20th CONGRESS,
2d SESSION.
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MEMORIAI
OF
SEVERAL TRIBES OF INDIANS,
LATE OF NEW YORK,
Who purchased lands in Michigan from tribes residing there; which
lands, they state, have been by a late treaty, again sold by the original
proprietors to the United States, without their consent; and praying
that said treaty may not be confirmed, and that commissioners be ap-
ed to investigate the matter, &c.
JANUARY 26, 1829.
Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs:—January 27, ordered to be printed.
To the Honorable the Senate of the United States:
FATHERS: We, your children, being chiefs and principal men of the seve-
ral Indian tribes hereunto subscribed, would request your honorable body to
hear us a few words.
As the settlements of the white people were crowding upon ours in the State
of New York, where we all heretofore resided, and where many of our peo-
ple still reside, and as they were greatly annoyed by the venders of ardent
spirits among them, and by other evils under which they were fast dimin-
ishing, they clearly saw the necessity of seeking a new fire-place, where
they would be more secluded from the influence of wicked white
people, and less exposed to many temptations. After some delays and dis-
appointments, our Great Father, the President of the United States, gave
us permission to make a treaty with our brethren in the north-west part of
the Territory of Michigan, to purchase lands where we might enjoy the ad-
vantages we desired. We accordingly made a treaty with our brethren, the
Menominie and Winnebago tribes of Indians, to purchase a tract of land
lying on both sides of Fox River, from the outlet of Winnebago Lake to the
foot of the Grand Kaccalin. This treaty was approved by the President of
the United States, and we considered the lands therein purchased, fully con-
firmed to us and our children for ever. As this treaty did not contain suffi-
cient room for the convenient settlement of the several tribes concerned in
it, a second permission was obtained of the President of the United States,
to make a second treaty to purchase land, and we purchased of the Menomi-
nie Indians, a large tract of land lying on both sides of Fox River and Green
Bay, to be occupied in common with us; they having a right to settle there-
on, wherever it should be agreeable, not interfering with our settlements,

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Of this purchase, that part lying on the south-east side of Fox River and
Green Bay, as far as Sturgeon Bay, was approved by the President of the
United States, that being deemed by him sufficient for the tribes concerned
in the treaties; but we were at the same time informed by the Honorable the
Secretary at War, that we might settle on any part of the land purchased,
with perfect safety. Here, fathers, we hoped to enjoy a safe retreat for our-
selves and children; and that, to remote generations, we and they should re-
main undisturbed in the possession of this distant country; but how great
was our surprise and sorrow, when, at the late treaty held by his excellency
Governor L. Cass and Colonel Thomas L. McKenney, at the Little Beau des
Morts, our lands were purchased by them as Commissioners of the United
States, and thus our hopes of security in this last refuge destroyed! If trea-
ties thus made by us, with the approbation of public authority, and confirmed
by the same, are to be thus disregarde l and trampled on, on what can we
rely, or where shall we ever rest? This purchase of our lands was made, not
only without our consent, and contrary to our most earnest wishes, but also
without even consulting us at all! We were not allowed a hearing, nor even
asked whether we would consent to sell or not. It has indeed been said to
us, that this treaty does not affect our claims, but leaves them still good. But
if our right to the land we have purchased is considered good, why is it pur-
chased again from others, and nothing said to us? And if any right could be
thus obtained to the land which we occupied in common with the Menomi-
nies, surely it could not be to that part which lies within the first treaty, in
which there was no such condition. We are not unwilling that our white bre-
thren should have some land in this region; but we entreat you not to suffer
our lands to be thusforcibly taken from us, contrary to solemn treaty and with-
out our consent. If this treaty to purchase our land from us without our con-
sent, and against our wishes, should be confirmed, it will serve wholly to dis-
courage the emigration of our people from the East. Indeed, the attempts
which have been making to obtain such a treaty, have hindered many from
coming to this country, who would have been here before now, if no such at-
tampts had beenmade. It would be unreasonablefor them to leave heitr country
and their homes, when they could have no security that they should remain
undisturbed in the country they had purchased. Fathers, we wish that this
treaty may not be confirmed; but that Commissioners might be appointed, and
sent to Green Bay next spring, to meet delegates from all the tribes of In-
dians from the State of New York, concerned in the purchases of land in
that country, fully authorized to assist them in fixing the boundaries of their
several locations, on principles of justice and equity, and to confirm these lo-
cations to them and their descendants for ever; but without their possessing
the right of selling them to white people without the approbation of all the
tribes concerned. This measure, if adopted, would give our people that se-
curity in the possession of their land, which they need, and would encourage
the scattered remnants of our tribes to remove to that country, in the hope
of there enjoying for themselves and their children a permanent residence.
Fathers, we have no more to say; we put confidence in your clemency and
justice to hear us, and trust you will not suffer us to be deprived of that coun-
try which we have fairly and honorably obtained, and which we wish to in-
habit and leave for a possession to our children. We remain, with senti-
ments of the highest respect, your friends and children,
D
с
1829
Memorial of several tribes of Indians
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[special Trust