The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-03


Indians, delivered the following " alk' to his ex
cellency President Taylor, solicited copy of the
same now hand il for publication, not only
TO preserve the historical truths il forcbly presents
but as truly good specimen of Indian eloquence.
It speaks best for itself. Yours, truly,
FRANKLIN.
WAsHISGTos, March 25, 1850.
The undersigned, representatives of the Moh-
can, now Stockbrdge nation Of Indians, pray their
Great Father the President Of the United States, to
listen to them a few moments, believing when he
has heard their history that bis heart will feel for
them, and he will have liberal justice dune them
Their history, like that of many of their breth-
rem, is sad narration Of sufferings and wrongs,
but they will tell it in few words as possible
Our nation, the Mohicans, when the white men
first came to this country, had their principal vii
lage on the Island Of Manhattan, now occupied by
the great city of New York. That lace still re-
tains the name our people gave it, wirh signifies
the beautiful island We were then mighty ma
ton Of wise and warriors, but they have nearly
all passed away. Our glory has departed We are
now feeble people Though our warriors and
wise have departed, those that iinain have
learned from our white brothers the bciifts Of ag-
riculture, mechanics, the arts and Sciences, and,
above ALL the truths of the glorious gospel of the
blessed Saviour, which, while it has dissipated our
dreams of happy hunting grounds beyond the set
ting sun, has opened up to us the green pastures
and still waters of Paradise. We are now civil
lied, christian band of agrculturists, having long
since abandoned the manners, habits, and customs
of our fathers.
Our people, as our white brethren increased in
numbers, moved to the State Of Massachusetts, and
from thence to the northern part of the State of
New York; but finding II impossible to remain
there, we purchased lands on White river, in In
diana, with the consent of our Great Father All
that land was afterwards bought from the Della
wares for many thousand dollars. We were then
forgotten. Afterwards, on two different occasions
we sent out delegations who purchased land of the
Nafa aboxx 20 tnf
millions of acres; the whole proceedings and pur-
chase were encouraged and approved by the Sec
retary of War and our Great Father. Yet this
| same land was again bought OF the Menominees
and Winnebagoes, and we were forgotten, till our
friends OF the Senate set apart two townships for US
on Lake Winnebago. Yet after all our expendi-
lures in these purchases, and in moving our peo-
ple we would have been homeless wanderers, if the
Senate had not renewed the pittance out of the
general ruin that our white brothers had brought
upon US.
But our white brothers like the snow-cloud,
that covers the whole earth. They settled around
u.s. and at length bought out our lands The SEN
ate again befriended us, and, in amendment to
the treaty of l649, gave home in the FAR West,
with the privilege that our people should be con.
moved to that home last fall, but the country al
lotted to US has not yet been purchased from the
Sioux; and we have heard lately that our white
brothers wish to move far north near the Crow
Wing river, among the Menominees and Winnie
bagoes, where our corn could not ripen, where our
labor would be in vain, and where We must perish
or forsake agricultural pursuits, and obtain a
| living by hunting and fishing. Should this course
be decided upon, our utter ruin will inevitably fol-
low; all the labor and toll of years will be annihi
lated, our young men, prompted by necessity, and
following the instinct of humanity, which causes
man 10 deterorate rather than advance, will throw
off the peaceful pursuits of agriculture for war ano
the chase Bloodshed, desolation, and superstition
will usurp the places Of peace, harmony, and Chris
tian fellowshp churches will be converted int
| lodi nd on
ding posts Ps,o, ,.,i.v. ,h,, our Great Father will
permit his red children, who have always been hii
Friends and fought for his country in two wars, tc
be thus destroyed. The religion we profess in com
mon his care for souls and those Of our children
| forbid il. Humanity, in contemplating such sac
venly charity to prevent IT, And why should it be;
Nothing but evil surrounds 1t; no possible good can
| flow from iu
Oh, look upon the immense regions in the east
4 over which our heroic fathers ruled,-where they
fought, bled and died for the whites, and where
! their ashes rest unknown, unmarked, and union
ored, save in the hearts of their few descendants
and say, cannot you spare TO those peaceful lew Z
little spot out of your vast territory where they car
be supported by their labor, till they shall be called
20 join their fathers in the spirit land? The ocear
| once washed our country we we're mighty peo
ple Now our children never see the utmost Dor
| ders of their fathers land. We are fast passing
away. Ifit is the will Of Heaven that our race shsl
become extinct, we will meekly bow TO that will
but till that time shall come, thrust us not from
| among you-drive not forth TO wander, hungry
and naked, the frozen plains and desert regions
of the North We wish 20 gather the remnants o
people together at some point west Of the Mis-
sissippi and below the Great Falls Of St. Anthony
where we can cultivate the blessings derived from
our white brothers, aad be stimulated 10 greater
ertions in this good course by their examples and
our hearts tell us that Great Father will gram
our request, that he will not permit the evils we
deprecate 20 be visited upon his red children, and
| that he will instruct his officers accordingly.
We also pray that orders may be given TO per
| init US to occupy the lands on Lake Winnebago,
which we ceded, till our new home is purchased
| for us; and that all back annuities, &c, may be
paid TO sachem and councillors, as directed by
| the treaty Of 1889.
We have boldly told Great Father Of our suf
ferings and our fears, because we know that while
nc great warrior, he loves his red children, and
wishes to them peaceful and happy; and we arc
sure, that when he is about passing 20 a better
world the consciousness that he has thus benefited
Them and that their earnest prayers, and those OF
their children, have ascendcd 20 Heaven for bless
ings on him and his, will aid 10 smooth his path
way to the tomb.
| JNO. w. QUINNEY,
| AUSTIN r. QUINNEH.
| To his excellency, u. TAYLOR,
| President Of the United States.