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Show 1 156 BASIS OP AMERICAN HISTORY [ 1600 stituent tribes., v The members of this council were limited in numbfer and were equal in rank and authority. Fifty sachemships were founded and named in perpetuity in certain clans of the several tribes, and these tribes retained the right to fill vacancies by election or to depose for cause. The right to invest a sachem- elect with office was reserved by the general council. \ These sachems of the confederacy were sachems al^> in their several tribes, and with the " chiefs" or leading men of these tribes formed the tribal council. This tribal council had supreme authority over all matters pertaining exclusively to the tribe. In the council of the confederacy unanimity was essential to every act; and since in that body the sachems voted by tribes, each tribe had a veto power over all the others. The general council could be convened by the call of the council of any tribe, but it had no power to convene itself. It was open to orators of the people for the discussion of public questions, the decision resting solely with the elected sachems. The confederacy had no executive or official head, but for great military operations two war- chiefs were appointed, who were made equal in rank and authority. Space will not permit a detailed discussion of the various phases of the organization^ it was a magnificent conception and splendidly carried out. The 1 For the procedure and details, see Hale, Iroquois Book of Rites; Morgan, League of the Iroquois, Ancient Society. |
