We cannot but express an ardent desire, that the great controller of human affairs may yet so dispose the hearts of the rulers of our country to feelings of humanity, towards the miserable remnants of the Indian tribes, yet within the state governments—that they may preserve inviolate the faith of the United States, solemnly pledged at the formation of the federal constitution, to protect them in their unalienable rights and privileges, as the aboriginal owners of the soil; for it is an incontrovertible truth, “that national evils will produce national calamities.”
I shall now resume the narrative of the proceedings of Friends in improving the condition of the Indians which has been progressing under the direction of the committee of the Yearly Meeting, for more than thirty years, among the Seneca nation.
First settlement of Friends among the Seneca nation of Indians.
The noted chief Cornplanter, having, as we have already stated, opened the way for the introduction of the agricultural arts among his tribe, in the spring of the year 1798, three young men, who offered themselves to go and instruct them, accompanied by two of the committee, proceeded to his settlement. After a long journey, and much of the way through (then) a wilderness country, they arrived at Cornplanter’s village, on the Alleghany river, the seventeenth of the Fifth month. The chief having previous knowledge of their coming, expressed his thankfulness to the Great Spirit for their preservation on the way and safe arrival among them. They were kindly invited into his house, and inquired of whether they could eat Indian’s provisions, and being answered in the affirmative, they were hospitably entertained with the best he could offer them; but made a very temperate meal.
This village, (which was called in their language) Jenuchshadago, (which means burnt house,) stood on the bank of the Alleghany river, about four miles south of the northern boundary of Pennsylvania. The land had a rich bottom, and appeared favourable for cultivation. The village contained about thirty or forty houses and bark cabins, scattered along the margin of the river, without any regard to a regular arrangement. The venerable chief appeared to live in patriarchal style; his house was not distinguished from any of the rest by any tokens of magnificence, except by being somewhat larger—near it stood a wooden image of a man, round which at stated times they performed their religious ceremonies and sacrifices.
The image was about seven feet in height, elevated on a pedestal, of the same block, and being painted a variety of colours, it altogether exhibited a wild appearance.
The Indians had, perhaps, from two to three hundred acres of land, inclosed with a sort of fence round the town, in which inclosure many of their women were industriously engaged in clearing off the rubbish and planting small patches of corn and beans, while the men were standing in companies sporting themselves with their bows and arrows and other trifling amusements, but none of them were seen assisting their women in the labours of the field.
The Indians appeared to live poor and dirty, and it was said to be a time of scarcity among them, and the greater part of them under Cornplanter’s superintendence, estimated at about four hundred, had deserted their old settlements up the river, and come to live with their chief in this place.
As it was necessary for Friends to have a general council with the Indians, in order to explain their views and the object of their coming among them, the day after their arrival, they assembled in council at the chief’s house, about forty of their principal men, with many others. Cornplanter opened the council by a short speech, expressing his thankfulness for the safe arrival of Friends, and the joy he felt when he saw them come out of the bushes the day before, to see their Indian brothers, who were poor and living in bad houses, covered with bark; and they were not able to build them better.