During the Legislative Session of 1913 the State Librarian was asked by Senator and Mrs. Endsley to suggest the titles of State publications, then out of print, which might be reprinted for the benefit of historical workers. Among others the Librarian suggested "Pennsylvania at Gettysburg" and the "Frontier Forts." An act was prepared by Senator Endsley authorizing a new edition of the "Frontier Forts" and appointing the State Librarian as the editor thereof, The Editor requested Dr. George P. Donehoo of Coudersport, a well known authority upon the history of the Indian tribes, as related to Pennsylvania, to prepare a preface for the new edition, and Doctor Donehoo responded as follows: "The author of the introduction of the first edition of Frontier Forts states, 'It is not within the scope of this report to analyse the reasons which induced the Indians to commit their terrible depredations in the Province of Pennsylvania, where the policy of the government had always been of a peaceful character and was based on the princip1e of fair dealing with the aboriginies.' While this statement is, in the main, true, it is nevertheless necessary for a right understanding of the history which is covered by these 'Border Wars,' that something be known of the conditions which made these wars possible. The author of this brief introduction realizes that it is not possible, in a mere introduction of this sort, to give a complete history of all of the causes which 1ed to the alienation of the aboriginies, who welcomed the first white settlers to the shores of the Delaware. A whole vo1ume would be needed to cover the history of this most interesting and vital epoch in Pennsylvania, and American history. But, this brief sketch may help the reader to understand why the friendly Delaware was changed to a relentless foe, and to it certain extent give the reason back of the hostility of the period in which Pennsy1vania was drenched in blood. When William Penn was ready to embark upon the ship which was to carry him to the New World, in which he had received a grant of land from King Charles, he requested that he be given an audience by his sovereign. When this request was granted, the King, in jest, said to him, "It will not be long until I hear that you have gone into the savages' warkettle: what is to prevent it?" "Their own inner light," said Penn. "Moreover, as I intend equitably to buy their lands. I shall not be molested." "Buy their lands," replied the King,in surprise, "Why, is not the land mine?" "No, your Majesty, you have no right to their lands; they are the original occupants of the soil." "What, have I not the right of discovery?" "Well, just suppose that a canoe full of savages should by some accident discover Great Britain. Would you vacate, or sell ?” Needless to say, the King was surprised, but he was no doubt more surprised by the results of Penn's policy. New England commenced its conquest by trying to convert the Indian, in the meanwhile taking possession of the soil. Penn commenced the conquest of his possessions on the Delaware by buying the land from the occupants and treating with them in friendly conferences, in order that he might win them to friendly relations with him and his people. The conquest of Pennsylvania was entirely different from that of any other part of the continent. It began with a Treaty of Peace, held under the spreading elm tree at Shackamaxon. Many writers have attempted to make this supposed scene, according to their views, entirely mythical. No matter where it was held, or when it was held-at Shackamaxon before Willialli Penn arrived in the country, or at Chester after his arrival-it was most certainly held at the commencement of the settlement of the Province, for the 'League of Amity' made with William Penn upon his taking, possession of the land on the Delaware, is mentioned at nearly every Council held in the Province in after years. The author can see no reason for changing the traditional site at Shackamaxon, or the year 1682. This place was a prominent gathering place for the Indians. Its very name, Sakimaxing, 'place of chiefs,' made it the most prominent village, or meeting place, in the region. Penn wrote to the Commissioners, whom he had sent out to make the arrangements for the settlement of the Delaware, 'Be tender to the Indians. Soften them to me and to the people. Let them know that you are come to sit down lovingly among them. Read to them, in their own tongue, the conditions made with the purchasers, that they shall deal justly with them. Make a friendship and league with them according to these conditions, which carefully observe.' To the Indians he wrote, "God, to whom you and I and all people owe their being, has written His law in our hearts, by which we are commanded to love, and to help, and to do good to one another, I desire to win and gain your love and friendship by a Kind, just and peaceable life, and the people I send are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly." To Thomas Holme he wrote, "When the great God brings me among you, I intend to order all things in such a manner that we may live in love and peace, one with another, Which I hope the great God will incline both you and me to do." These were the sentiments upon which William Penn commenced his conquest of Pennsylvania, and these were the principles which entered into the "League of Amity," which was to endure ''as long as the sun gives light." The belt of wampum which is supposed to have