theiHe of no small ttui^ie^oC^Wicioes and cavils
ajid objections. Without any certain ,or
generally fixed grounds of objection, it was yet
the object of a fixed but changing opposition.
If I mighty judge, from the scope of remarks
made both in and out of council, they regarded
it as the introduction of a Saxon feature into their
institutions, which, like a lever, .by some process:
not apparent to them, was designed, in its
ultimate effects, to uplift and overturn therm
And no small degree of pith and irony was put
forth against it by the eloquent respondents who
stood in the official attitude of their ancient orators.
Everywhere, the tribes exalted the question
into one of national moment.. • Grave and
dignified sachems assembled* in formal councils,
and indulged in long and fluent harangues to
their people, as if the very,foundations of their
ancient confederacy were about to be overturned
by an innovating spirit of political arithmetic
and utilitarianism.. When their trpe views
were made known, however, after many days
and adjourned councils, I found t^erp> wa§ less
objection to the mere numbering of their tribes
and families, than the (tff them) scrutinizing demand,
which the act called for, into their agricultural.
products, and the results of their industry.
Pride also had some weight in the matter.
“We have but little,” said one of the chiefs, in
a speech in council, “ to exhibit. Those who
have yielded their assent, have their, barns well
stored, and need not blush when yon calk”
Another topic mixed itself with the consideration
of the census, and made some of the chiefs
distrustful of it. I allude to the long disturbed
state of their land question, and the treaty of
compromise which has recently been made with
the. Ogden Company, by which the reversionary
right to the fee simple of two of.their reservations
has been modified. In this compromise,
the Tonewandas, a- considerable sub-tribe or departmental
band ofJSenecas, did not unite; yet
the reservation which they occupy is one of the
tracts to be,given up. They opposed the census,
from the mere fear of committing themselves
on this prior question, in some way, not
very well understood by them, and: certainly not
well made out by their speakers. I t is known
that for many years, tho general question of ceding
their reservations, under the provisions of
an early treaty of the state . with the Six Nations,
had divided the Senecas into two parties.
A discussion, which has extended through nearly
half a century, in which lied Jacket had exhibited
all his elqquencC, had sharpened the national
acumen ip negotiation, and produced a
peculiar sensitiveness and suspicion of motive,
Whenever, in latter times, the slightest question
of interest or policy has been introduced into
their councils. This spirit evinced itself in the
very outset of my visit, on announcing to certain^
bands the requirements of tjie census act.
Some of them were, moreover, strongly disposed •
to view it as the preliminary step, on the part