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Beyond Penn's Treaty

Committee on Indian Concerns Scrapbook

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shortly after asked me if I was a member of the society of Friends
and being answered in the affirmiation invited me to spend
the evening in their room, which invitation I gladly accepted,
as Indian Character & Indian welfare have long been subjects
of the liveliest interest to me. The Talk was commenced
by Jno. Quinney

with their Characteristic gravity, he said
that he well remembered the care extended to their Tribe by
the Society of Friends, when he was young, that it had sent
amongst them teachers of both sexes who instructed them in
letters, the men in agriculture & the mechanic arts, and the
women in the domestic duties of civilized life, that the
instruction thus afforded had been of inestimable value to
them, that its effects still existed amongst them, and was exten-
ding through them to other tribes of Indians, & that the
Red men felt the most sincere gratitude therefore towards our
Society. This he expressed in the warmest terms, and conclu-
ded by desiring me to convey the same to the Society when
an opportunity offered, and to say to it that the advices and
instruction of its elder members would now be acceptable.

That they would be happy to show to it that its labors had been
servicable in placing in placing them in their present condi-
tion which is his own experience is on the rise, & steadily but
slowly on the advance towards coplete civilization. This they
seemed anxious should be accellerated.

I much regret that I cannot give his words verbation:
but what I have said must be nearly the substance. The
manner in which it was delivered was to me satisfactory
evidence that it proceded from the heart.

After they had concluded what seemed to be their object
in inviting me into their room, we had much, to me, interesting
conversation, in which they give many of the particulars of
their situation & some of the internal regulations of their
tribe, such as its form of government, Legislative Judicial &
Executive--which are very simple. They have a Presby-
terian

mission amongst them. Those I saw appeared to
be men of inafficted piety, and the two who spoke our
Language were very intelligent men. One of them had
been taught the English language gramatically--& speaks
it very correctly, though with some hesitation; this he said
arose from using their own language wholly, amongst themselves; he was
also so much of a mathemetician as to be able to perform
plane surverying--which could also be done by 4 others of the
tribe. Here I think is a field for accomplishing
much service to the cause of Christianity & Civilization
and to this wronged and blighted portion of the human race. That it
properly belongs to Friends at Ohio Yearly Meeting is I think evident
from the fact that it is of more easy access to them than any others.
The Committee I have no doubt is fully aware of the importance of the objects Com-
mitted to their charge & also of the ability of Friends of Ohio
to do all that may be Exquisite in a preuniary way, to aid it,
so that I need make no other appeal to its Christian benevolence than to
inform it, as requested, that the way is open to do good. Should any
members of the Committee wish to visit this tribe the best way would
be to embark on one of the Steam Boats which leave this place, during the summer,
every 2 or 3 days, for Green Bay, which place would be reached in 4 or 5 days at
a passage expence of 15 or 20 doll. (I think 15) & there they would have to traval about
30 miles over land by a U. States Military Road to reach the
place of its residence. I should be glad to hear from thee