The Indians met upon the 11th of October to take into
consideration the cause of temperance, and to investigate the
evils that King Alcohol has practised upon us, by infusing
into our heads fancied riches, fame, honor, and grandeur,
making us the sovereigns of the whole earth. But having been
so often deceived, beat, abused and tyrannized over, and
withal cheated, and robbed, and defrauded by this tyrant, and
to cap the climax, almost deprived of our senses, burnt and
nearly frozen to death, and all our expectations cut off as
to the comforts of life, it was agreed upon, (after an
appropriate address from the Rev. William Apes, setting forth
the evils of intemperance and its awful effects in wasting
away our race, like the early dew, before the morning sun,)
by our most influential people to attack this mighty champion,
and if possible, overcome him, and shut him up in prison, and
set a seal upon him, that he shall deceive our nation no more.
Accordingly a Temperance Society was formed, and the following
officers were elected: Rev. William Apes, President; Rev.
Joseph Amos, Vice President; Dea. I. Coombs, and Thomas
Hush, Recording Secretaries; Dea. C. Hinson, Corresponding
Secretary; Executive Committee, Oakes Coombs, Joseph Tobey,
Frank Hicks. Forty-two of the tribe united in the pledge of
Temperance.
Nov. 14. We met again, and the President again addressed the
meeting, much to the satisfaction of the people. After which
many others gave spirited addresses, setting forth the evils
of intemperance, in a most pathetic manner. It has caused a
wonderful effect, and our brethren are enlisting to take hold
and shut up our great enemy in prison, and choke him to death
by total abstinence. Friends of Temperance help.
The Society passed the following resolutions:
_Resolved_, That we will not countenance the use of ardent
spirits among us, in any way whatever; and that we will do
all in our power to suppress it. That we will not buy it
ourselves, nor suffer it to be in our houses, unless ordered
by a physician.
_Resolved_, That this Society shall meet monthly, to regulate
itself, and if any one is found to break their pledge, the
same shall be excluded, without speedy repentance.
_Voted_, That the above be printed. Sixty-one is found upon
our list.
CHRISTOPHER HINSON, _Cor. Sec'y_.
_Marshpee, Nov. 15_.
It appears from this that Indians can be temperate, and have a
disposition and desire to benefit themselves. It shows, too, that
they are capable of organizing societies, and taking care of their own
concerns, as well, to say the least, as any equal number of persons in
the Commonwealth; for they certainly feel more strongly interested for
themselves than others can be for them.
It will be seen that little was done concerning our tribe, from
the session of the Court at Barnstable up to the meeting of the
Legislature, though the opposition to us had wealth, talent and power
in its ranks. Clergymen, lawyers, physicians, counsellors, Governor,
senators, and representatives were arrayed against us; and we
Marshpees account all who opposed our freedom, as tories, hostile
to the constitution, and the liberties of the country. This is our
sincere opinion of them, and it is to us a thing inexplicable that his
Excellency, the then Governor, should have seen fit to place himself
at their head.[8] We desire to thank our Maker that they found
themselves in the minority of the people, and fell in the esteem of
Christian and benevolent persons who heard of their conduct. We thank
the majority of the controllers of public affairs, that they had
more sense than to think of holding the rightful lords of the soil in
bondage any longer, for the gratification of selfish and unjust
men. Honorable is it to Massachusetts that there are enough good and
upright men in authority, to counteract the measures of those of a
different character, and remedy the evils they may occasion.
I shall now proceed to present to my brethren, an Indian's appeal to
them, and the laws framed by the Legislature for the oppression and
moral and political destruction of the Marshpees in by-gone days.
My comments thereupon will be omitted, because, should I say all
the subject suggests, it would swell my book to a bulk that would be
wearisome to the reader.