Books: Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians
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Elias Johnson >> Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians
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The wholesome doctrine of sobriety was not preached in vain, even among
the Tuscaroras; nevertheless, they did not embrace the ancient and the
new faith, nor its ceremonies, but the preaching of this singular person.
The influence of his eloquence, with which he enforced the doctrine of
temperance, had the effect of forming a temperance society, which was
kept up a number of years, by holding meetings and by lectures given by
the leading men of the nation, until the year 1830, when a regular
temperance society was organized, which was based on a written
constitution; and in the year 1832 there was a general temperance society
formed at the Cattaraugus Reservation, embracing all the, then, different
Seneca Reservations; and in the year 1833 the Tuscaroras reorganized so
as to be connected with the Seneca temperance society, organized at
Cattaraugus. I found the following articles in the records of the
Tuscarora temperance society, to-wit:
"Temperance Society, formed among the Tuscaroras, February 19th, 1830,
re-organized January 27th, 1833.
"PREAMBLE.
"Whereas, Present and past occurrences clearly prove that intemperance is
a great and destructive evil; therefore,_Resolved_, That we, the
chiefs and warriors of the Tuscarora Nation, will do all in our power to
arrest its progress, both in this village and elsewhere."
Experience has taught us that efforts to advance this good cause are not
in vain, encouraged by what we have already effected, we have conceded to
re-organize our society, which shall be named and governed as follows:--
"CONSTITUTION.
"Article 1. This society shall be denominated the Temperance Society
auxiliary to the general Temperance Society formed at Cattaraugus, March
1st, 1832, by our red brothers from five different Reservations.
"Article 2. It shall embrace individuals of both sexes of men, women and
children.
"Article 3. We who sign our names to this constitution, solemnly pledge
ourselves to abstain entirely from the use of intoxicating liquors, and
persuade others in an affectionate, faithful manner to do the same, not
suffering it to be used in our families, nor purchasing it for those in
our employ.
"Article 4. It shall be the duty of those who were appointed a committee
by the general Temperance Society to visit the members of this Society
individually, and enquire whether they adhere to or strictly obey the
articles of the constitution, and converse with others on the subject of
temperance, so far as practicable, and make a report of their doings to
the Society.
"Article 5. The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-
President, Secretary and Treasurer. The duty of the President shall be as
follows, viz: To open the meetings by calling the assembly to orders to
appoint the time for meeting; to settle questions in any discussions made
in the Society; to appoint the speakers. The duty of the Secretary shall
be to minute the proceedings of every meeting, and read the report at the
close of every meeting, and to keep in record the names of the members of
the Society. The Treasurer shall keep in charge the revenues of the
contributions, and attend to the lights."
Names of the first officers of this Society:
President--Nicholas Cusick.
Vice-President--William Mt. Pleasant.
Secretary and Treasurer--James N. Cusick.
Names of Chiefs at that time:
William Chew, William Printup,
Jonathan Printup, Mathew Jack,
John Mt. Pleasant, John Johnson,
John Fox, George Printup,
Isaa Miller.
This united Temperance Society held a yearly convention on the different
Reservations, alternately, for a number of years, but the interest in the
convention gradually declined, until the convention was entirely given
up. Afterwards they somewhat remodeled the constitution to suit their
circumstances, and added the following article, viz:
"In the temperance assemblies the following subjects are to be lectured
on: Temperance, Industry, Education and Moral Reform."
We have also a cornet band, which is connected with the temperance
society, which enliven and cheer the meetings by the sweet strains of
their music, and adds very much to the interest of each meeting. This
band goes by the name of the "Tuscarora Temperance Cornet Band." It was
organized in the year 1842, and has existed continually to the present
time, in 1880.
On the 11th day of November, 1844, there was a delegation sent here by
the Tuscaroras, from Grand River, then Canada West, now Ontario, to
connect themselves with our temperance society, which was granted them,
and the following delegates were admitted, viz: William Green, a Sachem;
David Hill, Jacob Hill, Rev. Nicholas Smith and Thomas Thomas.
This society was afterwards invited to hold a temperance meeting on the
Tuscarora Reservation at Grand River, Ontario, with the view of
organizing a temperance society in conjunction to ours. The meeting was
held according to the time designated. The meetings were opened and
conducted with much interest, but dissolved without the formation of a
society. There was a disagreement concerning the constitution of the
society, respecting the subjects of discussion in the meetings of the
society. The Canada Indians wished to have the three other subjects, from
that of temperance, to bestricken out, but the Tuscaroras of the States
adhered to the forms of the constitution of their society, which includes
Industry, Education and Moral Reform, as the subject of lecture of each
meeting, which was adopted at anearly period.
