The following is an extract from a letter addressed by Cornplanter, a chief of the same nation, to Friends in the year 1791.
“Brothers, the Seneca nation see that the great spirit intends they should not continue to live by hunting, and they look round on every side and inquire, who it is that shall teach them what is best for them to do. Your fathers dealt honestly with our fathers, and they have engaged us to remember it: we wish our children to be taught the same principles by which your fathers were guided.
“Brothers, we have too little wisdom among us, and we cannot teach our children what we perceive their situation requires them to know. We wish them to be taught to read and write, and such other things as you teach your children, especially the love of peace.”
Two Friends visited some of the Indians of the Delaware nation near Muskinghum, in the year 1793. The following is a speech of one of their chiefs named Neet-wot-willimon, on the occasion.
“Brothers, we are glad, and rejoice in our hearts to see our brothers, the Quakers, speaking before us—we feel the grace that is in your hearts conveyed to us, and we wish to be of the same religion, but we are poor, and weak, and not capable of judging for ourselves—we hope you will have pity upon us, and instruct us how to gain a more comfortable living—and, also, how we may come to obtain everlasting happiness: when we think of our poor children, our hearts are affected with sorrow—we hope you will send us teachers.”
These circumstances, together with the remembrance of the kindness of the natives to the early settlers in this country, continued to interest the feelings of the society of Friends in their behalf, and from motives of religious obligation, the Yearly Meeting, held in Philadelphia in the Ninth month, 1795, appointed a large committee for the special purpose of promoting the improvement and gradual civilization of the Indian natives, in such a way and manner, as would best tend to meliorate their condition; and to render an account annually to the Yearly Meeting of their progress therein. This committee promoted liberal subscriptions through the society—appointed a clerk and treasurer, and held stated meetings to deliberate on such measures, as, under the divine blessing, might best promote the real welfare of these inhabitants of the wilderness.
In order more fully to learn the disposition of the several tribes of Indians bordering on the state of Pennsylvania, it was an early object with the committee, to address to them a circular letter, informing them of the objects the society had in view for their benefit—and also therein communicating much salutary advice and counsel; which letter was also accompanied by one from Timothy Pickering, then secretary of state, in which he expresses a hearty co-operation with the views and plans of the committee, and the necessity of the Indians’ gradually declining their former modes of procuring sustenance, and betaking themselves to the cultivation of the soil, and raising domestic animals.
In his letter he says—
“Now, Brothers, I have the great pleasure to inform you, that your good friends, the Quakers, have formed a wise plan to show your young men and boys the most useful practices of the white people. They will choose some prudent, good men to instruct them. These good men will do this, only from the love they bear to you, their fellow men, and children of the Great Spirit whom they desire to please, and who will be pleased with the good they do to you.