In the resolve allowing fees to the Marshpee Indians, who have
attended as witnesses this session, the high-minded Senator
Hedge of Plymouth, succeeded in excluding the name of William
Apes, as it passed the Senate; but the House, on motion of
Col. Thayer, inserted the name of Mr. Apes, allowing him his
fees, the same as the others. Mr. Hedge made a great effort
to induce the Senate to non-concur, but even his lucid and
_liberal_ eloquence failed of its _noble_ intent, and the
Senate concurred by a vote of 13 to 6. Mr. Hedge must be
sadly disappointed that he could not have saved the State
twenty-three dollars, by his manly efforts to injure the
character of a poor Indian. Mr. Hedge, we dare say, is a
descendant from the pilgrims, whom the Indians protected at
Plymouth Rock! He knows how to be _grateful_!
[_Daily Advocate_.
It appears that I, William Apes, have been much persecuted and abused,
merely for desiring the welfare of myself and brethren, and because I
would not suffer myself to be trodden under foot by people no better
than myself, as I can see. In connection with this, I say I was never
arraigned before any Court, to the injury of my reputation, save once,
at Marshpee, for a pretended riot. An attempt to blast a man merely
for insisting on his rights, and no more, is a blot on the character
of him who undertakes it, and not upon the person attempted to be
injured; let him be great or small in the world's eyes. I can safely
say that no charge that has ever been brought against me, written
or verbal, has ever been made good by evidence in any civil or
ecclesiastical court. Many things have been said to my disparagement
in the public prints. Much was said to the General Court, as that I
was a gambler in lotteries, and had begged money from the Indians to
buy tickets with. This calumny took its rise from certain articles
printed in the Boston Gazette, written, as I have good reason to
believe, by one Reynolds, a proper authority. He has been an inmate of
the State prison, in Windsor, Vermont, once for a term of two
years, and again for fourteen, as in part appears by the following
certificate of a responsible person.