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Beyond Penn's Treaty

Travels in Some Parts of North America

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council broke up without any thing further being
done at that time.

Shortly after another council was held by the
chiefs; and a messenger was sent to the house
requiring his attendance; but, fearing some vio-
lence was intended, he refused to comply. This
refusal so irritated the chiefs so far that they imme-
diately sent out four warriors, with orders to put
him to death; but, observing them as they ap-
proached the house, he put himself in a posture
of defence; and, being joined by his brother and
two white persons who happened to be in the
house, they were able to make such a defence,
that, after a sharp contest, in which both sides
suffered severely, the warriors were compelled to
fly, covered with blood, being grievously wounded.
Thus circumstanced, he applied for protection to
the government of the United States

; and abjuring
his allegiance to the Oneida nation, and taking the
oaths of allegiance to the United States, he became
a citizen thereof. In consequence of this conduct,
an officer of the United States duly apprised the
Oneida chiefs that John Denny was now become a
citizen thereof, and of course was under the protec-
tion of that government; and that the government
was determined to protect him. The officer also
stated, that if the Oneida nation committed any fur-
ther outrage against Denny, it would be considered
as a reach of the treaty of peace and amity then