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Articles of a
treaty made at Fort Harmar, the ninth day of January, in the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, between Arthur
St. Clair, esquire, Governor of the territory of the United States of
America, northwest of the river Ohio, and Commissioner
plenipotentiary of the said United States, for removing all causes of
controversy, regulating trade, arid settling boundaries, between the
Indian nations in the northerly department and the said United
States, of the one part, and the sachems and warriors of the Six
Nations, of the other part:
ART. 1.
WHEREAS the United
States, in congress assembled, did, by their commissioners, Oliver
Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee, esquires, duly appointed for
that purpose, at a treaty held with the said Six Nations, viz: with
the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Tuscaroras, Cayugas, and Senekas, at
fort Stanwix, on the twenty-second day of October, one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-four, give peace to the said nations, and receive
them into their friendship and protection: And whereas the said
nations have now agreed to and with the said Arthur St. Clair, to
renew and confirm all the engagements and stipulations entered into
at the before mentioned treaty at fort Stanwix: and whereas it was
then and there agreed, between the United States of America and the
said Six Nations, that a boundary line should be fixed between the
lands of the said Six Nations and the territory of the said United
States, which boundary line is as follows, viz: Beginning at the
mouth of a creek, about four miles east of Niagara, called Ononwayea,
or Johnston's Landing Place, upon the lake named by the Indians
Oswego, and by us Ontario; from thence southerly, in a direction
always four miles east of the carrying place, between lake Erie and
lake Ontario, to the mouth of Tehoseroton, or Buffalo creek, upon
lake Erie; thence south, to the northern boundary of the state of
Pennsylvania; thence west, to the end of the said north boundary;
thence south, along the west boundary of the said state to the river
Ohio. The said line, from the mouth of Ononwayea to the Ohio, shall
be the western boundary of the lands of the Six Nations, so that the
Six Nations shall and do yield to the United States, all claim to the
country west of the said boundary; and then they shall be secured in
the possession of the lands they inhabit east, north, and south of
the safne, reserving only six miles square, round the fort of Oswego,
for the support of the same. The said Six Nations, except the Mohawks
none of whom have attended at this time, for and in consideration of
the peace then granted to them, the presents they then received, as
well as in consideration of a quantity of goods, to the value of
three thousand dollars, now delivered to them by the said Arthur St.
Clair, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, do hereby
renew and confirm the said boundary line in the words
beforementioned, to the end that it may be and remain as a division
line between the lands of the said Six Nations and the territory of
the United States, forever. And the undersigned Indians, as well in
their own names as in the name of their respective tribes and
nations, their heirs and descendants, for the considerations
beforementioned, do release, quit claim, relinquish, and cede, to the
United States of America, all the lands west of the said boundary or
division line, and between the said line and the strait, from the
mouth of Ononwayea and Buffalo Creek, for them, the said United
States of America, to have and to hold the same, in true and absolute
propriety, forever.
ART. 2.
The United States
of America confirm to the Six Nations all the lands which they
inhabit, lying east and north of the beforementioned boundary line,
and relinquish and quit claim to the same and every part thereof,
excepting only six miles square round the fort of Oswego, which six
miles square round said fort is again reserved to the United States
by these presents.
ART. 3.
The Oneida and
Tuscarora nations, are also again secured and confirmed in the
possession of their respective lands.
ART. 4.
The United States
of America renew and confirm the peace and friendship entered into
with the Six Nations, (except the Mohawks) at the treaty
beforementioned, held at fort Stanwix, declaring the same to be
perpetual. And if the Mohawks shall, within six months, declare their
assent to the same, they shall be considered as included. |
