And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
Cattaraugus Reservation, Dec. 16, 1846.
(Signed)
James X Shongo, Moses Stephenson, N. T. Strong, William X Jones, Robert X
Gordon, Zachariah X L. Jimison, Daniel Two Guns, Samuel X Wilson, William
X Johnson, John X Bolden, Benjamin Williams, George Lindsay, John
Kennedy, Jr., George Greenblanket, David X Snow, John Huson, Solomon W.
Lane, Jim X Junius, Henry Two Guns, Little X John, John Talor, John X
Luke, Governor X Blacksnake, Israel X Jimison, William X Patterson, John
X Greenblanket, S. M. Patterson, Moses X Pierce, James X Stephenson,
Abraham X John, Jabez X Stephenson, Peter X White, Charles Graybeard.
In reply to this memorial, the following answer was received from the
Indian Bureau at Washington:
WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Feb. 23rd, 1847.
SIR:—The application for the removal of the Seneca Indians back to New York who emigrated West from there last summer has been duly considered. With every disposition to gratify the wishes of the Society of Friends, and of the New York Indians, so far as it could properly be done, I have to inform you that the Executive Department of the Government has neither the authority nor the means to justify a compliance with their desire. In this particular Congress only could authorize the measure and provide the requisite means for the expense it would invalue.
Respectfully your ob't servant, W. MEDILL.
To PHILIP E. THOMAS, Esq., Baltimore, Md.
When the chiefs were made acquainted with the result of this application, they addressed the following communication to the joint committee of Friends: