may understand it. Your customs are different from ours: We agree to yours; but are not content to forget some of our own customs, which have been handed down to us by our forefathers.

FATHER—Some years ago, the reason which we assign for our forefathers not laying hold of the gospel, and the customs of the white people, is, that they supposed that they inhabited a tract of country sufficiently extensive to render them independent of the white people: but you passed by and looked over us, and went to visit more western nations.

FATHER—Our friends, the Indians, have found the evil of not attending to good advice. For instance, here are a number of different nations—Delawares, Tuscaroras, and others—who, from a want of education and a knowledge of your customs, have been deceived by the white people, and become their slaves, and have been seen at their doors, cutting wood and making brooms, to earn their bread; when, if they had followed the customs of their forefathers, they would have known better, and would not have been there.

FATHER—This is the reason why we gradually comply with what the Missionary Society has recommended to us. that we may not he deceived and taken advantage of, like those we mentioned before. We have great hopes from the information we have received from the young Chief, whom the Missionary Society have now under their care, that he will be of great service to us, and be able to read our pa-pers, and explain all writings which we may receive from the Missionary Society, or on any other business.

FATHER—It has been recommended to us by your great Chief, General Washington, that we should be united as friends and brothers, and learn to cultivate the soil, and at tend to everything that would be for our comfort and happiness.

FATHER—You have been sent here by a number of those who wear the same cloth with yourself: Their good intention in sending you among us was to open our eyes, and to instruct us in those things which will be for our good.

FATHER—We are convinced that the Missionary Society are friends to the Indians.

FATHER—You have taken a great deal of pains and trouble, in coming among us to instruct us for our good; but we make not the smallest doubt that there are a number of white people who have doubted whether we shall ever lay hold of the gospel, and of the good instructions which you have come so far to give us: But we hope to convince those of that opinion, that our children will lay hold of all the good which you have, from time to time, given us.

We, the chiefs of the Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga nations, have agreed to listen to what has been recommended to us: not that we say that all will listen; but that the greater part have agreed to hearken to what our fathers, the Missionaries, have said to us.

FATHER—We have been a long time counselling among ourselves about building the house for worship, and for educating our children, which you have recommended to us: and are now all agreed that it shall he built, at the place where you have stuck the stake; and hope that it may become useful to our children, and make them wise.

FATHER—We thank the Great Spirit above, and the Missionary Society, for sending you among us. We have heard the good effect it has had, by the care they have taken of the young chief. We return our fathers, the Missionary Society, thanks for their attention and care of him, and for the benefit we hope to receive from him hereafter.

FATHER—We have given up this young chief to your charge; but we cannot say how far you are going to carry him in learning; but will leave it to our fathers, the Missionary Society, to say how far they think proper to carry him; so that, when he returns to us, he may be capable of transacting our public business equal to the white people.

FATHER—Upon this subject we will stop; but probably say something further on another subject.

FATHER—Look around the room, and you will see a number of us with the appearance of old age upon our countenances, who have no idea of leaving off some of our ancient customs: but we will leave our children to judge for themselves.

FATHER—You have visited us at our villages when we were attending to our customary worship, about the middle of cold weather. We make it a custom to meet together at that time, at our several villages. (which is a custom handed down to us by our forefathers) to return thanks to the Great Spirit above, for the success we have had in hunting our game for the support of our families.

FATHER—There is another time when we return thanks to the Great Spirit: It is when our crops become fit to use, it being from Him that we receive all those good things.

These customs now mentioned we intend to continue in; and we hope you will have no objection to our following them.

FATHER—You would not like to have us deprive you of any of your customs! How would you feel if we were to insist on your leaving off your customs, and adopting ours? For this reason, Father, we will retain the customs before mentioned, and attend to yours; and pray to the Great Spirit, that both may lead us to happiness.

FATHER—This is all we have to say at this time—only that we wish that a copy of the Talk delivered this day may be sent to our fathers, the Missionary Society, and that one may be left with us; so that if it should be forgotten by our old men, it may be seen and understood by our children hereafter.

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An Extemporaneous Reply
to the Foregoing Talk, by the
Rev. Elkanah Holmes, Missionary.

My Children—I thank the Great Spirit above, that I am allowed to meet with the chiefs of the Senecas, Onondagas and Cayugas this day. I thank you all, my Children, that you have been so kind as to meet me here at this time. I have had a great desire, ever since I met you, at your fireplace, last fall, to meet you again in council.

I observe that you have said to me, that you are sorry that you have occasioned any delay; but I remember, that when I first came to visit you, I requested you to be deliberate, and cool; and to do nothing in a hurry. You, doubtless, remember, that I have often told you that it was a great thing to receive and obey the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. I have also often told you, that if you were hasty in making up your minds, you would be hasty in forgetting: that, therefore, there was a necessity of calm deliberation upon matters of such great importance.

I have been well acquainted, ever since last fall, that you have had a great deal of trouble and difficulty in your nations: and I have been much concerned about it. Since that time, I have often prayed to the Great Spirit above, that He would help you to settle your difficulties, in a way that would make for peace. Now I thank the Great Spirit that He has heard my prayers so far, that you have peace and good-will among you.

Now, Children, if I had time, I would be glad to remark upon everything that you have spoken to me this day; but I have not time at present: But I will tell you this; I am well pleased with the most of what you have said.

Now, one thing more, Children, I will say to you. I hope, by the leave of the Great Spirit, to return home, and to consider of the Talk that you have delivered to me at this time: and to return with my interpreter, and give you an answer in writing: that you, and your children after you, may always have it in your your power to know what I say, in reply to what you have spoken this day; and also to send a copy of it to the Missionary Society, that they may know what I have said to you. I will, according to your request, lend them a copy of your Talk to me at this time, and also leave one with you. All that I have further to say, is, that I pray that the Great Spirit may bless you with peace and good-will among yourselves, and make you happy in this world, and prepare you for happiness after death.

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Buffaloe Creek, 28th Sept. 1803.

We, the subscribers, do hereby certify, that we were present when the speech of Red Jacket, a Sachem of the Seneca nation of Indians, was delivered to the Rev. Elkanah Holmes, Missionary to the Northwestern Indians, and that the above is a correct translation of it, us us by Messrs. Johnson and Smith, Indian interpreters:—And, Likewise, that the extemporaneous reply of the Rev. Elkanah Holmes to the Sachems of the Seneca, Onondaga. and Cayaga nations, assembled in council at the time of the delivery of the aforesaid speech, is also above correctly stated.

DAVID THOMPSON,
Justice of the Peace. County of Gunesee.

JOHN W. BROWNSON,
Lieutenant of 11th Regiment U. States Infantry"

 

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Printed by John W. Sanborn. Friendship, N. Y., Mailed for 15c. copy
Edition Limited to 125 Copies.

1. Cornplanter. Afterwards became a warm friend of the whites.
2. "Handsome Lake" called himself "the Great Reformer."