Civilization of the Indian Natives / or, a Brief View of the Friendly Conduct of William Penn Towards Them in the Early Settlement of Pennsylvania

by Halliday Jackson

The instruction of their children in school learning, had for several years past, been but little attended to, owing to the impediments the Indians themselves had thrown in the way—but this year it was again revived; and a young man, qualified for that purpose, kept a school among them, at their request.

The Indians at Cattaraugus were also making satisfactory improvement this season. The saw-mill was in operation this fall, and the grist mill in a considerable state of forwardness.

The progress of improvement had, for many years past, exhibited an encouraging prospect—affording a comfortable hope, that the desirable object would be effected, of reclaiming at least a portion of the Indians from a savage and rambling life, to enjoy in a plentiful manner, and in undisturbed security, the productions of the fruitful field. Yet it now seems our painful task to record some circumstances, which for a time much unsettled the minds of the Indians, and retarded their progress in civilization.

By a company of individuals, claiming what they called the pre-emption right, an attempt was now made to purchase from the Seneca nation, all their land which they held in the state of New York, and under a specious show of benevolence, to give them a large tract of country far to the westward, where they might enjoy their native forest, away from the intrusions of white people.

The peculiar situation of their land—being generally of an excellent quality, and an increasing white population fast settling round it—made it an object very desirable to this company, who, it is probable, paid a large sum of money for this pre-emption right.

From the best information I have received respecting this claim, it appears, by the original charter, that the state of Massachusetts had this pre-emption right, or privilege of purchasing the Indians’ land in this part of the territory; and to satisfy this claim, in 1787, the state of New York ceded to Massachusetts the right of soil—reserving to itself the jurisdiction thereof. The state of Massachusetts, in 1792, again sold their right of purchase to an individual, who, in the year 1797, at a treaty held at Genessee river, in the state of New York, purchased of the Indians a large tract of country, as has been already stated—the Indians “nevertheless and always reserving” out of this grant and conveyance, such reservations as were therein agreed upon; “to remain the property of the said Seneca Indians, in as full and ample a manner,” as if the said sale had not been made. This purchase again passed into other hands, and finally the pre-emption right to the Indians’ reservations into the hands of the company now claiming them.

Notwithstanding these were the only persons who had a legal right to purchase, it was only when the Indians were disposed to sell: and always to be understood, as the original owners of the soil, they had the right to refuse to sell, as guaranteed in the most solemn manner by the president of the United States.

But notwithstanding their indubitable title to the soil, the attempt thus made, in an artful manner, to obtain their land, had the effect to produce great commotion and disturbance among them. Nor was it to be doubted, but that means, too frequently practised on such occasions, would be resorted to. These were, to offer rewards to the chiefs or principal men of the nation, to gain their influence, in order to bring about the object they had in view.

The Indians, however, at this time, did not accede to the proposals that had been held out to them, as may be seen from the following extracts of a speech of Red Jacket to an agent, who, it seems, was employed by the primitive holders to negotiate this business.

“Brother, we opened our ears to the talk you lately delivered to us, at our council fire. In doing important business, it is best not to tell long stories, but to come to it in a few words—we shall therefore not repeat your talk, which is fresh in our minds. We have well considered it, and the advantages and disadvantages of your offers—we request your attention to our answer, which is not from the speaker alone, but from all the sachems and chiefs now round our council fire.