Part 12
“_To the society of Friends of the city of New York._
“At the treaty of Philadelphia with William Penn and the Six Nations, we considered William Penn as a friend to us, not wishing to cheat us out of our lands, but to pay us a full value for them. Since that time, the society of Friends have treated us very kindly--they have never shown a disposition to wrong us out of our lands, but seemed to wish to cultivate friendship with us, and to let us have our rights and privileges--and to enjoy our own religion. But there are certain persons residing among us, at present, who we believe have a different object. They say they have been sent by the Great Spirit, but we do not think the Great Spirit would send people among us, to cheat us out of our lands, and to cause disturbance to arise amongst us, which has made a division in our nation. No, we do not think the Great Spirit sent the blackcoat’s among us for any such purpose. There is at present five thousand of our people and upwards, who wish the society of Friends to send a suitable person among us, to teach our young men how to till the ground, and our young women the art of domestic manufactures, and our children to read and write. If our friends feel disposed to comply with our wishes, we shall be happy to receive them, and will cause all necessary buildings to be erected for their use--we think by having this plan carried into effect, the nation once more would be united, and become a happy people.”
Your friend, his Signed, Red X Jacket. mark
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Although the way has not yet opened to comply with the request in the foregoing communication, the committee were encouraged to persevere in their services the present year, in rendering such aid for the benefit of this poor afflicted people, as the limited means within their power would, under the direction of best wisdom enable them to do.
_Some account of the proceedings of Friends of Baltimore Yearly Meeting._
This concern for improving the condition of our red brethren, having been opened and spread in the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, in the fall of 1795, and the minds of Friends being much united, and actuated by benevolent motives to promote this desirable object, referred the same to a special committee, to proceed therein as way might open, to render essential service to these aboriginal inhabitants. Accordingly their attention was turned to some of the Indian tribes north-west of the river Ohio, and a deputation was delegated to visit the Shawaneese, Delawares, Wyandots and such other natives in those parts as they might find practicable. They proceeded thereon, in the summer of 1796, after having first obtained the approbation of the general government.
When they arrived at the forks of the Muskingum river, where they had been informed a considerable number of Indians were collected, they found to their great disappointment, that the chiefs and hunters were dispersed: and it not appearing practicable to convene them at that time, to have a suitable conference with them, they returned without accomplishing the object of their visit. They, however, saw divers hunters and others, who appeared well disposed to receive the instruction and assistance which Friends proposed to furnish them.
In the spring of 1797, three Friends again proceeded to that country on an embassy, to inquire into the real situation of the Indian tribes; in the course of which visit, having passed by a number of their hunting camps and several of their towns, they had a large opportunity of discovering their destitute condition, often exposed to the inclemency of the weather, with a very precarious, and often a very scanty supply of food and clothing. They suffered all the miseries of extreme poverty, in a country which from its great fertility, would, with but little cultivation, supply them abundantly with all the necessaries of life.
These Friends had opportunities with some of the chiefs and hunters of the Wyandot and Delaware nations, in which they informed them of the views of the society of Friends, relative to their improvement; and endeavoured to impress on their minds the advantages they would derive, from permitting to be introduced among their people, a knowledge of agriculture, and some of the most useful mechanic arts.
The Indians were attentive to their communications, and promised to lay these matters before their grand council, and inform Friends of their conclusions on the subject.
As no way opened during the year 1798, for carrying the object of the Yearly Meeting into effect, but little was done, more than furnishing a few implements of husbandry, and some assistance to a few Indian families, situated upon the branches of the Tuskarawee’s river.
In the Second month 1799, the committee received a speech and belt of wampum, from Tarhie, the principal chief of the Wyandot nation, delivered at Detroit, in the Ninth month preceding, of which the following is an extract.
“Brethren Quakers--you remember we once met at a certain place. When we had there met, a great many good things were said, and much friendship was professed between us.
“Brothers, you told us at that time that you not only took us by the hand, but that you held us fast by the arm; that you then formed a chain of friendship. You said that it was not a chain of iron; but that it was a chain of precious metal, a chain of silver that would never get rusty; and that this chain would bind us in brotherly affection for ever.
“Brethren, listen. We have often heard that you were a good and a faithful people--ever ready to do justice, and good to all men without distinction of colour--therefore, we love you the more sincerely, because of the goodness of your hearts, which has been talked of among our nation long since.
“Brethren, listen. You have informed us that you intended to visit us. Yes, that even in our tents and cabins you will take us by the hand. You, brethren, cannot admit a doubt, but that we would be very happy to see you.
“Brethren, listen. It is but proper to inform you at this time, that when you do come forward to see us, you will no doubt pass by my place of residence, at Sandusky. I will then take you not only by the hand, but by the arm, and will conduct you safe to the _grand council fire_ of our great Sasteretsey, where all good things are transacted, and where nothing bad is permitted to appear. When in the grand council of our Sasteretsey we will then sit down together in peace and friendship, as brethren are accustomed to do, after a long absence, and remind each other, and talk of those things that took place between our good grandfathers, when they first met upon our lands--upon this great island.
“Brethren, may the Great Spirit, the master of light and life, so 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.”
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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.
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“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:
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“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.