Case Name: Chandler against Edson
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1812-10
Citations: 9 Johns. 362
Docket Number: 
Parties: Chandler against Edson.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 9
Pages: 362–364

Head Matter:
Chandler against Edson.
NEW YORK,
Oct. 1812.
A person can-enter 'on^tííe tetóle6 away timber, in^evln with .WhereTperl son by a writ-from lCthe of“ thTtribe, out down tree* of which he giesv itwas wasa treípas6 T’ding^sucli license, and property in shingles!
IN ERROR., on certiorari, from a justice’s court. Edsoñ' brought an action of trover against Chandler, before the justice, f°r taking and converting 7,000 pine shingles, the property of the The defendant pleaded not guilty; and specially, that the plaintiff had made the shingles of timber while green, on land belonging to the Stockbridge Indians, and that he had so taken the timber and made the shingles on the land, as a trespasser. The plaintiff replied to the second plea, that he had cut the timber by consent of the “ Peacemakers,” 8rc. of the tribe or nation.
On the trial, the plaintiff gave in evidence, a writing signed by two peacemakers of the Stockbridge Indians, dated the 23d November, 1809, giving license to Joseph Pye, to cut 10 pine trees on their undivided lands, by whoever he thought fit, and to build a hut to work in. One of the peacemakers, who was sworn as a witness, testified, that he executed the paper produced, and that the leave was given pursuant to a vote of the nation, and of -the peacemakers. The plaintiff produced a writing, without date, signed by Joseph Pye, giving the plaintiff leave to cut the trees; and it was proved that Pye had said that he gave such a license to the plaintiff, but the time when it was given did not appear. It was proved that the plaintiff made the shingles, and that they were, afterwards, in the possession of the defendant. The justice gave judgment for the plaintiff, for 12 dollars and 25 cents. The justice, in his return, stated, that he did not take into consideration the right of the Indians to grant liberty to persons to cut timber on the land, as he was of opinion there was not sufficient proof that the shingles were made on their land.
N. Williams, for the plaintiff in error.
Kirtland, contra.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The facts stated in the case leave no room to doubt, that the shingles for which Edson brought the action, were made by him, from timber which he had cut upon the lands belonging to the Siockbridge Indians. If he acquired no right to cut the timber, and make the shingles, by virtue of the license granted by the peacemakers to Joseph Pye, the property in the shingles still remained in the Indians. Edson acquired no property in the shingles, as the fruit of his trespass, for if the license was void, his entry must be deemed wilful. (5 Johns. Rep. 348. 6 Johns. Rep. 168.) The decision of this case, then, turns upon the question, whether a person can, with the consent of the Indians, lawfully enter, cut and carry away the timber, growing upon the lands of the Siockbridge Indians. The court are of opinion that the entry was unlawful, and contrary to the provision in the act relative to Indians, passed 4th April, 1801, (Laws, vol. 1. 464.) The first section of that act (sess. 24. c. 147.) prohibits all persons, without the consent of the legislature, from entering on any Indian lands, by pretext or colour of any right or interest in the same,^ in consequence of any Indian contract. The second section, among other things, declares that no person shall sue on any contract made with the Siockbridge Indians; and the 9th section declares, that these Indians have no power to alienate, or lease, or dispose of their lands, or any part thereof. These several legislative provisions appear to be decisive against the validity of any Indian contract or license, to enter and appropriate their timber. If a person cannot enter, under pretext of any interest in their lands, and if they cannot even lease them, and if all contracts with the Indians are void, there cannot be a pretence for holding valid the agreement in the case before us. The 14th section of the act contains nothing repugnant to the other provisions. It only superadds a penalty against every person who shall enter, and cut down the timber on the Indian lands, without consent of the peacemakers. That consent may exempt him from the penalty, but will not make the contract valid. There is the same penalty for occupying and improving their lands, without consent; and it cannot surely be said, that the Indian consent to occupy and improve their lands, could be valid; for that would be equivalent to a lease of them, and directly- contrary to a prec~ding section in the act,
It was the wise policy of the statute to interdict all individual whites from any negotiation, or any contract with the Indians, in respect to their lands, or any interest therein. Such a complete and total interdict was indispensable to save the Indians from falling victims to their own weakness, and to the intelligence, and, sometimes, the cupidity, of the whites.
Judgment reversed,