in which they expressed a wish that Friends would endeavour to obtain
for them a written instrument from the President of the United States,
to strengthen, as they said, their title to their land, so that they
might be easy themselves, and their children after them. And as it had
been concluded in the last fall, to divide the Alleghany reservation
into lots, they also wished to know whether this plan was agreeable to
the President.
In consequence of this request of the Alleghany chiefs, as also with
a view of making the executive department of government more fully
acquainted with their situation, various documents were prepared and
committed to the charge of four of the committee, to present to the
secretary of war, and such other officers of government as seemed to
be requisite. These documents were calculated to explain the views of
Friends in the interesting and benevolent design of ameliorating the
condition, and promoting the civilization of the Indians, and also to
impress the public mind with the peculiarly distressed situation of the
aborigines of our country generally.
A surveyor being furnished by Friends, some essay was made, in the
course of this year, towards dividing the Alleghany reservation into
lots, as had previously been concluded on in general council. But
difficulties occurred among the Indians respecting it, which they were
not at that time able to reconcile; as the division lines would in many
instances interfere with their present improvements; and their local
attachments having, in a considerable degree, been increased since they
become more detached in their settlements and applied themselves to the
pursuits of an agricultural life, the plan of division was abandoned
for the present.
It may here be proper to state, that in their former practice of
locating the land they wished to cultivate, they never interfered with
each other’s boundaries. There was land sufficient for them all. Each
family possessed the spot upon which they settled, without interruption
from others; and if they wished to relinquish it, and remove to
another, they might sell their improvements to other Indians. It is,
therefore, not surprising, that in effecting so radical a change from
their former customs, as the one contemplated, difficulties should
occur--and it will require time for local prejudices, gradually to give
way to the more enlightened views of civilization, and for more correct
ideas of distinct property to be realized.
Notwithstanding the state of unsettlement, considerable improvement in
divers respects, was apparent this year, especially at the Cattaraugus
settlement. A school for the first time was opened at that place, by a
young man who offered for that service, and was attended by a number of
children, with as much regularity as could reasonably be expected.
In the year 1819, and for some time previous, the Indians on the
Alleghany river had got much in the practice of cutting and rafting
pine timber down the river, and selling to white people, which was
rather an injury to them than otherwise, as it opened an intercourse
with some of the most profligate of the whites, and exposed them more
to the use of intoxicating liquors than when at home, engaged in their
agricultural labours. It also had a tendency to frustrate the plan of
dividing their land into lots, as they now had liberty to range at
large in the woods and get timber where they pleased, while the land
remained as common stock to the nation.
In the spring of this year, an Indian, who was a lad when Friends
first settled amongst them, and who had since been instructed in the
blacksmith business, dictated a letter to the author, in reply to one
sent to him sometime before, from which, to show his own views of the
improvement he had made, we make the following extracts.
* * * * *
“I received thy letter of the eighteenth of last month, much to my
satisfaction. I was glad to hear that my old friend W---- was well, and
thou may inform him that I have usual health also. I well remember the
counsel of my friends, the Quakers. I see they want to do me good--I
feel strong about it. They told me to work at my trade, and to plough,
and sow, and raise grain and grass. All this is very good advice. I
now have plenty of corn, and some other grain, and hay. I have worked
at my trade so as to earn ninety dollars, and received my pay from our
agent. Besides this, about thirty dollars for other smithing, done last
year. I feel glad the Quakers live so near me. I do their smithing.
They have ploughed several days for me. I have good corn in the land
they ploughed, and some good wheat, potatoes, and other things, so that
I have plenty. All this comes from my friends the Quakers’ advice.
“Thee mentions about running out our land into lots, and that an evil
bird has sung us a bad song. We are in hopes that the good bird will
begin to sing, and in hopes that by next spring, his song will be for
our good. I want he should sing a good song for us. I myself cannot say
much, but I want the land divided into lots. Some say they do not want
it, and are putting it by. I am glad thee has wrote thy mind on paper
to me on this subject, and sent it here--I think I can see more light
by it. I wish thee to make thy mind easy. I will do what I can, and
speak what I know is for our good. I am in hopes to see my friend H----
here, whom I remember when I was a boy. I intend to keep thy letter by
me, that I may see what it says in time to come, that I may not forget
thy advice. Farewell.”
* * * * *
Notwithstanding the repeated assurances, from time to time, given to
the Indians, that Friends were acting towards them from disinterested
motives, and would never bring any charge against them, yet there
were still individuals among them, probably instigated by the enemies
of Friends among white people, who continued to excite jealousies
and surmises, that Friends would at some future day, bring a charge
against them. In order, therefore, to make their minds entirely easy
on this _subject_, a writing was drawn up on parchment, containing the
same assurances heretofore given, that Friends _never would bring any
charge against them for their services_. This, as also a communication
obtained from the President of the United States, respecting the
division of their land, and sanctioning the plan of Friends, was
forwarded to them, and seemed for the present to have a conciliating
effect.
During this summer, an increasing improvement was manifested by
several of the Indians, clearing themselves new farms, distinct from
their former fields, and preparing to put in their crops, which they
accomplished in due season.
In the summer of 1820, circumstances again requiring a visit from the
committee to the Indian settlements, two other Friends and the writer,
were deputed for that service. They proceeded to Tunesassa in the Ninth
month; and after inspecting into the situation of the Indians, and
their state of improvement, they found, that, although many had made
considerable advances in agriculture and the modes of civilized life,
yet there were individuals who probably being instigated by designing
white men, or from a perverse disposition in themselves, had become
inimical to their abandoning their former habits, and pursuing the
mode of life in which Friends had for many years been endeavouring to
instruct them. This created jealousy and party spirit in some degree
among them at this period.
To meet these circumstances, and to endeavour to reconcile the minds of
the Indians, a council was called, which their chiefs generally, and
many others of their people, attended, to the number of about seventy.
The following is extracted from the address of Friends, delivered to
them on this occasion.
* * * * *
“Brothers, by the permission of the Great and Good Spirit who made the
world, and is acquainted with all the actions of men, we are permitted
to meet in council, and we desire that he may help us to come to right
conclusions.
“Brothers, it is now a long time since the Seneca nation became
sensible that if they continued to exist as a people, they must change
their mode of living from the hunter state, and engage in agricultural
pursuits. They were very desirous that their brothers, the Quakers,
would assist them. They believed it pleasing to the Great Spirit, that
men should assist and help each other, and that Friends came amongst
them for that purpose.
“Brothers, when our Friends first came among you, you had no good
houses--very few cattle--very little land cultivated--your numbers
were decreasing, and it appears certain to us, and to yourselves, that
unless a change were made, you would fast dwindle away, and the Seneca
nation become as it were dead.
“Brothers, some of our friends have been engaged in instructing
you for more than twenty years. You have been taught to build more
comfortable houses--you have enclosed and cultivated fields--you have
much increased your stock of cattle, and other useful animals. Some of
your men have been instructed in useful trades. Many of your women have
learned to spin, and some of your children have been taught to read and
write.
“Brothers, we love you, and therefore we feel bound to speak plainly to
you. We hope our words may sink deep into your minds. It is the voice
of your old and true friends, who have never deceived you. You must
endeavour to improve in the habits of civilized life, until you arrive
at the state of some of the best of the white people, or you will
gradually go back until you lose what you have gained--your friends
with mournful hearts will give you up--your lands will go from you--and
the very name of the Seneca nation, like many that have gone before
you, will only be known in history.
“Brothers, a man in the habit of taking strong drink to excess sets
a bad example to his neighbours, and his family, and brings his poor
wife and innocent children to poverty and distress. This conduct is
offensive to the Great Spirit; and unless he changes, he becomes one
of the most wretched of men. We wish you, therefore, to endeavour to
reclaim such of your people as have fallen into this evil practice, and
to warn those who may be in danger of contracting the habit.
“Brothers, we desire to stimulate you to increased industry. The
industrious man is always the most comfortable. Labour is good for
health; it makes the mind cheerful; and by steadily attending to
business, we have the satisfaction to see every thing improving around
us. What appeared hard, by perseverance becomes easy.
“Brothers, the greatest kindness a man can do to his children, is to
begin early, to learn them to be industrious, and to engage them in
business suitable to their years. The boys ought to help their fathers
in the fields--the mothers and daughters to be engaged in spinning--in
making clothes, in cooking victuals, and in all the business that is
suitable to their sex--their houses, their beds, their clothes, and
every thing about them, should be kept clean and in good order.
“Brothers, it is consistent with the will of the Great Spirit, that men
and women should be connected in marriage. It is an engagement of great
importance, and we should not enter into it, until we are of sufficient
age to think and judge for ourselves; and when marriage is contracted,
the parties are bound to help and love each other--to care for, and
instruct their children--and while families live in love and harmony
together, it is very comfortable and very good;--but when division
gets in, and differing, it is the work of the evil spirit--and if man
and wife separate and marry others, it produces confusion, and must be
displeasing in the Divine sight, and no people can prosper and grow
strong who are in such practices.
“Brothers, it is the duty of parents to have their children educated.
The Great Spirit has given us minds capable of improvement, and by
education children become more capable of learning the various trades,
which will add to their comfort and happiness; and we believe it is
right that the girls should be taught as well as the boys.
