through twelve war chiefs and twelve Sachems, as of old. I understand the fact to be that the withdrawal of a considerable number of the members of the Onondaga Nation to Canada, about the time of the close of the American Revolution, did not interrupt in any way the system of government by chiefs of those, who then were and who thereafter remained in the State of New York. The rule followed by said Nation for determining the right of membership in the Nation and of allegiance to it is by reference to the tribe of the mother, so that every child of an Onondaga woman becomes entitled by birth to membership in the Nation, and no other person is entitled to such membership. The rolls, which are used as the basis of the distribution of goods received under treaties from the Federal government and of moneys received on account of cessions to the State of New York, is made up by the chiefs and it includes only such persons as are born of Onondaga mothers, and this rule, I understand to have been the ancient rule with the Onondagas and has never been departed from to my knowledge by the Onondagas living in New York.

I say further that never, within my knowledge or to the best of my belief, did any Onondaga Indian, whose residence was in Canada, since the date when I become old enough to remember, participate in the Onondaga annuity moneys paid by the State of New York, nor did the State of New York pay directly to any such Indian any moneys on account of such annunities.

I say further that never to my knowledge, or to the best of my belief, was any Onondaga Indian residing within the United States during the period since I was old enough to remember, premitted by the Onondagas of Canada, or the Six Nations resident in Canada to share in any annunities or interest moneys payable to Six Nations Indians by Great Britain, nor received directly from the officials of the Dominion Government, or of the Province of Ontario any moneys on account of annuities due from Great Britain to Indians of the Six Nations resident in Canada.

During my life time the Indians of the Six Nations, resident in the United States, and especially those resident in the State of New York, have been wholly and completely separated from the Indians of the Six Nations resident in Canada, in respect to all moneys of annuities or other properties or benefits due from the

respective governments, upon which they are dependents, or in respect to rights in land; and the same is true as to rights in land. BAPTIST THOMAS, his X mark.

KARL HIGBIE.

Witness to mark.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of October, At the City of Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga in the State of New York.

1913.

[SEAL]

KARL HIGBIE, Notary Public.

OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE INDIAN RELATIONS OF NEW YORK.

EXHIBIT 297.

Message of Governor George Clinton to the Legislature of New York.

*

January, 1791.

* In the recess of the Legislature an amicable adjustment with the Indians residing within our territory has been effected, and every cause of uneasiness being removed they now profess sentiments of friendship and attachment.

EXHIBIT 298.

Petition of the Onondagas.1

* * *

To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York: The Petition of the Chiefs & Warriors of the Onondaga Tribe of Indians,

Humbly sheweth

That at a former Treaty made between Commissioners appointed on the part of said State, and the said Onondaga Tribe, a stipulation was entered into, that Two thousand Dollars should be paid annually to said Indians so long as they should remain a Nation; one half of which Annuity was thereby made payable at

1Assembly Papers, Vol. 40, p. 59.

Onondaga and the other half to the Indians residing Westward. That in consequence of the recent removal of almost the whole of said Indians to Onondaga it has become necessary that the whole of said Annuity should be paid at Onondaga, in order that a more fair and equitable division of it may hereafter be made. That your petitioners have since the said Treaty endeavored to fulfil what was engaged on their part and therefore under their present circumstances humbly pray that the whole of said annuity may hereafter be made payable at Onondaga.

And your Petrs. etc.

Onon. 23 Jany. 1818.

EPHM. WEBSTER,

GEORGE X his mark BLACKBEARD
JOHN X his mark BUNT
YOUNONETALACK X his mark
TUTAS SAACK X his mark
OSETEGATETE X his mark

JUNTA NOWAK X his mark
JOHN BROWN X his mark
ANOGA X his mark

State Agent & Interpreter to said Indians.

INDORSEMENT.

To the Hon. the Legislature of the State of N. York. The Petn. of the Onondaga Indians. In Assembly Jany. 29, 1818. Refd. to Comee. James Webb, Chr.

EXHIBIT 299.

The Cayuga Chiefs to the Comptroller of New York.1

CATTARAUGUS RESERVATION,

WESTERN NEw York,
May 22nd, 1878.

HON. P. F. OLCOTT,

Comptroller of the State of New York.

DEAR SIR: At a Council of the people of the Cayuga Tribe or Nation of the Cayuga Indians held in pursuance of notice given and regular custom of said people for the purpose of taking into

1File Box 310, Comptroller's Office.

consideration the general interests and welfare of the same held April 9th 1878 It was determined that hereafter the number of chiefs be three instead of four as in former years. Whereupon a motion was made that Alexander John of the old board be continued, which was carried. Rush S. Wilson and Austin Stafford were then nominated and elected by a unanimous vote as chiefs in pursuance of the vote as first mentioned and filling the number. At a subsequent council held the 17th day of April Our Agent H. H. Hawkins being present by request It was agreed and understood by the new board of chiefs and the people that all contracts and agreements made and entered into by the former chiefs be recognized and fully performed and carried out in good faith. That the Draft made by them heretofore for the annuities due June 1st 1878 to the order of said Agent be concurred in as a performance of the expressed resolution of the Council and people is hereby approved and done as the Expressed will of the Cayuga people. That we the undersigned newly Elected Chiefs wishes to notify the Comptroller That all official business done in connection with the Cayuga Nation of Indians in matters pertain to their welfare and interest will be made known to him by the new board of Chiefs.

(Signed) ALEXANDER JOHN

RUSH S. WILSON
AUSTIN M. STAFFORD
Chiefs of the Cayuga Indians.

I do hereby Certify that the foregoing statement is true and that from my own personal knowledge the accompanying proceedings of the several councils therein mentioned are correct and that a Majority of people and general Expression of the people of said Nation is therein expressed.

(Signed) H. H. HAWKINS, Agent.