“Brothers, when our young men have been out hunting and are returning home loaded with skins and furs, on their way, if it happens that they come along where some of this liquor is deposited, the white man who sells it, tells them to take a little drink. Some of them will say no, I do not want it; they go on till they come to another house, where they find more of the same kind of drink; it is there offered again; they refuse, and again the third time; but finally the fourth or fifth time, one accepts of it, and takes a drink, and getting one he wants another, and then a third, and a fourth, till his senses have left him. After his reason comes back again to him, when he gets up and finds where he is—he asks for his peltry—the answer is, ‘You have drank them’—Where is my gun? ‘It is gone’—Where is my shirt? ‘You have sold it for whiskey!’ Now brothers, figure to yourselves what condition this man must be in. He has a family at home—a wife and children who stand in need of the profits of his hunting. What must be their wants, when he himself is even without a shirt.”
These chiefs appeared to be much rejoiced at the assistance Friends proposed to render them, and in reply to that part of their communication, observed, ‘that it was their anxious wish to engage in the culture of their lands, for although the game was not so scarce but that they could get enough to eat, yet they were sensible it was daily diminishing, and that the time was not far distant, when they would be compelled to take hold of such tools, as they saw in the hands of the white people.’
The committee, from their former experience, being of the judgment, that no great progress could be made in the civilization of the Indians while they were so abundantly supplied with distilled spirits, concluded to address congress on the subject. Their memorial was favourably received, and a law passed, which in some measure provided a remedy for the evil.
As it now appeared to the committee, that the principal obstruction to agriculture amongst the Indians was removed, they were encouraged to proceed in their undertaking. They accordingly provided a number of implements of husbandry, such as ploughs, hoes, axes, &c. &c. which were forwarded and immediately distributed, as a present from the society of Friends. These things were thankfully received by the Indians.
A letter in the summer of 1803, from the agent for Indian affairs at Fort Wayne, informed, that ‘since there had been no spirituous liquor in the Indian country, they appeared very industrious, and turned their attention to raising stock.’ This agent also expressed as his opinion, “that the suppression of spirituous liquors in that country, was the most beneficial measure which had ever been adopted for them, by the United States—that there had not been one Indian killed in that neighbourhood for a year—and that in no preceding year since the treaty of Grenville, had there been less than ten killed, and in some years as many as thirty.” The agent further added, “that the Indians appeared very desirous of procuring for themselves, the necessaries of life, in our way, but say they do not know how to begin. Some of their old men say, “the white people want for nothing.” We wish them to show us how to provide the many good things we see amongst them, if it is their wish to instruct us in their way of living as they tell us it is, we wish them to make haste and do it, for we are old and must die soon; but we wish to see before we die, our women and children in that path, that will lead them to happiness.
At the same time, a letter was received from the Little Turtle, and Five Medals, in which they expressed a wish that some Friends would visit their country. The committee, therefore, deputed some of their number for that purpose. They were authorized to procure one or more suitable persons to reside amongst the Indians, for the purpose of teaching them agriculture and other useful knowledge, as far as it should appear practicable.
In Second month 1804, two of the deputation proceeded to Fort Wayne, accompanied by Philip Dennis, who had offered his services to go with them, and remain with the Indians during the summer, for the purpose of instructing them in husbandry. They took with them two horses to be employed in ploughing, &c.
They arrived at Fort Wayne in the latter end of the Third month, and soon after, convened several of their chiefs in a council with them; a future day was fixed upon for the committee to meet them, with as many of their old men, and their women and children as could be assembled. Their chiefs previously requested, that whatever matter Friends might have to communicate to the Indians, should be written down, in order that they might lay it before the grand council in the Sixth month following, to the attendance of which, they pressingly invited the committee.
On the day appointed, being met by a considerable number of the natives, the committee presented them with a written address, from which, though all excellent, and well calculated to impress the Indians’ minds with the importance of adhering to their counsel, we shall, for brevity, content ourselves with extracting some of the most material parts, as follows: