dispose the hearts and minds of all our nations and people, that the
calamities of war may never more be felt or known by any of them--that
our roads and paths may never more be stained with the blood of our
young warriors--and that our helpless women and children may live in
peace and happiness.”
* * * * *
On considering the foregoing communication, some Friends were deputed
to make them a visit, and to afford such assistance as they might be
enabled to render. They accordingly proceeded with an intention of
being at their general council, and arrived on the third of the Sixth
month at upper Sandusky, the principal village of the Wyandots, where
they were received by Tarhie (the crane,) and others of that nation.
On their arrival there, it appeared a mistake had been made in the
translation of the speech the Indians had sent to Friends, respecting
the time of opening their great council, to which Friends had been
invited. They were now informed that it began annually at the full
moon in the Sixth month.
Finding it would be difficult to procure food for themselves and
horses there, until that time, the committee concluded it best to
have a conference with Tarhie and other chiefs who were then in the
neighbourhood of Sandusky, which was accordingly agreed to. At the time
appointed they met at Tarhie’s house, with several other chiefs, and a
number of hunters, when they had a full opportunity with them, on the
subject of their visit.
Their communication appeared to be received with great satisfaction by
the Indians, and in their answer, delivered on some strings of wampum,
they expressed the gratitude they felt for the care and friendship,
which their beloved brethren the Quakers had always manifested for
the Indians, and promised as soon as the grand council met, that they
should communicate fully to it, respecting the concern which the
society felt for their improvement, and inform Friends by a written
speech of their conclusion thereon.
Whilst these Friends were at Sandusky and other villages, their minds
were deeply affected under the sorrowful considerations of the baneful
effects of spirituous liquors upon the Indians, who were at that time
supplied with it in almost every village, by Canadian traders, residing
amongst them--and they were confirmed in the opinion, that unless these
traders could be restrained from furnishing them with this destructive
article, in exchange for their skins and furs, they could not easily
be persuaded to turn their minds towards agriculture and the mechanic
arts. Notwithstanding which discouragement, the great affection they
have for the society of Friends, manifested on all occasions whilst
the committee were with them, induced them to hope that Friends would
endeavour to keep under the weight of the concern, and be prepared to
proceed in the benevolent work whenever way might open, for further
service amongst them.
In the year 1800 and 1801, no personal interview was had by Friends
with those Indians. In the year 1802, the Little Turtle, Five Medals,
and several other principal chiefs of the Miami and Pottawatomie
nations passed through Baltimore, on their way to visit the President
of the United States, when the committee had a conference with them, in
which the view’s of Friends were fully opened, and they were informed
of the great discouragement Friends had met with, in carrying their
benevolent designs into effect, from the intemperate and destructive
use of spirituous liquor amongst the Indians, which was found to be the
greatest obstacle in the way of their profiting by the aid which the
society had been desirous of giving them.
The Little Turtle in reply, made a very pathetic and impressive speech
upon this subject, from which the following is extracted.
* * * * *
“Brothers and friends--When our forefathers first met on this island,
your red brethren were very numerous. But since the introduction of
what you call spirituous liquors amongst us, and what we think may
justly be called _poison_, our numbers are greatly diminished. It has
destroyed a great part of your red brethren.
“My brothers and friends--we plainly perceive that you see the very
evil which destroys your red brethren; it is not an evil of our own
making; we have not placed it amongst ourselves; it is an evil placed
amongst us by the white people. We look to them to remove it out of
our country. We tell them, brethren, fetch us useful things, bring
goods that will clothe us, our women and our children, and not this
evil liquor that destroys our reason--that destroys our health--that
destroys our lives. But all we can say on this subject is of no
service--it gives no relief to your red brethren.
“My brothers and friends--I rejoice to find that you agree in opinion
with us, and express an anxiety to be, if possible, of service to us in
removing this great evil out of our country; an evil which has had so
much room in it, and has destroyed so many of our lives, that it causes
our young men to say, ‘we had better be at war with the white people;
this liquor which they introduce into our country, is more to be feared
than the gun and the tomahawk. There are more of us dead since the
treaty of Grenville, than we lost by the six years war before. It is
all owing to the introduction of this liquor amongst us.’
“Brothers, when our young men have been out hunting and are returning
home loaded with skins and furs, on their way, if it happens that they
come along where some of this liquor is deposited, the white man who
sells it, tells them to take a little drink. Some of them will say no,
I do not want it; they go on till they come to another house, where
they find more of the same kind of drink; it is there offered again;
they refuse, and again the third time; but finally the fourth or fifth
time, one accepts of it, and takes a drink, and getting one he wants
another, and then a third, and a fourth, till his senses have left him.
After his reason comes back again to him, when he gets up and finds
where he is--he asks for his peltry--the answer is, ‘You have drank
them’--Where is my gun? ‘It is gone’--Where is my shirt? ‘You have sold
it for whiskey!’ Now brothers, figure to yourselves what condition this
man must be in. He has a family at home--a wife and children who stand
in need of the profits of his hunting. What must be their wants, when
he himself is even without a shirt.”
These chiefs appeared to be much rejoiced at the assistance Friends
proposed to render them, and in reply to that part of their
communication, observed, ‘that it was their anxious wish to engage in
the culture of their lands, for although the game was not so scarce but
that they could get enough to eat, yet they were sensible it was daily
diminishing, and that the time was not far distant, when they would be
compelled to take hold of such tools, as they saw in the hands of the
white people.’
The committee, from their former experience, being of the judgment,
that no great progress could be made in the civilization of the
Indians while they were so abundantly supplied with distilled spirits,
concluded to address congress on the subject. Their memorial was
favourably received, and a law passed, which in some measure provided
a remedy for the evil.
As it now appeared to the committee, that the principal obstruction
to agriculture amongst the Indians was removed, they were encouraged
to proceed in their undertaking. They accordingly provided a number
of implements of husbandry, such as ploughs, hoes, axes, &c. &c.
which were forwarded and immediately distributed, as a present from
the society of Friends. These things were thankfully received by the
Indians.
A letter in the summer of 1803, from the agent for Indian affairs at
Fort Wayne, informed, that ‘since there had been no spirituous liquor
in the Indian country, they appeared very industrious, and turned
their attention to raising stock.’ This agent also expressed as his
opinion, “that the suppression of spirituous liquors in that country,
was the most beneficial measure which had ever been adopted for them,
by the United States--that there had not been one Indian killed in
that neighbourhood for a year--and that in no preceding year since the
treaty of Grenville, had there been less than ten killed, and in some
years as many as thirty.” The agent further added, “that the Indians
appeared very desirous of procuring for themselves, the necessaries
of life, _in our way_, but say they do not know how to begin. Some of
their old men say, “the white people want for nothing.” We wish them to
show us how to provide the many good things we see amongst them, if it
is their wish to instruct us in their way of living as they tell us it
is, we wish them to make haste and do it, for we are old and must die
soon; but we wish to see before we die, our women and children in that
path, that will lead them to happiness.
At the same time, a letter was received from the Little Turtle, and
Five Medals, in which they expressed a wish that some Friends would
visit their country. The committee, therefore, deputed some of their
number for that purpose. They were authorized to procure one or more
suitable persons to reside amongst the Indians, for the purpose of
teaching them agriculture and other useful knowledge, as far as it
should appear practicable.
In Second month 1804, two of the deputation proceeded to Fort Wayne,
accompanied by Philip Dennis, who had offered his services to go with
them, and remain with the Indians during the summer, for the purpose
of instructing them in husbandry. They took with them two horses to be
employed in ploughing, &c.
They arrived at Fort Wayne in the latter end of the Third month, and
soon after, convened several of their chiefs in a council with them; a
future day was fixed upon for the committee to meet them, with as many
of their old men, and their women and children as could be assembled.
Their chiefs previously requested, that whatever matter Friends might
have to communicate to the Indians, should be written down, in order
that they might lay it before the grand council in the Sixth month
following, to the attendance of which, they pressingly invited the
committee.
On the day appointed, being met by a considerable number of the
natives, the committee presented them with a written address, from
which, though all excellent, and well calculated to impress the
Indians’ minds with the importance of adhering to their counsel, we
shall, for brevity, content ourselves with extracting some of the most
material parts, as follows:
* * * * *
“Brothers, our hearts are filled with thankfulness to the Great Spirit,
that he has brought us safely to the country of our red brethren, and
protected us through our journey. We also rejoice, that he has given us
this opportunity of seeing you and of taking you by the hand.
“Brothers, we had for some time entertained apprehensions that the
many changes that were taking place in circumstances, must greatly
change the situation of our red brethren, and that the time was fast
approaching when it would be necessary for them to alter their mode of
living.
“Brothers, after our talk with the chiefs, (alluding to the Little
Turtle and others whom we have just mentioned,) we were fully convinced
that the time was come, in which our red brethren ought to begin to
cultivate their lands. That they ought to raise corn and other grain,
also horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and other animals. We then proposed to
afford them some assistance. They appeared to be glad of the proposal,
and informed us, that many of their people were disposed to turn their
attention to the cultivation of the earth--they also expressed a desire
to be assisted by their brothers of Baltimore.
“Brothers, it is for this purpose that we have now come, and we again
repeat, we rejoice that we have this opportunity of seeing you, and
taking you by the hand.
“Brothers, in coming into the country of our red brethren, we have come
with our _eyes open_. And although we are affected with sorrow, in
believing that many of the red people suffer much for the want of food
and clothing, yet our hearts have been made glad, in seeing that it
has pleased the Great Spirit to give you a rich and valuable country.
Because we know, that it is out of the earth that food and clothing
come. We are sure, brothers, that with but little labour and attention,
you may raise much more corn and other grain than will be necessary for
yourselves, your women and children; and that you may also with great
ease, raise many more horses, cows, sheep, hogs and other valuable
animals, than will be necessary for your own use. We are also confident
that if you will pursue our method in the cultivation of your land, you
will live in much greater ease and plenty, and with much less fatigue
and toil, than attend hunting for a subsistence.
“Brothers, it will lead you to have fixed homes--you will build
comfortable dwelling houses for yourselves, your women and children,
where you may be sheltered from the rain, the frost and the snow, and
where you may enjoy in plenty, the rewards of your labour.
“Brothers, we will here mention, that the time was, when the forefather
of your brothers, the white people, lived beyond the great water, in
the same manner that our red brethren now live. The winters can yet be
counted when they went almost naked, when they procured their living by
fishing, and by the bow and arrow in hunting--and when they lived in
houses no better than yours. They were encouraged by some who came from
towards the sun rising, and lived amongst them to change their mode of
living. They did change--they cultivated the earth, and we are sure the
change was a happy one.
“Brothers and friends, we are not ashamed to acknowledge that the time
was, when our forefathers rejoiced at finding a wild plum tree, or
at killing a little game, and that they wandered up and down, living
on the uncertain supplies of fishing and hunting. But brothers, for
your encouragement we now mention that by turning their attention to
the cultivation of the earth instead of the plum tree, they soon had
orchards of many kinds of fruit--instead of the wild game they soon
had large numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and other valuable
animals--and in many places instead of their forests they had large
fields of corn, and other grain--also many other valuable productions
of the earth.
“Brothers, we have spoken plainly, we desire to speak plain--we will
now tell you that we have not come merely to _talk_ with you. We have
come prepared to render you a little assistance. Our beloved brother,
Philip Dennis, who is now present, has come along with us. His desire
is, to cultivate for you, a field of corn, and also to show you how to
raise some of the other productions of the earth--he knows how to use
the plough, the hoe, the axe, and other implements of husbandry.
“Brothers, he has left a farm--he has left a wife and five small
children who are very dear to him--he has come, from a sincere desire
to be useful to our red brethren. His motives are pure--he will ask no
reward from you for his services--his greatest reward will be, in the
satisfaction he will feel, in finding you inclined to take hold of the
same tools he takes hold of--to receive from him instruction in the
cultivation of your lands, and pursue the example he will set you.
“Brothers, we hope you will make the situation of our brother as
comfortable as circumstances will admit. We hope, also, that many of
your young men will be willing to be taught by him, to use the plough,
the hoe, and other implements of husbandry--for we are sure, brothers,
that as you take hold of such tools as are in the hands of the white
people, you will find them to be to you, like having additional hands.
You will also find that by using them they will enable you to do many
things, which without them, cannot be performed.
“Brothers, the white people, in order to get their land cultivated,
find it necessary that their young men should be employed in it--and
not their women--women are smaller than men--they are not as strong as
men. It is the business of our women to be employed in our houses--to
keep them clean--to sow, knit, spin, and weave--to dress food for
themselves and families--to make clothes for the men and the rest of
their families, to keep the clothing of their families clean, and to
take care of their children.
“Brothers, we are fully convinced that if you will turn your attention
to the cultivation of the earth, to raising the different kinds of
grain--to building comfortable dwelling houses for your families--to
raising useful animals--amongst others, sheep for the advantage of the
wool, in making clothing--to raising flax and hemp for your linen--and
your women learn to spin and weave--your lives will be much easier
and happier than at present--and your numbers will increase, and not
continue to diminish. As we before observed, brothers, your land is
good--it is far better than the land which the white people near the
great waters, cultivate. We are persuaded that your land will produce
double the quantity of any kind of grain, or flax, or hemp, with the
same labour necessary near the great water.
“Brothers, we shall now end what we had to say, with informing you,
that all the corn and other productions of the earth which Philip
Dennis may raise, we wish our red brethren to accept as a token of our
friendship. And it is our desire that the chiefs of the Pottawattamie
and Miami nations who are now present, added to our brothers the Five
Medals, Tuthinipee, and Philip Dennis, make such a distribution thereof
as they may think proper.”
