tion, which has obtained ever after and still prevails;
that is to say> the Mohawks, the Oneidas,
the Onohdagas, and the CayUgHs, had each one
chief, and the Seneeas two, making six supreme
dignitaries or state counsellors. That their powders
wère merely.advisory and interlocutory, and
that they aimed to come to harmonious results,
hy the mere interchange of opinion, without any
formal, or solemn vote-fis evident, from all that
we know, or can gather from their still existing
institutions.' There appeared to. haVe>’ heten no
penalties *èmo forfeiture of rights—no-binding
or coercive power, to be visited on tribes- or
chiefs, beyond that of opinions Popular disapproval
was the Iroquóis penalty here and elsewhere:
It in' equally | clear, however, that a
single negative voice or' opinion* Was of the
highest Cflicacy. A unanimous decision, not a
decision on the majority principle;, was required.
The latter was a refinement, and an advance in
polity, which they had not certainly reached,
although they seem inclined now to follow itsf
and herein we' may perceive the great vpower
and efficacy:of their old decisions. These decisions
were, in their effect sy clothed with all
the power of the most full popular will. For
what each of the senatorial chiefs or delegates,
and all the cantons, pronounced proper, there
was no one, in a patriarchal community, ,to lisp
a word against.
So little power was abstracted from each tribe,
and conceded to the federative council as a fixed
government, that it'seems, hot without scrutiny,
that we can perceive there is any., This is, however,
certain. One of the six primary sachems
was, selected to preside over the general councils.
His power was, hówever,Exclusively of a civil
character, and extended but little beyond that
of a moderator, but, be was a moderator for life,
or during the time he retained the right and full
use of his faculties, or untibjust cause of dissatisfaction*
should' bring the^ question of a succes*
sac before the council^ This; head officer, had
also authority to. light theuouncilfee—that is
to -say, be .could send messengers, and was* if so
desired, bound to send messengers to assemble
the general- council. The act, -apd the symbol
of thé net,-were both in his baUds.' He suim
moned the' chiefs, and - Actually lit the sacred
fee, at whose blaze theiy, pipes -wereyjigbted.
Thus! limited, and having po mother administrative
power, but to appoint his^owp bevr-yar-do-ah,
aid or pipe-bearer, and messengers, he enjoyed
his executive dignity;- hut had little more power
when the sessions were, closed, than belonged to
evéry leading chief of the component tribes.
He was himself hound to respect the messages
of the tribal chiefs, and receive the runners who
were sent to him from the frontiers with news,
and he thus performed, merely and exactly the
will of each tribe, ;#ms expressed. He was
never’ in advance/of the popular will. The
whole hereditary machinery was made subservient
to., this, And he was limited to the per