the branches of James's River in
Virginia, and the latter on these branches] and that they have, on that
account, a right to some parts of Virginia; _but as to what lies beyond
the mountains, we conquered the nations residing there, and that land_,
if the Virginians ever get a _good right to it, it must be by us_."

In the year 1750, the French seized four English traders, who were
trading with the Six Nations, Shawanesse and Delawares, on the waters
of the Ohio, and sent them prisoners to Quebeck, and from thence to
France.

In 1754, the French took a formal possession of the river Ohio, and
built forts at Venango,--at the confluence of the Ohio and Monongehela,
and at the _mouth of the Cherokee River_.

In 1755, General Braddock was sent to America with an army, to remove
the French from their possessions _over_ the Allegany mountains, and on
the river Ohio; and on his arrival at Alexandria, held a council of war
with the Governors of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and
the Massachusets Bay;--And as these gentlemen well knew, that the
country claimed by the French, _over the Allegany mountains, and
South-westerly to the river Mississippi_, was the unquestionable
property of the _six Nations_, and _not_ of the Cherokees, or any other
tribe of Indians,--the General gave instructions to Sir William
Johnson, to call together the Indians of the _Six Nations_, and lay
before them their before-mentioned grant to the King in 1726,--wherein
they had put all their hunting lands _under his Majesty's protection;
to be guaranteed to them, and to their use_:--And as General Braddock's
instructions are clearly declaratory of the right of the Six Nations to
the lands under consideration, we shall here transcribe the conclusive
words of them,--"And it appearing that the French have, from time to
time, by fraud and violence, built strong forts _within the limits of
the said lands_, contrary to the covenant chain of the said deed and
treaties, you are, in my name, to assure the said nations, that I am
come by his Majesty's order, to destroy all the said forts, and to
build such others, _as shall protect and secure the said lands to them,
their heirs and successors for ever_, according to the intent and
spirit of the said treaty; and I do therefore call upon them to take up
the hatchet, _and come and take possession of their own lands_."

That General Braddock and the American Governors, were _not_ singular
in their opin