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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Address by Ostenaco for the Cherokee Nation
Ostenaco, Cherokee chief, 1705?-1777?
October 20, 1765
Volume 07, Pages 115-117

[B. P. R. O. A. & W. 1 Vol. 269.]
Copy of a Talk from the Headmen and Warriors of the Cherokee Nation dated Fort Prince George 20th October 1765.

At a meeting held the 20th October 1765. It was agreed by the Prince of Chote, head beloved man of the Nation, Jud's Friend, and all the Warriors and head beloved men of the Lower Towns, that the Line should be run at Dewis's Corner, and the inclosed is a copy of the Cession; Two Belts and Strings were given from Chote and Keowee the beloved, and many other principal Towns with the strongest assurances of the Pacifick Disposition of the Nation, besides the following which is in substance as it was delivered by the Prince and Jud's Friend, in the name of the whole Nation.

That as the Lower Towns had already consented to the Lines being run as above, there should be no objections made on that head hereafter, that what they now agreed to, should be final, but that they hoped the marking the same would be deferr'd till the Spring, as their Hunting season was come on and it would be inconvenient and a loss to them to attend before.

That as this Cession is an instance of their duty to King George and their love for their Brothers, the white people, in as much as they have given part of their Hunting grounds away, because they would not put any of their poorer Brothers to the inconveniency of moving; they hoped it would recommend them to the particular

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favour of their Brother Lieutenant Governor Bull, and their Father Captain Stuart, whom they desired would inform the King their great Father of the same, and put him in mind of his children. That they further hoped this wou'd recommend them to the Country People and be a means of treating them with confidence and civility; That on their parts they should look on this as a lasting bright chain, which they should always hold one end of fast, resting in the confidence that the Line would always be remembered by their Brothers, with the same justice to their children, as to them That they expect the Line on the North Carolina side shall commence where that of the South Carolina side terminates, and be run a North Course into the Mountains, whence a straight Line to the Lead Mines of Colonel Cheswell should fix the Boundary on the Virginia side, That the late murder of some of their friends in Virginia was still fresh in their minds, but alleviated by the promises of satisfaction they have received, if the persons can be taken, and if not, as they are convinced what happened was not thro'a bad disposition of all their Brothers the English, they will not insist further, and lastly, that their old and constant enemies had now found the way to the Lower Towns that they begged of their Brothers a small quantity of ammunition to be employed against them.

After the above it seems some discontent prevailed amongst the young men who had not been sufficiently apprized of the Line's place, as I conjecture, and the 22d was appointed for another meeting. Jud's Friend after a private consulation with the Warriors spoke as follows.

My Eldest Brothers, Ensign Price and Mr Cameron, I was at Augusta, as were many of my Nation, we have the Talks in our remembrance, that were delivered there; we have likewise the most dutiful affection for our great Father the King and hope for his most gracious notice and protection, being but a handful of his children in comparison of the many he has. The Land we gave the other day we wish may be fruitfull of grain; we gave with it to our Brothers the game that is upon it the grass for their cattle to feed upon, the running waters and springs that are upon it for their drinking, the wood for their burning; and hereafter shall never make any claims to anything belonging to it. Of our Talk write to the Warriors of the water side, that they may think favorably of us. I desire all our Brothers to remember all our dependence for the

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necessaries of Life is upon Hunting that we shall hunt no where but on our own Land, and that we expect to reserve it for ourselves unfrequented by white Hunters.

My Brothers of the Lower Towns hear me; now God is the maker of both white and red People, and we are all his children. The Land he gave to us all, and we have divided it, our Brothers have it in writing, and we in our minds, there is no difference between them and us, we are both alike, the blood flows in their veins as in ours and we have essentially the same passions and desires, therefore let us hear of no discontents about the Line, it was agreed upon and given by you to the Warriors of the Fort before the Prince, and I came down, and there is yet enough reserved for you; We have settled all matters very satisfactory with our Brothers here for you, and they take care of you, therefore build good Houses and think of living amicacably and peaceably, nor say hereafter you know not where the Line is to be run. I tell you all it is at the Yellow Water & is to be done in the Spring, so don't shame your Warriors any more with being told that you went below it, stole horses, burnt the woods and committed other disorders; but when you buy a horse or a gun take care that you get a Bill of sale with it. You see the pains our Eldest Brothers the warriors here are at to take rogues and send them from among us, to secure to us our property. Will you not then be honest? or what course are your Warriors to take with you? for we are tired travelling backwards and forwards to make up matters for you.

We had promises of a good Trade from His late Majesty King George and these have been repeated by His present Majesty whom I have seen; the Nation is accordingly well supplied, but as your Ground is now somewhat abridged and the game grow scarcer every year, I shall on your behalf and do now request of our two Brothers here to write to our Brothers below to settle rates upon the goods, lower than what they are sold for at present; and, as our minds are all become straight, I entreat we may have Rum brought among us again, the Warriors will be answerable that no bad consequences shall arise from it, nor do we desire it in the abundance we had it formerly; but the Trader to be restricted to bring no more than six Kegs unmixed to this Town and to oblige Him to sell them for Provision—Kind and not for skins.