Page images
PDF
EPUB

The one is

offspring of narrow views, and of little minds. wholesome to the reputation, and to all the true interests of a nation. The other is hollow-hearted, vox, et præterea nihil, and in the result, is as wasteful to the public property of a nation, as it is disgraceful to its character. It is earnestly hoped that the government, in their plans for economizing the national expenditures, will spare the allowance which is destined for the Indians. This allowance is not now too great; it is not indeed sufficient for all the contemplated, enlarged purposes and plans for Indian improvements. There are loud calls for more Education Establishments, and for more funds to support those which have already been made. If we spare to take of our abundance for public expenditure, and, because they are weak and we are strong, we take the pittance destined to the moral and religious improvement of the Indians, for this purpose, shall we not expose ourselves, and with justice, to the keen censure conveyed in a well-known parable? I am very sure it would give heart-felt joy to millions of people in our country, if their government would be just, and kind, and liberal to Indians. They will be grieved, and complain loudly, if they are not. In no other way, than in this, can they with more certainty, and with less expense, secure for themselves that honor which a good man may covet, and shed true glory on their country.

The work of educating and changing the manners and habits of nearly half a million Indians, as they are now situated, is acknowledged to be great, and arduous, and appalling. My enthusiasm on this subject, and I am not ashamed to acknowledge that I possess

"There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up, and it grew up together with him and his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

"And there came a traveller unto the rich man; and he spared to take of his own flock, and of his own herd, to dress for the way-faring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come unto him.

"And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said unto Nathan, as the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing, shall surely die. And he shall restore the lamb four-fold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said unto David, thou art the man."

it, does not blind me to the difficulties and obstacles which are to be overcome. But these difficulties are not insurmountable. No. The cost has been counted. The arm of the LORD, in whom we trust, is strong. His power can do all things. The old adage, full of pith and meaning, is "no cross, no crown." It is the destiny of man to get his food by "the sweat of his brow;" to labor for the comforts he enjoys,-for the riches and honors after which he aspires. On earth, indeed, "All things are full of labor." The labor required is usually proportioned to the magnitude of the good to be effected, as its reward. Calculating on this principle, we see what will be the probable magnitude of the obstacles to be overcome, and of the labor to be performed in attaining our object. But even such obstacles, and such labor, formidable as they are, intimidate and palsy not the heart and arm of the man of real courage, in the cause of suffering humanity. The brave, in conflicts of another nature, court the posts of greatest danger, knowing that whether they conquer or perish, glory will be their reward.

It is animating in no common degree, that the rulers and lawgivers of our favored nation lead in this godlike work. Their reward, and surely it is a rich reward, is, "the blessings of many who are ready to perish." Their present prominent employment appears to be, the devising of the best means to accomplish it well and effectually. With such dispositions on the part of the government, who have the wisdom to devise good plans, and the means and the power to carry them into effect; with the whole community awake, and ready zealously, and with one heart and one soul, to help forward the good work, what may we not expect? Surely the hand of GoD is here; the thing which we desire will be accomplished. None shall hinder it. May every heart and voice respond-SO BE IT.

APPENDIX.

A. Report p. 13.

SPEECH to the Chiefs of the SIX NATIONS, left with the Indian Agent, and by him communicated to these tribes assembled at Buffaloe, June 1, 1820.

BROTHERS,

The Great and good God has brought me and my son thus far on our long journey, to visit you and others of your red brethren. We ask you to unite with us in offering him praise and thanksgiv ing for his goodness.

Brothers, I regret that I cannot stay to meet you at your great Council fire, where we might speak together face to face. The reasons why I cannot be with you, I have communicated to your friends; Mr. Parrish, and Mr. Hyde, who, in my behalf, will explain them to you. I leave with them also copies of my commission, from your fathers in Scotland, beyond the great Ocean, and from your father the President of the United States. These papers will inform you of the objects I have in view in visiting you and your brethren, who live within the United States.

Brothers, Your father, the President of the United States, with whom I have conversed on the present state of the Indians, who live under his jurisdiction, and with many pious Christians, also, far and near, are thinking of you for good, and are now engaged in devising together the best means to promote your welfare. We perceive that your numbers and your strength are diminishing; that from being a numerous and powerful people, spread over a wide and fertile country, in which was plenty of game for your support, you have become few and feeble; that you possess but small tracts of land, compared with what your fathers possessed, and that your game, on which you formerly depended for your support, is gone. We see that there is no place on earth where you and

your brethren can go, and dwell together, unmolested, in the state in which your fathers lived. We see that you cannot, many years longer, live in any part of the United States, in the hunter-state. The white people will push their settlements in every direction, and destroy your game, and take away your best lands. You have not strength to defend yourselves, were you disposed to make war with the white people. They have become too powerful to be resisted or restrained in their course. In these circumstances, your father, the President, and the good white people, extensively, feel for you. We perceive that you are cast down and discouraged, that you are perplexed and know not what to do. Your situation, and that of your red brethren generally, has lately excited an unusual interest. I am authorised to say to you, that the American nation, the civil as well as the religious part of it, are now ready to extend to you the hand of sincere friendship; to aid you in rising from your depressed state, and in the best ways which can be devised, to save you from that ruin which seems inevitable in your present course, and to cause you to share with us in all the blessings, both civil and religious, which we ourselves enjoy. We fully believe from the recent events of Providence, that God has great blessings in store for you, and the rest of your red brethren in our country, if you will accept them; and that you may yet "see good days, according to the days wherein you have seen evil." This is our most ardent desire. Let not then your spirits sink within you. Hope in God, who is able to save and to bless you. Trust in him and he will not leave you, but will be the health of your countenance, a refuge from all your troubles; a present help in time of need.

Brothers, I have many things to say to you, which I cannot say now, on account of my feeble health, and the hurry of my departure. I intend to write your friends, Mr. Parrish and Mr. Hyde, from Detroit. They will communicate to you what I may write. I hope God will preserve us to meet on my return.

Brothers Farewell,

Buffaloe, May 31, 1920.

JEDIDIAH MORSE.

The Rev. Jabez B. Hyde, who at this time resided among the Seneca Indians near Buffaloe, having communicated the foregoing speech to the Council when assembled, and witnessed the effect, addressed to me at Detroit, the following letter :—

Rev. and dear Sir,

Buffaloe, Seneca Village, June 7th, 1820.

Your communication was heard with a deep interest by the Council. After the Council, the Chiefs of the christian party, called on me to desire me (as they heard I should write to you,) to express their remembrance of you with grateful affection, and to assure you of their ardent desire, that God would preserve and prosper you in your labors of love for their people, and safely return you to them, and your friends. They also desired, if you should have an opportunity, that you would send them as early notice as you could, when they might depend on seeing you on your return, that they might have opportunity to notify all their villages.

We have had an interesting Council. The Gospel, externally, has greatly prevailed.

Yours with esteem,

JABEZ B. HYDE.

Rev. Dr. Morse.

On my arrival at Buffaloe, on my return, August 8th, I found that a Council, of a part of the Six Nations was in session, to transact business of their own; and though they had no previous notice of my coming, I concluded it best to attend the Council, and know if they were prepared to say any thing on the subject, which I had submitted to their consideration. I found them convened in their Council House, in very decent order, arranged in two parties, the Christian party on my right hand, Capt. Pollard at their head; the Pagan party on the left hand, with the celebrated Red Jacket, at their head.

« PreviousContinue »