Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

EXHIBIT 321.

John Norton to Henry Goulburn.1

LONDON, December 1st, 1815.

SIR,

I have divided my Memorial into two parts to distinguish them more justly.

The first merely requests the realization of that which has been granted thirty years ago, and the begging a partition of the same is to evade the misinterpretation of some civilians of Canada, who pretend that as the Five Nations have no Government acknowledged by the Crown, a grant to them as a body gives an equal claim to all, and a right to none: The reward for faithful warriors and some remuneration for their losses might encourage others to follow their example.

The first comprizes only the individual rights of the people of the Grand River, the latter more fully shows, that which in the present situation of affairs, appear necessary for the protection, and preservation of the collective body of Aboriginal tribes, bordering on Canada, as a community protected in their natural rights by the Crown, which will ensure their affection and fill the heads of the warriors with additional zeal and ardor to combat in what will then in reality be a common cause.

The reason for which I entreat that the confederate tribes may remain unconnected with the Civil Government of Canada, is that as it consists of three parts one which only emanates from the Crown, the other two from the country, which from the natural avidity of the people in America to obtain the lands of the aborigines, will always cause uneasiness and disputes as it hitherto has done; it may therefore be better for them to be equally under the protection of their common Father the King, and to be attached according to their ancient customs and usages to the Military Commanders as a power directly proceeding from him, and calculated to disect the combined force of each against the common enemy.

I have taken the liberty to say a little on the presents: because I have observed that some seasons it has retarded the people from hunting or agriculture so long as to prove injurious, and the con

'Canadian Archives, Q. 135, p. 376.

stant issue made to individuals has had a tendency to degrade, and encourage a begging disposition, at the some time failing to excite the grateful feeling generally shown at a public issue made to the tribe or nation.

All the country from the River Utawas-surrounded by the St. Laurence, Lakes Ontario Huron & Erie was once possessed by the Wyandots (or Hurons as termed by the French) and Ottawas until expelled by the Iroquois or Five Nations. The parts that they have more recently occupied falling within the American boundary who highly resent the attachment shewn by these tribes to the King makes it now necessary for their preservation to obtain an allottment of a part of the country formerly possessed by their ancestors, the granting of which will not only become the usual generosity of the British Monarch, but will also encrease the natural means of defence for the province, by combining there a number of warriors interested in defending it.

A few missionaries & instructors to be appointed and a piece of land allotted for their support would be an establishment of universal and permanent benefit.

With the most sincere regard

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your most faithful friend and humble Serv't.,

Henry Goulburn, Esq.,

&c. &c. &c.

JOHN NORTON.

Endorsed: Letter.

EXHIBIT 322.

First.

John Norton to Henry Goulburn.1

LONDON, December 1, 1815.

SIR:

I entreat for a moment the attention of His Royal Highness & 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.

Canadian Archives, Q. 135, p. 379.

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 Onendagas may be taken into favorable 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 & regard Sir,

I have the honor to remain

Your faithful friend & humble Ser't.,

[blocks in formation]

I enclose you the Memorandum submitted to Sir George Prevost in February 1814, and his answers, at that time I particularly

iCanadian Archives, Q. 135, p. 383.

asked an asylum for the Senecas at the place I now propose for Wyandots and all others, who may stand in need, because I know that they could not be induced to leave the valuable reservations which they yet possess within the American boundary on any other consideration.

The Lands on the Grand River surrendered to the Provincial Government and disposed of by the late Captn. Brant consists of three Townships of twelve miles square and a block of twenty eight thousand acres all situate above Dundas Street and extending to the end of the land surveyed. Near the mouth of the River there is another tract of about 30,000 acres and another of about 20,000. The part yet remaining to the Five Nations is perhaps equal in extent to all these several allotments, including in the same many farms given by the old chiefs (immediately after they had received the Grant from Gen. Haldimand) to several loyal families who had served with them against the common enemy during the revolutionary war to other families related to the tribes, and also many. other farms more recently disposed of by some of the Mohawks, in all not less than 30,000 acres.

Now as the land has gone so fast in thirty years I am desirous to secure the remainder and think that the most probable means of doing so is that it cease to be a common and become especially appropriated to the respective families of the faithful Chiefs & Warriors who have followed me to the field and in consideration of their having risked with me I feel bound to them in honour to endeavor to secure to them and their posterity their just rights. Whenever you can find it convenient to enter fully into the business I shall be ready to give a full explanation on any part which as yet I may not have expressed sufficiently clear. In the meantime

I have the honor to remain with the greatest respect

Your most obedt. humb. Sert.,

Henry Goulburn, Esq.,

&c. &c. &c.

JOHN NORTON.

[ocr errors]

DR. SIR:

EXHIBIT 324.

John Norton to Henry Goulburn.1

Not having heard from you since I sent to you the Memorandum which I laid before Sir George Prevost in 1814 and his answer thereto and being on the eve of leaving town for some days I have called upon you to answer any explanation necessary to the same as also the necessity for having presented the same.

Sir Henry Torrens has informed me that he sent to you all the papers I gave him before that I went to the North.

[blocks in formation]

I have laid before Lord Bathurst the several letters which you did me the honor of addressing to me on the subject of the present situation of the five nations in Canada and the objects which they have commissioned you to represent to His Majesty's Government.

His Majesty's Government have ever been most anxious to remunerate those Chiefs and Warriors of the five Nations who during the late War with the United States contributed their assistance for the defence of the Province. Lord Bathurst has therefore considered the proposition contained in your letter with every disposition to meet your wishes.

'Canadian Archives, Q. 135.

'Annex 125, Appendix to the Memorial.

« AnteriorContinuar »