In the autumn of 1862, the cornet band and a number of the members of the
society made a visit to Grand River, Ontario, among their Indian
brethren, and when they arrived there the Sons of Temperance had a social
party, to which we were very cordially invited to participate of the
sumptous feast, which was already prepared, and were two days devoted to
temperance meetings. The time was taken up by lectures on temperance and
music by the two cornet bands, which played their music alternately, and
added very much to the interest of the meetings. The speeches were
interspersed with the rehearsals of the different traditions of the
causes of the declension of the Indian nations, and regretting the
slowness of the progress of their civilization, and attribute to
temperance, to be the great cause of the retard of their advancement in
industry and civilization.
They were invited several limits by these, our Canada red brothers, to
their Sons of Temperance conventions at Grand River, of which they
faithfully attended, and they were also invited at one of their
conventions held at Monseetown, near London, Ontario, on the reservation
of the Oneidas: our cornet band and quite a number of the members of our
society complied to the invitation. The meetings were very interesting.
There were many speeches made on the subject of temperance, and on
various topics for the advancement of the respective Indian nations. A
speech was also made by the author of this book, which began as follows,
to-wit:
"My dear friends and relatives. I have been interested in the great and
good cause of temperance for a number of years, and have attended many
meetings and assemblies in the temperance cause, but this, our present
gathering, is to me, unusually interesting; it brings my mind back for
more than a century, when the Tuscaroras were broken down, as a nation,
by the pale faces, and expelled from their long-cherished homes, and
driven from the graves of our noble ancestors, into the wild and cold-
hearted world: and when they were without a friend and without a home,
and no one to pity them, in this, their time of trouble. You, the
Oneidas, gave us the hand of friendship and brotherly love, and gave us
peaceful homes within your wide extended domain, and whispered in our
ears the words of consolation; when, and how shall we ever forget or
repay you for the unbounded kindness that your fathers exercised towards
ours? We have ever given you a place nearest our hearts, with all its
affections, here we give you our hands and our hearts in the great and
good cause of temperance, and we wish you prosperity in every sense of
the word both temporally and morally."
This convention was denominated the Six Nations Sons of Temperance
Convention, although we, from the States were not members of that order.
It seems that they deemed it not derogatory to their dignity that we
should be present at their conventions, although ours is a common, open
and free, temperance society.
We, also, invited them to hold their convention on our reservation, which
was acceded to and held in the fall of 1865, and there were delegates of
several Oneidas, from Monseetown, Ontario, and of the Tuscaroras, from
Grand River, Ontario, and also a cornet band of the Onondagas, from
Onondaga Castle, N. Y., which favored us with the sweet strains of their
music, alternately, with our cornet band.
Every morning the assembly would meet at the school-house, Mt. Hope, at
10 o'clock, A. M., and there form in procession and march to the council-
house, about one mile, to the place of meeting: the two cornet bands
played their music while the procession was moving, and our temperance
banners were floating in the air, as if to say, rally round the
temperance banner.
Our temperance banner was made in the year 1844, by our people, assisted
by, then, our Missionery, Rev. G. Rockwood. It is illustrated by several
animals illustrative of the several clans that are in the nation; and
also, six stars that are grouped in the upper corner of the banner, next
to the pole, indicative, as in the animals, of the several clans, that
they, aught, also, group together and combine as in one, to work against
the great monster, intemperance, which is also illustrated by a seven-
headed serpent. As this monster is formidable, so aught we abstain from
all intoxicating liquors. There is also, a great eagle soaring in the
air, in the act of grasping the great seven-headed serpent. This
illustrates that in our endeavers in the capacity of a society, to defeat
the great monster--intemperance--we have a helper, which is the
Legislature of the State of New York and the United States, in enacting
laws to the effect of staying the great tide of intemperance among the
Indians, in which weshould take courage.
There was another convention held here in 1873, when there was quite a
large delegation of the Oneidas, from Monseetown, Ontario, and also from
Grand River, Ontario, among them was the Tuscarora cornet band of Grand
River. The meetings were occupied by lectures on temperance and on other
topics, which were thought to be the most needed for the advancement of
the social and moral conditions of our red brethren.
