New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-08-11
Couuci, OF the seneca Nation.


report ofthe proceedings of Council Of the senc-
ca Nation. held at Gaia angus Crcok keservaii n
on the s,h and 10th Of July 1t appears. says the
Commercial that The Council was called by ne
Committee Of The society ut Friends who FOR some years
pas, have been assisting these people and that the o5
;,ct was 70 induce them 90 make radical change IN
,heir .vstsm OF domestic economy and especially as ~
the division labor among ihsmand the wi'hirawa
OF their females from che 'bors o. the held and other
emniovmcn,. no, suited % the decacy OF ihor sex. aud
that hereafter they should devote themselves 70 the ou'
.pess Of their household affairs The Council was al
tended By considerable number Of the chiefs ana pco'
pe both men and women, from Buffalo and CaiaFaugus,
and by a delegation from the Alceany Reservation II
was opened on Tuesday the 18th July, and DANIEL Two
Guns appointed Chairman. We believe there were no
Tonawsnias present.
After some preliminary remarks by several OF the
Chiefs and also by the Committee, amongst whom were
several Women Friends the Council proceeded to the
business for which il called when member Of the
Committee rose and addressed the Council length
planning the motives OF the Friends in calling them to
sether From this address we present brief extract
which Will sufficiently Indicate it' spirit aud purpose
4 wise systcm ofmuaicpa government adopted to
your necessities had been provided for YOU and you
have now only avail yourselves 20 these important AL
been conferred upon you-hc sober and industrious
change your system regards the employment of your
females and elevate them by suitable education AMI
treatment The position they ought 20 occupy and your
prosperity viii then be placed upon hrm and perma'
nent basis.
one OF the principal objects oour present visit t. to
endeavor impress upon you the importance of these
measures and above ALL the absolute necessity % your
adopting a different from what you have hereto
fore pursued in regard TO the division OF labor among
YOU and tell you plainly thatu our settled opinion
unless you consent % this all our aOors 10 bencnt you
will in the end fail.
I'VE hope you will listen to the advice we have given
you-that your will settle themselves permanently
a. the homes which be taken from them and that
they will diligently apply themselves 10 the cultivation
and mprovs Of their farms-that you VIII withdraw
your from the abors OF the held and other I'm
Payments adapted to the decacy OF their seN-,n"i
YOU will give them suitable education, leave them To be-
occupied the and business OF their household a
fairs and place them in condition to become your pru
dent advisers and useful companions. You VIII then
lind them wise counsei0rs and true friends.
As We have heretofore told you our object in uniting
our curs was % for you home that could not
without your consent be- taken from you. That has hen
done sceciuay under all circumstances. ~ could De-
expcctcd this being accomplished, and oar Original
purpose effected. might now be Justified m with
drawing aud leave you 10 walk alone but upon consd
erng your situation has appeared 90 us that you -t
stand IN need OF some help not regards the cultivation
Of your land because this you already understand and
can readily do you disposed 10 be INDUSTRIOUS but
there way IN which We believe you require As
ssauce and in which we can yet do you good and
that by aiding You In the edu aion OF your Children
and the instruction of your females IN the empOymens
in which believe they should hereafter be engaged
II you approve OF these measures and II De your "rh
should IN this assist you. We are disposed 10
efforts 20 do By continuing the school
amongst you. where many of your children rs you
may be- inclined 10 send, may be taught 10 read AMI
write and also be instructed in such higher branches oi
learning crcum.t lnces may admit UL
ln addition to h- propose to secure into the fifni
y OF the Friend We may place to reside among YOU ~
many OF your young women 40 can be accommodated
and there instruct them IN al The branches Of female
empuym ents which will be- necessary enable them
become good housekeepcr-. end suitable companions OF
Intelligent Industrious husbands. and qualify them 10
train W their children habits and principles which Will
render them respectable, good citizens.
On the following day similar remarks were made by
other members OF the family.
After short pause, Young Chief distinguished sa
chem Of the Cattaraugus Reservation and express
ed thanks to tie Great Spirit that many Of the Com
mittce of Friends had been permitted again TO meet m
Council the business which had brought them from
far country them and then proceeded to respond
in detail To the points which had been presented
for the consideration of the Chiefs. Upon this Chief
taking his seat William Patterson Chief delegated by
the Alegany Chiefs to attend the Council rose and
said
"Brothes-Vhen the notice Of the call Of the pres
Council reach Alegsny We (mssning, we presume.
himsef and the other Anegany Chiefs IN aitendance)
delegated to attend IT, Having heard the conDu-
nlcaiion made yesterday by our friends, We think We
understand h. and also the object Of your Wit.
"On listening 20 the remarks made by the Committee
Of Friends md nothing in them but what We approve
any advice which n adopted. would not rebound a.
the great happiness Of the Indians When look round
the SITUATION Of our white neghbOrs desire 20 en-
joy the blessings which they 70 amply possess but We
have yet been able 10 obtain them. We feel thank
ul 10 friends for the counsel they have gwen and
believe # people Will take the advice Of the Com
mittce. they viii ind for their good. We earnestly de-
sire that friends may continue their over
and that they may not be- discouraged they do not find
improve fact they desire The friends Of Phia-
dephla will testify that the Indians al Alegany have
made progress in improvement II
thought Il SIN against the Great Spirit 10 send chill
dren TO school. 1t IS not 50 now. Many who formerly
entertained that opinion, send their children to
school We have NJ this time the Alegany reserva
ton i've Schools The Friends have often told that
they believed It was the viii Of the Great spirit they
should assist the Indians II that be hcir opinion they
need never be discouraged
From these addresses delivered 10 behalf n the
Seneca Nation after fun and deliberate consideration we
presume may be inferred that is their determination
hereafter to follow the excellent advice given 10 hemby
their old and tried friends thu Quakers
After the business TOR which the Council had been
called vas concluded a consultation in the Indian lar
guage held among the Chef.. Aiter some time
spent discussion, Chief anu addressed the
sem5y IN short speech, which being Interpreted,
nearly follows:
" Er0fhrrs-.n the course OF human events u some
times happen. that nations di-tanty situated become
bound together by the ties Of friendship. This 10 the
second session Of the present council between the
nation and the Society Of Friends. To our nation
the subjects Of deliberaflon have been very important
Among them there is Of much interest to US which
il is my duty 10 open 10 this council In order 10
press the high regard entertain for the friendship
long existing between the Friends and the Seneca In
dams have solemnly concluded to adopt into our
nation Of their numbers and for that purpose have
selected veneral friend Philip t. Thomas. Accord
ing 10 the ancient custom u tribes by this act
express grateful Of obligation fri.nds
and make fact the chain which has long bound
gcfher'
The Chief then rising from ME seat and approaching
P L. Thomas, who sitting at the Council table took
him By the arm and raised INN on his feet Alter three
times laying bis hand MS shoulder he made
ton in the Indian language. which being aer.ard ez
planned was 10 the following purpose
By this ceremony 90 a; tbs time adopt into the
seneca nation this friend Philip r.. Thomas hv
which nc becomes member II the tribe and brother
OF the SWAN can-and Is entitled 10 the name of s.ne
lGdsn and 10 all the rights and mmuniies Of the ma
ton. We now give him the u SaCoraN- by
which We express ofhs character and under
which be VIII hereafter be recognized among us-and
We nave ,ed neor ts..b ~.