credit from Indians, and do not pay them honestly according to agreement.
In another respect, also, it has been broken by white people residing
near my dwelling; for when I plant melons and vines in my field, they
take them as their own. It has been broken again, by white people using
their endeavors to obtain our pine trees from us. We have very few pine
trees on our land in the State of New York, and whites and Indians
often get into dispute respecting them. There is also a great quantity
of whiskey brought near our reservation, and the Indians obtain it and
become drunken.
Another circumstance has taken place which is very trying, to me, and I
wish for the interference of the Governor. The white people who live at
Warren, called upon me some time ago, to pay taxes for my land, which I
objected to, as I never had been called upon for that purpose before; and
having refused to pay, they became irritated, called upon me frequently,
and at length brought four guns with them, and seized our cattle. I still
refused to pay, and was not willing to let the cattle go. After a time of
dispute, they returned home, and I understood the militia was ordered out
to enforce the collection of the tax. I went to Warren, and to avert the
impending difficulty, was obliged to give my note for the tax, the amount
of which was forty-three dollars and seventy-nine cents. It is my desire
that the Governor will exempt me from paying taxes for my land to white
people; and also to cause that the money I am now obliged to pay, be
refunded to me, as I am very poor. The Governor is the person who attends
to the situation of the people, and I wish him to send a person to
Allegheny, that I may inform him of the particulars of our situation, and
he be authorized to instruct the white people in what manner to conduct
themselves towards the Indians.
The government has told us, that when difficulties arose between the
Indians and the white people, they would attend to having them removed.
We are now in a trying situation, and I wish the Governor to send a
person authorized to attend thereto the forepart of next summer, about
the time that the grass has grown big enough for pasture.
The Governor formerly requested me to pay attention to the Indians, and
take care of them. We are now arrived at a situation in which I believe
the Indians cannot exist, unless the Governor should comply with my
request, and send a person authorized to treat between us and the white
people the approaching summer. I have now no more to speak.
* * * * *
Transcriber Note
All presumed typographical errors were corrected. Hyphenation of proper
names was not standardized. On page 27, Sir WILLIAM JOHNSTON is the
father of Sir JOHN JOHNSTON who is mentioned twice. The quotation beginning
on page 60 lacked a closing quote which was placed based on an internet
search of the document quoted.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Cornplanter Memorial, by James Ross Snowden