The Grand River cornet band, and ours, played, alternately, their angelic
melodies, to cheer us in the great temperance cause. It was then the
convention of the Sons of Temperance urged upon us to adopt their Order,
but our people thought it not advisable to change the order of our
society, as it has existed since the year 1830; the form may be
different, but the object is the same. We said we preferred to adhere to
the old form of our society, open to all, and free to partake of the
benefits of it, we prayed them God's speed in their turning the great
wheel of temperance, and we should lay hold on the same wheel and turn
the same way. That same night the convention closed. There was a great
bonfire made in the street; and then there was a general farewell, hand-
shaking, and it closed with music from the bands in the dead of the
night.
The next convention was held at Grand River, Ontario, in October, 1874,
in the Six Nation council-house. There was quite a large representation
of the Six Nations. Speeches were made on the subject of temperance by
all the different nations, to-wit:
Mr. Josiah Hill, Sachem, of Grand River, Tuscarora.
Mr. David Hill, Sachem, of Grand River, Seneca.
Mr. Levi Jonathan, Sachem, of Grand River, Onondaga.
Mr. Clinch, Sachem, of Grand River, Mohawk.
Mr. James Jemison, of Grand River, Cayuga.
Mr. Eligah, of Monseetown, Oneida.
Mr. William Patterson, Sachem, of Lewiston, Tuscarora.
Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, Tuscarora.
Mr. William Chew, of Lewiston, Tuscarora.
Mr. Elias Johnson, of Lewiston, Tuscarora.
The winter after the meetings above, a communication was received by the
Secretary of our society, Dea. Samuel Jacobs, from the Tuscaroras of
Grand River, Ontario, wishing him to forward to them a copy of the
constitution of our temperance society, and stating that they wish to
form a society based upon the same, which was deferred by Dea. Jacobs
until the June following, when Dea. Jacobs, Wm. Patterson, Rev. Thomas
Green and Wm. Chew went to Grand River with the constitution. After it
was read in their meeting, the Canadian brothers adopted it and formed a
society based on the same. It was then proposed and adopted that a
convention should be held in the Six Nations council-house, at Grand
River, Ontario, in October, 1875. Accordingly the convention duly met and
continued three days. Our cornet band was present, with quite a number of
the members of our society. The meetings were very pleasant and
interesting. The officers were as follows, to-wit:
President--Wm. Chew, of Lewiston
Vice-President--John Hill, of Grand River
Secretary--Josiah Hill, of Grand River
Before the convention closed it was decided that the next convention
should be at the Tuscorora Reservation, Lewiston, N. Y., on the 17th day
of October, 1876, and the officers appointed were as follows, to-wit:
President--Josiah Hill, of Grand River.
Vice-President--Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Secretary--Elias Johnson, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Just before the appointed time for the convention to meet, there was a
communication received by Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, our head chief, from A.
Sim Logan, of Cattaraugas Reservation, N. Y., being leader of the Seneca
national cornet band, asking the privilege of attending the contemplated
convention with his band. The letter was read at one of the temperance
meetings and was not only acceded to, but they were cordially invited to
attend, and on the 17th day of October, 1876, the day appointed for the
convention, they were on hand. A. Sims Logan, with his national cornet
band, of Cattaraugus, and Levi Jonathan, with his Tuscasora cornet band,
of Grand River, and Solomon Cusick, with his temperance cornet band, of
Lewiston, N. Y, were present, which comprise the three leading bands of
music of any nations of Indians.
The programme was substantially as follows:
The meeting was called to order by the president, Josiah Hill, of Grand
River.
A hymn was sung by the assembly, in the Indian language, words, "Oh, for
a thousand tongues to sing my Redeemer's praise;" tune, Dundee.
Prayer by Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, N. Y.
The following were chosen as committees of arrangements to-wit:
Mr. Wm. Chew, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Win. Printup, of Lewiston, N.Y.
Mr. Joseph Henry, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. George Beaver, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. Wm. Nephew, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
Mr. Wm. Printup made the congratulatory speech of the meeting through an
intrepreter, Joseph Henry.
The speakers of the first session were as follows, to-wit:
Mr. Levi Jonathan, of Grand River, Ont., on Temperance.
Dea. Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, N.Y., on Moral Reform.
Mr. Joseph Henry, of Grand River, Ont., on Industry.
Mr. A. Sim Logan, of Cattaraugus, N. Y., on Education
The Tuscarora cornet band favored this session with music between the
speeches.
