Brothers, Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations
When I took you by the hand, last Fall, at Tioga, the chain of friendship was brightened between you and the United States; and you expressed your wishes to keep it always bright. On the part of the United States, I assured you of their regard for you, and their desire to maintain with you perpetual peace and friendship. To renew those assurances, and again to brighten the chain, and to remove all causes of jealousies and discontents, I am desired once more to meet you, at such time and place as should appear to me most convenient. I therefore now propose the Painted Post as a proper place of meeting; and as it is important that the treaty be held as soon as possible, I propose that we should meet together at that place, by the 15th of June next. That time and place I hope will be convenient and agreeable to you; and I shall use my endeavor that everything else shall give you satisfaction.
Brothers, You will naturally ask for what special purpose you are called to attend this Council Fire? - Brothers, I will be open and tell you. For at the Council Fire which I kindled at Tioga, in the name of our Great Chief, General Washington, & of the United States, I assured you that in all my conduct you should find me open and sincere. Without sincerity, how can friendship be preserved?
Brothers, You know that some of the Western Indians have lifted up the hatchet and struck many citizens of the United States. You told me that the Shawanese had invited you to join them in a war against the United States; but that you had refused to join them. And you gave strong reasons for your refusal. You said that we sit side by side, and ought to live in peace. That you wished to keep the path between us open and clear, that you might pass and repass unhurt; and that you desired to be at peace with the United States, that your women & children might be in safety. Brothers, I was equally pleased with your determination and with the reasons on which it was founded. The same reasons must still influence you to hold fast your determination of maintaining peace with the United States. Some bad men, however, enemies of the United States, may endeavor to persuade you to engage in war, and by misrepresentations and lies, prevail on some, contrary to their own interest and the interest of the Six Nations. Now, Brothers, I am to kindle the proposed Council Fire at the Painted Post, to give you fresh assurances of the good-will of the United States, of their desire to make the chain of friendship with you still brighter & to keep it always bright; and to show you that the war with the Western Indians, is, on the part of the United States, not a war of choice, not of oppression, not of injustice, but of necessity, to defend our frontiers, and save the settlers from destruction.
Brothers, according to the usual practice in treaties with Indians, the proposed treaty will be concluded with a present of goods.
Brothers, I received great pleasure in the treaty held with you last fall at Tioga; and the manner in which it was conducted was entirely approved by the Great Chief of the United States. I hope and believe that the intended treaty will be equally pleasing, and give equal satisfaction to our Great Chief.
Given under my hand and seal at Wyoming in the State of Pennsylvania, the seventeenth day of April 1791.
Timothy Pickering

Message from
Timothy Pickering
To
The six nations
April 17, 1791