As the same stream furnished an eligible site for a grist-mill, at no great distance from those improvements, and as the reducing of their grain into meal for this tribe, was performed by the manual labour of the women in a great measure, the committee were encouraged to believe, that as they duly appreciated the benefits resulting from their newly erected saw-mill, and from the increased display of mechanical genius, industry, and method among them, the time was not far distant when further and more useful improvements will be made by themselves, calculated to raise their habits in domestic and civilized life, and elevate their minds to a steady pursuit of their more substantial happiness and welfare.
The committee not having been able to comply with the Indians’ request, made in their speech two years ago, for a blacksmith, wagon maker, and cooper to be placed among them, as no suitable persons had offered for that purpose, and also the school having been dropped, that had formerly been kept, and in a flourishing condition among them, partly for want of sufficient funds to continue a permanent teacher, these subjects were again suggested to the Yearly Meeting, with an earnest wish to inspire in the minds of Friends a feeling that might prove beneficial in promoting these desirable objects.
Notwithstanding this concern, to meliorate the condition of the Indians, has been prosecuted for many years by the committee, with at times, but little evidence of good resulting to these people, from their labours, yet from more recent developments evinced from the latter experience and research of the committee, though the prospect is an arduous one, it presents encouragement, and the field of labour is brightening, as the hidden causes of past obstructions present themselves.
The committee say in their report, “It appears that many associations are formed in this country, and some of them under the denomination of benevolent and religious; all apparently well disposed, and even anxious to promote the good and the happiness of these original proprietors of the soil. Yet unhappily for these, the means resorted to, to advance their prosperity, have (in too many instances) been elevated above their comprehensions, and not adapted to their wants, their habits, and their religious views. From a zeal beyond knowledge, to benefit these people, agents and missionaries have been settled among them, patronized by these associations, little qualified to inspire their confidence and respect, and in their zealous pretensions to christianize, previous to properly instructing in the arts of civilized life, they produce discouragement and incalculable injury, divisions and dissentions; and in the language of the Indians themselves, ‘quarrelling and contention, spite and animosity, and no business that is profitable.’
“Since the Onondaga tribe has been under the care of the committee, the missionaries have been inclined to leave them to the care of Friends. And this tribe, which a few years ago was divided and full of dissention, is restored to union and harmony, and there is a laudable feeling springing up among them, and an increased desire to become introduced into, and firmly fixed in the habits of civilization.”
The committee, in time past, having extended some care to several tribes of the Seneca nation west of the Genessee river, are of the opinion that essential and lasting good might, by that care being further extended, result to those people. To show the desire of the Indians herein, the following speech of a principal chief, on behalf of a large majority of the Indians, in the state of New York, presented in the last winter, was laid before the Yearly Meeting.
New York, January 20, 1830.
“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.”