Adjourned at 2 o'clock P. M. and convened again at 5 o'clock P.M.
The assembly was called to order by the president.
The following were the speakers, to-wit.
Mr. Simon Carrier, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. Josiah Hill, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. William Anderson, of Grand River, Ont.
Mr. Wm. Chew, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Elias Johnson, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Wm. Nephew, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
Music was favored the second session by the Seneca national band, of
Cattaraugus. N. Y.
Adjourned at 8:30 o'clock P. M. to 10 o'clock A. M. to-morrow, after
singing the tune Greenville, words, "Savior, Visit Thy Plantation."
Benediction by Rev Thomas Green.
Oct. 18.--The assembly was called to order by the Vice-President. Dea.
Samuel Jacobs, of Lewiston, at 10 o'clock A.M. Opened by singing an
Indian hymn Prayer by Rev. Thomas Green, of Lewiston, N. Y.
The following were the speakers, to-wit:
Mr. Thomas Williams, of Grand River.
Mr. George Beaver, of Grand River.
Mr. John C. Lay, of Cattaraugus.
Adjourned at 1:30 o'clock P. M. to 4 P. M.
The assembly was called to order at 4 o'clock P. M. by the President.
The following were the speakers, to-wit:
Mr. John John, of Grand River.
Mr. Levi Jonathan, of Grand River.
Dr. Bombry, of Grand River.
President Josiah Hill, of Grand River.
Mr. Albert Cusick, of Onondaga Castle.
Mr. Abram Hill, of Onondaga Castle.
Rev. Thomas Green, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. William Patterson, of Lewiston, N. Y.
Mr. Marvin Crows, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
This forenoon we were favored with music by our temperance cornet band
between the speeches.
In the afternoon session we were favored with music by C. C. Lay's
orchestra band, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
President Hill in the chair, business was resumed.
Mr. John C. Lay moved that the next convention be held on the Cattaraugus
Reservation, N. Y. This was followed by a motion of Levi Jonathan, that
the next convention be held at Grand River, Ontario, who claimed that
they had adopted the constitution, while the Senecas had not. After some
discussion, A. Sim Logan said, "If you will give us a copy of your
constitution, we will accept of it and form a society based on the same."
It was then put to vote and carried that the next convention should be
held at Cattaraugus, N. Y., on the 25th day of September, 1877.
The following officers were appointed, viz:
Mr. Elias Johnson. Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. Y., President.
Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River, Vice-President.
Dr. Bombry, Cayuga, of Grand River, Secretary.
On the evening of October 25th, as aforesaid, the convention duly met,
and was called to order by the President, E. Johnson; opened by singing
and prayer. Business was then resumed. The Secretary not being present,
Prof. Chancy C. Jemison, of Cattaraugus, was appointed to fill the
vacancy.
The committee of arrangements was as follows, viz:
Mr. John Canada, Seneca, of Cattaraugus.
Mr. A. Sim Logan, Seneca, of Cattaraugus.
Mr. Job King, Seneca, of Cattaraugus.
Mr. Levi Jonathan, Onondaga, of Grand River.
Mr. James Jemison, Cayuga, of Grand River.
Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Tuscarora, of Lewiston.
Mr. Wm. Chew, Tuscarora, of Lewiston.
Mr. Daniel La Fort, Onondaga, of Syracuse, N. Y.
Mr. Abram Hill, Oneida, of Syracuse, N. Y.
The convention continued three days. Many speeches were made by the
leading men of the several nations that were represented. The meetings
were unusually interesting. Every speaker seemed to be moved to the
utmost of their enthusiasm. The congregations were large, and every face
seemed to glow with the interest that was awakened in the great cause of
temperance. The order and decorum that prevailed throughout all the
meetings was becoming to any Community.
There were also four cornet bands which favored the assemblies with
music, in their proper times, which added very much to the interest of
the convocation. The bands were as follows, to-wit:
Mr. A. Sim Logan's national cornet band, of Cattaraugus, N. Y.
Mr. Chester C. Lay's silver cornet band, of the same place.
Mr. Levi Jonathan's Tuscarora cornet band, of Grand River, Ontario.
Mr. Enos Johnson's temperance cornet band, of Tuscarora, N. Y.
On the morning of the last day of the convention before the services
began, the four cornet bands consolidated in one, which made over fifty
members, and played several tunes together outside of the Presbyterian
church, in which the convention was held, and made a rousing band of music.
