Letter to the Reverend Mr˙ Kirkland, with an Address to the Mohawks

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The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the Mohawks, and a Letter to the Reverend Mr˙ Kirkland, reported. Read, and

Ordered, That the Address be recommitted for amendments.

Adjourned to three o' clock this afternoon.

Afternoon.

A Letter to the Reverend Mr˙ Kirkland, and an Address to the Mohawks, amended, reported, and passed; and is as follows:

Concord, April 4, 1775.

REVEREND SIR: The Provincial Congress have thought it necessary to address the Sachem of the Mohawk Tribe, with the rest of the five Nations, upon the subject of the Controversy between Great Britain and the American Colonies. We were induced to take this measure, as we have been informed that those who were inimical to us in Canada, have been tampering with those Nations, and endeavouring to attach them to the interest of those who are attempting to deprive us of our inestimable rights and privileges, and to subjugate the Colonies to arbitrary power. From a confidence in your attachment to the cause of liberty and your country, we now transmit to you the enclosed Address, and desire you would deliver it to the Sachem of the Mohawk Tribe, to be communicated to the rest of the five Nations, and that you would use your influence with them to join with us in the defence of our rights. But if you cannot prevail with them to take an active part in this glorious cause, that you would at least engage them to stand neutre, and not by any means to aid and assist our enemies. And as we are at a loss for the name of the Sachem of the Mohawk Tribe, we have left it to you to direct the Address to him in such way as you may think proper.

BROTHERS: We, the Delegates of the inhabitants of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, being for you and ourselves come together, to consider what may be best to get ourselves rid of those hardships which we feel and fear, have thought it our duty to tell you, our good Brothers, what our Fathers in Great Britain have done, and threaten to do with us.

Brothers: You have heard how our fathers were obliged by the cruelty of their brethren, to leave their country; how they crossed the Great Lake and came here; how they purchased their land with their own money, and how, since that time, they, and we, their sons and grandsons, have built our houses, and cut down the trees, and cleared and improved the land, at their and our own expense; how we have fought for them, and conquered Canada, and a great many other places, which they have had, and have not paid us for; after all which, and many other troubles, we thought we had reason to hope, that they would be kind to us, and allow us to enjoy ourselves, and sit in our own houses and eat our own victuals in peace and quiet, but alas! our brothers, we are greatly distressed, and we will tell you our grief, for you as well as we are in great danger.

Brothers: Our Fathers in Great Britain tell us our Lands, and Houses, and Cattle, and Money, are not our own; that we ourselves are not our own men, but their servants; they have endeavoured to take away our Money without our leave, and have sent their great Vessels and a great many Warriours for that purpose.

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Brothers: We used to send our Vessels on the Great Lake, whereby we were able to get Clothes, and what we needed for ourselves and you; but such has lately been their conduct, that we cannot; they have told us we shall have no more Guns, no Powder to use and kill our Wolves and other game, nor to send to you, for you to kill your victuals with, and to get Skins to trade with us to buy you Blankets, and what you want. How can you live without Powder and Guns? But we hope to supply you soon with both, of our own making.

Brothers: They have made a law to establish the religion of the Pope in Canada, which lies so near you. We much fear some of your children may be induced, instead of worshipping the only true God, to pay his due to images made with their own hands.

Brothers: These, and many other hardships we are threatened with, which, no doubt, in the end, will equally affect you; for the same reason they would take our Lands, they will take away yours. All we want is, that we and you may enjoy that liberty and security which we have a right to enjoy, and that we may not lose that good Land which enables us to feed our wives and children. We think it our duty to inform you of our danger, and desire you to give notice to all your kindred; and as we fear they will attempt to cut our throats, and if you should allow them to do that, there will nobody remain to keep them from you, we therefore earnestly desire you to whet your Hatchet, and be prepared with us to defend our liberties and lives.

Brothers: We humbly beseech that God who lives above, and does what is right here below, to enlighten your minds, to see that you ought to prevent our Fathers from bringing those miseries upon us, and to his good providence we commend you.