* * * * *
The Indians manifested great decorum, and were very attentive during
the delivery of this address--in reply to which, the Little Turtle
delivered a speech on behalf of the council, from which we extract the
following:
“Brothers and friends--we rejoice that the Great Spirit has appointed,
that we should meet this day, for we believe this meeting will be of
the utmost consequence to your red brethren.
“Brothers, the things which you have said to us, require our greatest
attention: it is really necessary that we should deliberate upon them.
In order to do so, we must beg you to leave the paper, upon which they
are written, that we may communicate them to our chiefs, when they
assemble in grand council.
“Brothers, you have been very particular in pointing out to us the
duties of our women, and you have told us that in adopting your mode of
living, our numbers would increase and not continue to diminish. In all
this I certainly agree with you, and I hope my brother chiefs will also
agree with you.
“Brothers, assure your people who sent you here--tell your old chiefs
that we are obliged to them for their friendly offers to assist us in
changing our present mode of living. Tell them it is a great work that
cannot be done immediately; but that we are favourably disposed, and
hope it will take place gradually.”
* * * * *
These Friends remained several weeks amongst the Indians, during which
time they visited a number of their towns and villages, at all of
which, they were received in the most friendly and hospitable manner.
In the course of their journey, they passed by a settlement of the
Wyandots at Brownstown or the rock. They found that the Indians at this
place, had, since the visit made by Friends to their nation in the year
1799, advanced considerably, in agriculture, many of them having built
comfortable houses, and acquired a considerable number of cattle, hogs,
and other domestic animals. The Wyandots residing at Sandusky and the
Shawaneese, on the Auglaize river, had likewise, since that visit,
turned their attention very much towards the cultivation of their
lands; Friends had, therefore, the satisfaction to remark, that the
communication from the committee to these nations, and the exertions
which had been made to turn their attention to agriculture, although
limited in their effect, had not been altogether unavailing.
They also visited the place fixed upon for the settlement of Philip
Dennis, on the Wabash river, about forty miles south-west of Fort
Wayne, and found its situation to be very advantageous for farming;
the soil appeared to be equal in fertility to any land in the western
country.
Soon after the return of the Friends, a letter was received by the
committee, from the Indian agent at Fort Wayne, informing that the
Indians had held their grand council in the Sixth month, agreeably
to expectation, at which eight hundred and seventy-four of them
attended, when the written address of Friends delivered at Fort Wayne
in the previous spring, was produced--read and interpreted to all the
different nations present. In reply to which, divers of their chiefs
expressed great satisfaction, and amongst others Toethteboxie on behalf
of the _Delawares_ said, ‘For many years before I came into the world,
the white people have been offering to do for us what is now mentioned,
and it appears that our eyes were never opened until this time; we will
now take hold of it and receive it. I am an old man and want to see it
before I die; if I once see it, I will die in peace, to think I have
left my women and children in comfort.’
On the return of Philip Dennis, who remained in the Indian country
during most of the year 1804, and spent his time agreeably with the
natives--he informed that he had raised about four hundred bushels
of corn, besides a quantity of turnips, potatoes, and a quantity of
other garden vegetables, which he directed to be divided amongst the
Indians on their return from their hunting camps. He left with the
Indians, with whom he had resided, upon the farm he had cultivated,
twenty-three hogs and pigs, seven of which were in good order to kill;
and he engaged the agent to attend to killing and salting them. They
were small when they were brought to the farm in the spring, and had no
other food than what they gathered in the woods.
With some assistance which he obtained from Fort Wayne, he cleared and
enclosed under a substantial fence twenty acres of ground, and built
a house thirty-two feet long, and seventeen wide, a story and a half
high, with floors and partitions.
The Indians who remained with him had been very industrious, and
attended to his directions. The young women wished to work in preparing
the ground and in tending the corn; from this he dissuaded them, and
as some spinning wheels had just arrived at Fort Wayne, which had been
sent on by government--he encouraged them to go there, and learn to
spin and knit, of a white woman who was at that place;--this they did,
and soon learned both to spin and knit; and when he came away, he left
them knitting yarn of their spinning.
The Indians were very desirous of Friends continuing their care towards
them, and that they should send a person to take the place of Philip
Dennis, but as no suitable Friend offered for that purpose, it was
believed best to request the agent of government residing at Fort
Wayne, (and who appeared to be friendly disposed towards the views of
Friends,) to procure and employ the most suitable person he could, in
that country, to plough the land cultivated by Philip Dennis, the last
season, and plant it in corn, and to endeavour to enlist the service
of the Indians in the labour of tending it; also to prepare a garden
of the most useful vegetables for the Indians’ use, which they might
afterwards easily manage.
In reply to this request, Friends received an account from the agent,
stating that he would lose no time in complying with their request,
and that he was ready at all times, to put in execution the benevolent
designs of Friends towards the Indians, as far as it was in his power.