NYYM_scrapbook_058

Philadelphia 11th Mo 28th 1816 (From Indian Committee of Phila.) Thomas Eddy &; Samuel Parsons Esteemed Friends The Committee appointed by our Yearly Meeting for promoting the gradual Civilization and Improvement of the Indian Natives, have been much excercised on viewing the peculiar situation in which the Seneca Nation is now placed--their Right to the Land which they inhabit must be admitted by all; but a number of influential persons have acquired an exclusive preemption to become the purchasers thereof, who are under no obligation to acquire the consent of the individual owners, many of whom with much labour and some at no small cost have erected comfortable dwelling Houses with Stables &;c, cleared Farms which they occupy and cultivate; yet a few chiefs without even the knowledge of these their Brethren, according to the common mode of holding Indian Treaties may sell the whole, &; yet those very Chiefs have neither Right or Title to an acre more Land than any other Family of the Nation--for the Indian Law in the distribution of national property is that all share alike, and they hold in joint Tenancy under the same received custom Should the Indians be dispossessed of their present