of so many years, to propose new and unexpected conditions; for although their services may be unknown to the new comers into that Country, the scars of the warriors are yet to be seen, and the circumstances are yet fresh in the minds of those who were witnesses to their exertions. Lord Dorchester, when in Canada, gave his opinion on the subject, and is yet ready to give the same, when required, which is, that should it be necessary for the satisfaction of the Six Nations, that the terms of Sir Frederic Haldimand's grant be enlarged, he would readily concur; but not to have them curtailed on any account whatever; that His Lordship saw no reason why the Six Nations on the Grand River should not have the same permission, to lease their lands, and receive tenants thereon, as the Roman Catholic Mohawks of Caghnaneaga and Lake of the two Mountains. Thus the privileges, enjoyed by these, are refused to the protestant Mohawks, although their cases are similar, with this remarkable difference however, that the former removed to their present place of abode through their attachment to the French interest, and the latter through their fidelity and zeal for the support of His Majesty's Government. The one have been felt as enemies, the others have only been known as friends. When I return to the Six Nations, I hope it may be with such proofs of the justice of His Majesty's Government, as shall be consistent with the confidence they ever placed in the promises made them, and shew them that these are never left unperformed by the British Nation. Our ignorance of the proper steps to be taken might have given just cause for delay at my first application to Lord Camden's office; but there has now elapsed a year, which has given ample time to the Lt. Governor of Canada, to have answered such references, as His Lordship has been pleased to make to him. But should he or should he not have taken notice of those references, Lord Dorchester who is now in this Country can amply testify as to the Grant, and the manner in which it was given; so that the difficulties on this point may thus be readily surmounted by applying to His Lordship, than whom none can know better how far the honor of His Majesty's Government is engaged to have this affair settled to the satisfaction of the Six Nations, his ever faithful allies, that they may derive every benefit there from, their situation admits of, and not be interrupted by the obstacles thrown in their way from motives of private interest or envy, and which can never tend but to weaken the real interests of Government. A Grant under the Great Seal, immediately from His Majesty, conformable to the tenor of the Original Grant, at the same time that it would remove such difficulties as now cause dispute, would reanimate the Six Nation Warriors with that zeal they have ever shewn in support of his interests, and should occasion require, they would with confidence defend his dominions, when they saw the promises of his Representatives thus respected. Lord Dorchester and Sir Frederick Haldimand knew the considerable part the Six Nations bore in the defence of the Province (particularly the part adjoining them) during the American War; therefore by securing their interests in that quarter, not only acted justly, but according to good policy by encreasing the means of defence, without the expence of additional troops. I have the honor to be, My Lords with profound esteem & respect Your Lordship's most Obedient humble Servant, JOHN NORTON, INDORSED. Mr. Norton, Upper Canada. EXHIBIT 353. John Norton to Earl Camden.1 LONDON, Sept. 18, 1804. MY LORD: Seeing the various important concerns to which your attention may be called; it is with regret that I intrude upon the time of your Lordship, what relates to the land affairs of the Six Nations, which although in Europe may appear very trivial, yet to them is of the most serious importance. 'Canadian Archives, Q. 299, p. 356. Since I had the honor of presenting Your Lordship with my statement I have not had the pleasure of an interview, I have communicated with Mr. Cooke, and I have learned that the chief obstacle, to having Governor Haldimand's grant confirmed, was owing to the copy not being found, if I could possibly have foreseen this obstacle, I could have obviated it, by bringing with me, a Copy of the Grant from the Secretary of the Province of Upper Canada. I have been made acquainted, that my statements have been transmitted to the Lieut. Governor of Upper Canada, desiring him to transmit hither every information upon the subject, and in the mean time to give the Mohawks every redress, and to prevent all encroachments upon their lands and privileges, and that I should be furnished with a duplicate of this, and be assisted by Government in my voyage back to Canada. It is eight years since I have seen copies of letters from Lord Dorchester to the same effect, and particularly desiring, that the Indians should not be restricted in any rights whatever, that the purport of General Haldimand's Grant might be enlarged, but not curtailed; notwithstanding this, the difficulties so far from being