The first article of the constitution, which reads thus: "This society
shall be denominated the Temperance Society," was amended so as to read
thus: "This society shall be denominated the Six Nations Temperance
Society of the United States and Canada."
The assembly was then called to sign the temperance pledge of this
society. There were upwards of two hundred that signed, most of whom
resided on the reservation in which the convention was held; but there
were some from the Tonawanda, Alleghany and Onondaga reservations, and
also one Oneida, from Green Bay, Wis.
The Onondagas and Tonawandas made application for a copy of the
constitution to be sent to them, that they might form temperance
societies on their respective reservations, which was granted them, and
Mr. Josiah Hill was appointed to write the copy and send the same to
them.
The convention adjourned on the evening of the third day to meet again
the next year at Grand River, Ontario.
OFFICERS
Mr. John Canada, Seneca, of Cattarauguh, President.
Mr. Wm. Patterson, Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. Y., Vice-President.
Mr. Josiah Hill, Tuscarora, of Grand River, Secretary.
Mr. John Mt. Pleasant, Tuscarora, of Lewiston, N. Y., Treasurer.
It will be seen by the above that the Tuscaroras have not been altogether
idle on the subject of temperance. The temptations of intemperance
surrounding our reservation are great. We hope that the legislature will
aid us in enacting more rigid laws, for the temptation is working even in
cider, which seems to be more intoxicating now than in former times.
* * * * *
Friendship of the Tuscaroras to the United States.
The Tuscarora Indians have for more than a century been a firm friend to
the United States. In the Revolutionary war they took an active part for
the declaration of independence; many took part, but few were enrolled,
consequently, but few that drew pension from the United States. For
instance, Nicholas Cusick, a Tuscarora Indian; where shall you look for
another instance of friendship, greater than his, towards the
distinguished Marquis de Lafayette, or for christian principle more firm
and true than he evinced concerning his pension.
In the war of the Revolution he was under command of Lafayette. Many
years after peace was concluded, as he was passing through Washington, he
accidentally heard the name of his old commander spoken of in the office
in which he stopped on business. The moment his ear caught the sound, his
eyes brightened, and full of earnestness he asked, "Is he yet alive?"
"Yes," was the reply, "he is alive and looking well and hearty." With
decided emphasis, he said, "I am glad to hear it." "Then you knew
Lafayette, Mr. Cusick?" "Oh, yes;" he answered. "I knew him well, and
many a time in battle threw myself between him and the bullets, _for I
loved him_."
On asking him if he had a commission, he said, "Yes; General Washington
gave me one, and he was Lieutenant." This suggested to his friends that
he was entitled to a pension, and on looking over the records, the truth
of what he said was confirmed, and he received one for several years.
Afterwards, congress passed a law making it necessary that each recipient
should swear that he could not live without the pension. When the old
warrior was called upon to do this, he said, "Now, here is my little log
cabin, and it is my own; here is my patch of ground, where I raise my
corn and beans, and there is lake Oneida, where I can catch fish; with
these I can make out to live without the pension, and to say that I could
not, would be to lie to the Great Spirit."
This is the honor of the Tuscarora hero. How many among those of the
white people who receive a pension would have done likewise, for
conscience sake. Cusick could speak the English language very well, but
when he made an audible prayer, or said grace at the table, he used his
native Tuscarora language, "because," said he, "when I speak in English,
I am often at a loss for a word; when, therefore, I speak to the Great
Spirit, I do not like to be perplexed, or have my mind distracted to look
after a word, when I use my own language, it is like my breath, I am
composed." In this is exemplified that he fully understood the reverence
which was due to the great Architect of the universe.
Solomon Longboard, also a Tuscarora Sachem, took an active part in the
Revolutionary war, with many others of his nation. In one of their
scouting parties, he, with others, was taken captive by the British
Indians and brought to fort Niagara, where they were kept for some time,
and urged to take up arms and fight against the revolutionists. Finally,
this celebrated sachem, Longboard, held a secret council among the
captives, and instructed them all to take arms and advance with the
British Indians, and use their influence to lead them to a place where
they might be captured, and they with the rest, which they successfully
effected, and were re-captured by the Americans. Instead of gaining honor
and laurels to his crown, he was to be sentenced to be shot as a traitor,
but through the entreaties of the Tuscarora chiefs, and the influence of
the feasibility of their story that was made on the executives, he was
released, but never drew pension as did Mr. Cusick.
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