“Brothers, we have been desirous that the lands belonging to you might
remain firm in your hands, that your children and children’s children
might possess them. For this end, we advised you to divide to every
family a farm, so that they might say, “this is mine,” and improve it
for their own benefit. And although changes are at first subject to
some difficulties, yet we believe those difficulties may be overcome.
“Brothers, on this subject you wished to have the mind of your
father, the President of the United States, to strengthen you in the
conclusion you had come to in general council, to divide the Alleghany
reservation. You requested your friends in Philadelphia to go to the
President, and obtain his opinion. One of us, who are now present, with
some others, took a journey to Washington, for the purpose of complying
with your request, and we found the President fully impressed with the
necessity of such a measure, and he gave us a paper, in strong words,
sealed with the great seal of the United States, and directed to the
Alleghany chiefs, advising and urging that you might carry the business
into effect, which paper was sent to you.
“Brothers, we hope you will keep your minds strong on this subject,
for we shall hardly know how to go again to the President, and make
requests on your behalf, if, when they are granted, they are not
proceeded in.
“Brothers, our talk has been long. Circumstances seemed to require it;
we hope you will consider it well. We love and desire the prosperity of
you all; and although you may differ in opinion in some matters, yet we
desire that the Good Spirit may unite your minds in love, and that you
may all join in endeavours to promote education and improvement.”
* * * * *
The Indians took these matters into serious consideration, and promised
to make a reply the day following--and when they assembled for that
purpose, it was evident they were divided into two parties, and divers
of them had become opposed to their children’s being instructed in
school learning, giving this as a reason, “that they were more liable
to be corrupted by bad white people.”
Much the greater part, however, continued to manifest an attachment to
Friends, and, in their replies, gave hearty assurances of attending
to their advice. They appeared to be fully sensible that remaining on
their land, and pursuing the plan that Friends had pointed out to them,
were the only means by which they could continue to be a nation. The
chief sachem, named _Blue-Eyes_, in the course of his speech, remarked,
“If we go from here we are a lost people. Look to the east, west,
north, or south; all is filled up, and there is no place for us.”
On the subject of dividing their land, they appeared to be discouraged,
owing to their divided state, and the opposition met with from
some individuals, who no doubt were influenced by interested and
_designing men_; as this great object would be the most likely means
of settling the Indians in a permanent possession of the soil, and
thereby frustrate _the avaricious designs_ of speculators. The secret
insinuations of this class of the white people added much to the
difficulties of Friends in pursuing their plans of civilization; nor
was it to be wondered at, that individuals, among a people who had
long been a prey to designing white men, should become alienated from
Friends, and cease to follow their counsel.
At the close of this council, they were, however, reminded of the
dangers to which they were exposing themselves, and the advantages that
might be taken by their enemies, of their divided state, and especially
by those who wished to obtain their lands. They were told that, “we
still considered them as brethren--that we were not divided in our good
wishes for them--that we had always desired, and continued to desire,
the welfare of all Indians, and that, on bidding them farewell, on the
present occasion, we still hoped the Great Spirit might incline their
minds to unite together in love as brethren, and that they would yet
join in promoting the education of their children, and in advancing
in all the improvements that were necessary for the comfort and real
benefit of man.”
From Alleghany the committee proceeded to the Cattaraugus settlement,
and spent some time in viewing the improvements of the Indians at that
place. They found that considerable progress had been made within three
years past, in building houses, and enclosing more land on the rich
fiats, which was cultivated with corn, oats, potatoes, turnips, and
other vegetables of various kinds, affording a prospect of a plentiful
supply of provisions.
A council was held with the Indians, and after an introductory speech
from the chief warrior, which is customary on all such occasions, the
following address was delivered to them.
* * * * *
“Brothers, having been preserved through a long journey, we are now,
by the favour of the Great Spirit, enabled once more to meet you in
council.
“Brothers, in passing through your land, we are glad to see that you
are situated on a rich and fruitful soil, where, by reasonable care and
industry, every thing necessary for a comfortable subsistence may be
readily obtained.
“Brothers, it affords us satisfaction to observe the improvements you
have already made--your well fenced fields, your corn, and other grain,
and your cattle--and we feel, as your old and true friends, a strong
desire that you may be stirred up to increased industry.
“Brothers, by perseverance and daily attention to business, the
industrious man prospers, and is able to make a comfortable provision
for his family; and it is not only our duty to labour for their
support, but to train our children to assist in all the business they
are capable of--to begin with them young, and thus, while they are
useful to their parents, it adds greatly to their own real comfort.
“Brothers, by the united exertions of a family, much may be done.
The house may be made more comfortable. Out houses may be erected to
shelter the cattle. Barns may be built to store the grain and hay,
to prevent injury from the weather. While the boys are engaged in
assisting their fathers in these things, the girls ought to help their
mothers in keeping the house clean, in spinning, in making clothes, in
cooking victuals, and every business that is suitable for their sex.
