Pickering Treaty With The Six Nations
Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas, Tuscaroras
at Canandaigua, New York
November 11, 1794
The President of the United States having
determined to hold a conference with the Six Nations of Indians, for
the purpose of removing from their minds all causes of complaint,
and establishing a firm and permanent friendship with them; and
Timothy Pickering being appointed sole agent for that purpose; and
the agent having met and conferred with the Sachems, Chiefs and
Warriors of the Six Nations, in a general council: Now in order to
accomplish the good design of this conference, the parties have
agreed on the following articles, which, when ratified by the
President, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United
States, shall be binding on them and the Six Nations.
Article I
Peace and friendship are hereby firmly
established, and shall be perpetual, between the United States and
the Six Nations.
Article II
The United States acknowledge the lands reserved
to the Oneida, Onondaga and Cayuga Nations, in their respective
treaties with the state of New York, and called their reservations,
to be their property; and the United States will never claim the
same, nor disturb them or either of the Six Nations, nor their
Indian friends residing thereon and united with them, in the free
use and enjoyment thereof: but the said reservations shall remain
theirs, until they choose to sell the same to the people of the
United States who have right to purchase.
Article III
The land of the Seneka nation is bounded as
follows: Beginning on Lake Ontario, at the north-west corner of the
land they sold to Oliver Phelps, the line run westerly along the
lake, as far as O-yong-wong-yeh Creek at Johnson's Landing-place,
about four miles eastward from the fort of Niagara; then southerly
up that creek to its main fork, then straight to the main fork of
Stedman's Creek, which empties into the river Niagara, above Fort
Schlosser, and then onward, from that fork, continuing the same
straight course, to that river; (this line, from the mouth of O-yong-wong-
yeh Creek to the river Niagara, above Fort Schlosser, being the
eastern boundary of a strip of land, extending from the same line to
Niagara River, which the Seneka nation ceded to the King of Great
Britain, at a treaty held about thirty years ago, with Sir William
Johnson;) then the line runs along the river Niagara to Lake Erie;
then along Lake Erie to the north-east corner of a triangular piece
of land which the United States conveyed to the state of
Pennsylvania, as by the President's patent, dated the third day of
March, 1792; then due south to the northern boundary of that state;
then due east to the south-west corner of the land sold by the
Seneka nation to Oliver Phelps; and then north and northerly, along
Phelps' line, to the place beginning on Lake Ontario. Now, the
United States acknowledge all the land within the aforementioned
boundaries, to be the property of the Seneka nation; and the United
States will never claim the same, nor disturb that Seneka nation,
nor any of the Six Nations, or their Indian friends residing thereon
and united with them, in the free use and enjoyment thereof: but it
shall remain theirs, until they choose to sell the same to the
people of the United States, who have the right to purchase.
Article IV
The United States having thus described and
acknowledged what lands belong to the Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas,
and Senekas, and engaged never to claim the same, nor to disturb
them, or any of the Six Nations, or their Indian friends residing
thereon and united with them, in the free use and enjoyment thereof:
Now the Six Nations, and each of them, hereby engage that they will
never claim any other lands within the boundaries of the United
States; nor ever disturb the people of the United States in the free
use and enjoyment thereof.
Article V
The Seneka nation, all others of the Six Nations
concurring, cede to the United States the right of making a wagon
road from Fort Schlosser to Lake Erie, as far south as Buffaloe
Creek; and the people of the United States shall have the free and
undisturbed use of this road, for the purposes of travelling and
transportation. And the Six Nations, and each of them, will forever
allow to the people of the United States, a free passage through
their lands, and the free use of their harbors and rivers adjoining
and within their respective tracts of land, for the passing and
securing of vessels and boats, and liberty to land their cargoes
when necessary for their safety.
Article VI
In consideration of the peace and friendship
hereby established, and of the engagements entered into by the Six
Nations; and because the United States desire, with humanity and
kindness, to contribute to their comfortable support; and to render
the peace and friendship hereby established strong and perpetual;
the United States now deliver to the Six Nations, and the Indians of
the other nations residing among and united with them, a quantity of
goods of the value of ten thousand dollars. And for the same
considerations, and with a view to promote the future welfare of the
Six Nations, and of their Indian friends aforesaid, the United
States will add the sum of three thousand dollars to the one
thousand five hundred dollars, heretofore allowed them by an article
ratified by the President, on the twenty-third day of April 1792;
making in the whole, four thousand five hundred dollars; which shall
be expended yearly forever, in purchasing clothing, domestic
animals, implements of husbandry and other utensils suited to their
circumstances, and in compensating useful artificers, who shall
reside with them or near them, and be employed for their benefit.
The immediate application of the whole annual allowance now
stipulated, to be made by the superintendent appointed by the
President for the affairs of the Six Nations, and their Indian
friends aforesaid.
Article VII
Lest the firm peace and friendship now
established should be interrupted by the misconduct of individuals,
the United States and Six Nations agree, that for injuries done by
individuals on either side, no private revenge or retaliation shall
take place; but, instead thereof, complaint shall be made by the
party injured, to the other: By the Six Nations or any of them, to
the President of the United States, or the Superintendent by him
appointed: and by the Superintendent, or other person appointed by
the President, to the principal chiefs of the Six Nations, or of the
nation to which the offender belongs: and such prudent measures
shall then be pursued as shall be necessary to preserve our peace
and friendship unbroken; until the legislature (or great council) of
the United States shall make the equitable provision for the
purpose.
Note: It is clearly understood by the parties to
this treaty, that the annuity stipulated in the sixth article, is to
be applied to the benefit of such of the Six Nations and of their
Indian friends united with them as aforesaid, as do or shall reside
within the boundaries of the United States: for the United States do
not interfere with nations, tribes or families, of Indians elsewhere
resident.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Timothy Pickering,
and the sachems and war chiefs of the said Six Nations, have
hereunto set their hands and seals.
Done at Canandaigua, in the State of New York, in
the eleventh day of November, in the year one thousand seven hundred
and ninety-four.
