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FRIENDS' MEMORIAL.
To the Senate & House of Representatives of the United States in
Congress Assembled.
The memorial of the Representatives of the Religious Society of Friends,
in the state of New York, and parts adjacent respectfully sheweth-
That the Society of Friends has been long engaged, in different parts
of the U. States, in endeavoring to improve the condition of the Indian tribes,
and that it has had the satisfaction of observing, that, under the fostering
care of the government and of benevolent individuals and associations, they
have been gradually drawn from a dependence on the precarious subsistence which
the chase affords, to the habits of civilized life, and have made great advancement
in agriculture and domestic economy.
Whilst the melioration of their condition has been gradually effecting,
your memorialists have remarked, with deep regret, that a disposition has been
manifested to deprive the Indians residing in the southern states, of their
natural and indefeasible rights, and to despoil these remains of once populous
and powerful nations of the scanty pittance which is left of all that was once
their own, and to compel them to retire into the wilderness, to begin anew their
settlements, under great and overwhelming difficulties and sufferings, which
it is highly probable, will lead to their total extinction.
Your memorialists are impressed with deep and anxious solicitude for
their welfare; and the feeling of commiseration is excited on their behalf,
in the reflection, that at a period, not remote in the history of nations, they
were the rightful uncontrolled possessors of all the soil now occupied by the
People of these United States, whose ancestors they received with kindness and
hospitality; and that they have gradually receded, on the approach of the white
population, till by cession after cession, often for very inadequate considerations,
they have become limited and circumscribed, with a comparatively trifling
residue of their ancient domain.
The attention of your memorialists has been especially turned to the
situation of the Cherokee Nation, and the threatened violation of their rights
and privileges as a distinct and separate people, recognized in numerous treaties
of the government of the United States, and of the state of Georgia, during
a period of forty years, and never called in question till insatiable cupidity
set up claims to their lands, totally unsupported by the language and acts of
the most distinguished statesman of the country, in their negotiations with
the Cherokee Nation.
We cannot but deeply feel for the character of our beloved country, when
such injustice is meditated; and we anticipate the opprobrium which will be
cast upon it in the eyes of the world, if it should be consummated. And
as national sins have, under the just government of a righteous Providence,
drawn down national punishments, we tremble, lest when the Most High shall arise
at the cry of the poor and oppressed, his arm shall take hold on vengeance.
To avert these fatal results, and to prevent the total extermination
of a much injured people, we would respectfully, but most earnestly, solicit
the two houses of Congress to interpose their authority for the protection
of the Cherokee nation in its just rights, and to save our country from such
an impending calamity.
Signed by direction, and in behalf of the meeting of the representatives
aforesaid, held in the city of New York, the 5th of 1st month, 1830.
SAMUEL PARSONS, Clerk.
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