“Brothers, by thus uniting in promoting improvements, you would soon
make your farms to equal some of the best of your white neighbours; and
if you would fully make the experiment, you would find that what we
tell you is true.
“Brothers, it is good that parents tenderly love their children. It is
also the duty of children to love and serve their parents. Families
should live together in harmony; and when men and their wives differ
and part, and marry to others, it is wrong--it is an injury to their
children, and displeasing to the Great Spirit. We wish you seriously to
think of these things, and to discourage so injurious a practice.
“Brothers, you have often been told by your friends, that the use of
spirituous liquors is hurtful. We must again repeat it--we wish you to
keep your minds strong on this subject, and often advise such of your
people as are in the use of it to decline the practice.
“Brothers, we think it our duty to caution you not to listen to every
voice that would divide you into parties. It will make you weak in your
councils. Your enemies may take advantage of it, and by this means, the
very land that you own may slide from you.”
* * * * *
To the foregoing communication, the chief warrior made a short reply,
but intimated that they must confer together on the subject of Friends’
communication, and wished to meet them again in council, in two days,
when they would reply more particularly.
At the close of this interview, which appeared to be solemn, one of
the Friends present communicated some sentiments on the subject of
religion, and the nature of true worship to the Great Spirit--stating
that it might be performed while engaged in their fields, on the road,
or while sitting with their families by their firesides. This they
appeared fully to comprehend; and the chief warrior replied, “it was
his religion, and the only one with which he was acquainted.”
This short though sincere confession of faith, from a native Indian,
was a corroborating evidence that they were not destitute of the
divine principle operating in the heart of man, which teaches him
what constitutes the true worship of God, and requires not the aid of
men or books to accomplish it, but is performed according to Christ’s
testimony “in spirit and in truth,” arising from the sincere homage of
a devout heart.
It appeared that the Indians at this place were also divided into
parties, which prevented that free intercourse and conference with
each other, which in former councils, were manifest, in forming their
replies to Friends--and without a design to impeach the sincere natives
of any religious sect of professing Christians, I may here state, from
the observations made, and the information received on this visit, that
the introduction of these, under the character of missionaries, on
their land at Buffalo, where the chief councils of the nation are held,
had created great uneasiness among them, and was a prominent cause
of their present difficulties, and conflicting opinions. Some of the
Indians had attached themselves to the missionary system, and joined
in their modes of worship, singing, &c. and these were looked upon as
converted to the Christian faith. Hence the others, who were opposed
to the missionary plans, were branded with the epithet of pagans, a
term hateful to Indians, and which they did not fully understand.
Thus a spirit of jealousy was excited between the parties, and a fear
entertained by some, that the introduction of missionaries on their
land was designed to obtain a permanent possession, and eventually to
dispossess them of it.
At the appointed time to meet them again in council, Friends attended,
when the Indians of each party made replies to the former communication
of Friends, which, for novelty of opinions, and to show the dilemma in
which the Indians were involved, the reader will indulge me to give at
considerable length.
The chief warrior’s son, on behalf of the one part, opened the council
in the following manner.
* * * * *
“Brothers, the Great Spirit has blessed us, and enabled us once more to
meet in council, with our brothers, the Quakers. We feel thankful that
the Great Spirit has preserved our friends in health who have come to
see us.
“Brothers, we want you not to be displeased, if we of this party open
our minds to you. We are going to tell you our situation. Some of us
pay attention and observe the sabbath day--others do not. We wish you
now, brothers, to give us suitable advice, and make our difficulties
straight, as you understand how to remove difficulties.
“Brothers, you know the cause of our difficulties. You know the reason
we are divided. The young men who sit here (pointing to four or five
who sat near him,) think different from the old ones. Our old men
observe the sabbath, or First day. We are not prepared for it. We wish
you to tell us which is best. Whether to do as our old men do, or
follow our old customs.
“Brothers, we have heard from the Quakers, that it is a bad thing
for a nation to divide, and you wished us to be of one mind as one
man--and now we want you to tell us which is the best plan for us to
pursue--whether white people’s customs, or our old ones. On the other
hand, you have been well acquainted, from old time, with our ancient
customs. We meet three times in the year to worship the Great Spirit;
and we want you now to put us right about it, and give us your advice
on this subject, whether we shall keep the sabbath, or continue to
adhere to our former practice of worshipping the Great Spirit.
“Brothers, it is now many years since you have taken us by the hand,
and have yearly given us advice. We intend to follow the advice we have
heard from you; but some of our old men have been drawing towards the
_missionaries_, and keeping the First-day.
“Brothers, we hope you fully understand what we have said, and wish the
chain of friendship still may be kept bright between us and you--and
that you will not be displeased at what we have said to you.”
* * * * *