remitting in his endeavors to preserve the good will and affection of the Six Nations, the colonists lost no time in instructing them in regard to the nature of the controversy, and in advising them

to act as

With a very considerable

neutrals.

of the

portion

Six Nations neutrality had long been an established policy, and gained for the colonists not only an attentive ear, but compelled to

Johnson

adopt

it

as the course

which he wished them to

To the declarations of Dean and Kirkland, and to

pursue. the belts which the faithful Mahicans sent to

all

the tribes

that the " dispute did not concern the In

advising neutrality dians ; that it arose from the crown's endeavors to large reimbursement

obtain a

for the expenses of the late war,

which

the colonists could not comply with, and therefore an army was sent to that the

compel them" Johnson found it necessary to reply " was dispute solely occasioned by some people who,

notwithstanding the king's law, would not permit some tea to land, but destroyed it ;" that the matter was one with which

" with the nothing to do," any more than they had " that which they foolish people" who talked to them about they had

"

themselves did not understand." 1 in general council at

Onondaga,

Thus urged, the Six Nations to resolved to have " nothing

do with the axe, but to support their engagements."

This action left the Johnsons with nothing but their personal influence and official relations, but these they believed, and not without reason, were sufficient to control to a great extent the action of the tribes. integrity