removed have considerably encreased. I hope Your Lordship will therefore excuse my saying that I cannot but feel reluctant to return to the Six Nations, until I should precisely know how far I have been successful in accomplishing the purpose of my coming. The question I wish to have decided in this place, which I always represented to my friends, as I thought it to be the fountain of justice, is, that if Governor Haldimand did right, in granting to the Six Nations for an Asylum; a part of the territory, over which their ancestors roamed from time immemorial, and they occasionally occupied as a hunting country; when their loyalty constrained them to leave their fixed habitations, which by the treaty of peace fell within the limits of the United States, and retire there under the protection of their Good Father; that this Grant may either be confirmed here or positive orders sent to the Administration of Upper Canada, to give a legal deed in conformance to the full intent and meaning of the brief grant issued by General Haldimand, without any evasion or pretence whatever; with this I might return with the hopes of giving my friends, and brother warriors proofs of the justice of their Great Father's Government. If there is any impropriety in this being done, we must then suppose, that the liberality of Governor Haldimand is thought improper, for having granted the Six Nations an Asylum within that part of their ancient territory, which was situate under the immediate protection of their Great Father His Majesty, after he had been witness to their exertions in his cause, and well acquainted with the losses they thereby sustained; but we hope and assure ourselves that this is not the Sentiment in this Country. All our Chiefs and warriors confide in obtaining a just division from their Great Father; their hearts are ever filled with gratitude for the benevolence and generosity of his intentions towards them, the lustre of which they perceive through the interrupting clouds: but I shall not intrude further on Your Lordship's patience at present, and hope from your love of justice, that when you have fully understood the affair, Your Lordship will not hesitate to direct, that according to the true intent and purport of Governor Haldimand's Grant to the Six Nations it may be confined by a legal deed without any equivocation whatever; that the benefits of landed property may be enjoyed by them in its full extent, and seeing the difficulties which has long since agitated their minds, happily concluded by Your Lordship-Your justice and kindness will ever be gratefully remembered by them, and their affectionate zeal to their Great Father further confirmed both in them, and the rising generation. I could say much more upon the subject, but I am afraid of trespassing upon Your Lordship's time, I shall therefore conclude, with a request, that Your Lordship will allow me to wait upon you, at your leisure, that I may more fully explain the circumstances, which have induced me to come so far from my home, and give this trouble to Your Lordship. With the greatest respect Your Lordship's Most obedt humb. Servt, EARL CAMDEN, &c &c, &c. JOHN NORTON No. 2 Plough Court, Lombard Street. ENDORSED: MR. NORTON. EXHIBIT 354. John Norton to Henry Goulburn.' LONDON, December 1, 1815. SIR: I entreat for a moment the attention of His Royal Highness and Ministers to the situation of His faithful allies the confederate tribes and their petition confiding that decision will be made thereon according to their wonted equity and benevolence. The grant of the Grand River, which after the peace of 1783, Sir Frederick Haldimand gave to the Five Nations, as an asylum (That treaty having ceded all the country of their ancestors to the U. States) and that grant particularly specifying to them and their posterity forever, it is hoped that His Majesty will confirm it to the full intent and meaning of the same. And that it will be further allowed and sanctioned a partition of the same to the different families of which the said confederate tribes are composed, according to their respective merits. The faithful men of the different tribes war chiefs and warriors several of whom are weakened by years and by wounds it is entreated that they may receive some reward shewing their Father's approbation of their services. The losses sustained by the Moravian and Munsey Delawares after the unfortunate affair of the Moravian town in October 1815 that a reasonable reparation must be made. Also that the case of the Cayugas and Onondagas may be taken into favourable consideration, the payment of money due to them (for lands) from the U. States having been withheld from them since two years before the commencement of the late war. With the greatest esteem and regard Sir, I have the honour to remain, Your faithful friend and humble servant, HENRY GOULBURN, ESQ., &c., &c., &c., J. NORTON, Endorsed: First Memorial. Compared copy extracted from Colonial Office Records. Miscellaneous, 1815. Canada, Q. 135-P. T. 2, being a bound volume of transcripts from the Public Record Office, London. 1Memorial, Annex, 125, p. 978. |