been given at the first Treaty with the Indians is preserved in a case in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The inscription upon this case is, "Not Sworn to but Never Broken." this statement is correct. For seventy years this "League of Amity" was kept inviolate by the Indians, as well as by the Penns. Year after year the old chiefs of the Delawares went to Philadelphia to renew this agreement. In 1718 Civility, the old chief of the remnant of the once powerful Susquehanna, or Conestoga, Indians went to Philadelphia. In his "speech" to Sir William Keith, he said, in speaking of the visit of his tribesmen, "that they came, not to make any new Treaty or League of friendship, but only to renew or confirm those I which had been made, and were hitherto inviolably kept on both I sides." At a Council at Conestoga in 1721 Sir William Keith refers to the settlement of the Province, and said, "Some of your ancient men can yet remember the first settlement of the Province of Pennsylvania by William Penn. He was a good man, and had a great affection for the Indians; he entered into Leagues of friendship with them, and treated them as brethren." The Indian speakers said that they remembered those treaties with William Penn. At a Treaty at Albany the following year Sir William Keith said, "You have likewise told us how William Penn, who was a good man, did, at his first settlement of the Povince of Pennsylvania, make leagues of friendship with the Indians, and treated them as brethren; and that, like the same good man, he left it in charge to all his Governors who should succeed him, and to all the people of Pennsylvania, that they should always keep the covenant and treaties he made with the Five Nations, and treat them with love and kindness. We acknowledge that his Governors and people have always kept the same honestly and truly to this day; so we, on our part, have always kept and forever shall keep firm peace and friendship with a good heart, to all the people of Pennsylvania." For seventy years this peaceful policy of William Penn was carried out in all of the dealings of the Province with the Indians. At the Council at Easton in 1750 Tedyuskung, the leading Delaware chief, said, "I remember weIl the leagues and covenants of our forefathers. We are but children in comparison with them. What William Penn said to the Indians is still fresh in our minds; this we all remember and IT IS NOT A SMALL MATTER THAT WOULD HAVE THEN SEPARATED US." It truly was not a small thing which led to the breaking of the friendship between the Delawares and the English settlers in the Province. The alienation of the Delawares was the cause which led directly to the fearful years of bloodshed and strife, With the Delawares went the Shawnee, and also the Seneca on the Ohio-called Mingo in many of the articles dealing with this period. The first real step of the Indians in Pennsylvania from the "League of Amity" with the Province was caused by the nefarious "Walking Purchase" of 1737, by which the Delawares lost, through a clear case of frand, the most prized lands of their ancestors. Various attempts were made by the Provincial authorities, as well as by the Iroquois, to show that no fraud had been committed in this purchase. But, no method of argument can make such a transaction just. It certainly was not wise. But whether just or wise it marked the commencement of the movement of both the Delaware and Shawnee away from English interest. The Delawares felt that they had been cheated in the "home of their friends," and as they were driven by the Iroquois to find refuge along the upper Susquehanna, in the Wyoming Valley, or moved westward to the Ohio, they felt that they had been wronged by the very ones whom they trusted most. But, more galling than even the fraud which had been practiced upon them in this sale, was the realization that henceforth they were to take a seat in the background in all of the affairs of the Province, while the Iroquois assumed the position of the Master, not only of them, but also of all of the lands upon which they lived. When the Province of Pennsylvania paid the Iroquois for the lands upon the Delaware river, south of the Blue Mountains, in 1736, a precedent was made which the Iroquois were not slow to make the most of in the years to come. This was the first claim which the Iroquois had ever set up for ownership of land occupied by the Delawares. From 1682 until 1736 the Delawares had dealt directly with the Provincial authorities in the sale of all of the lands upon which they lived. From 1736 until the last purchase of Indian lands in Pennsylvania the Iroquois dealt directly with the Province, ignoring the right of the Delawares to a foot of the ground upon which they lived. At the Council in Philadelphia in 1742 the Iroquois ordered the Delawares to remove at once to Shamokin or Wyoming, from their lands in the Minisinks, which they supposed had been reserved for them. The Delawares went away from this Council thoroughly humiliated because of the treatment given them. We can possibly realize what such treatment meant to the proud chiefs, who remembered the days when their fathers had been treated by William Penn with honor, as the rightful owners of the lands, which were now sold under their very feet by the Iroquois. They had not even been invited to go to this Council, but were informed that they could go if they so wished-at their own expense. _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx