NYYM_scrapbook_129

used great exertions to get many of the Cheifs to go to this place and prevailed on some, with money--and others under the influence of ardent spirits was prevailed on to sign the pretended treaty. They offered large sums of money to many of the Cheifs who refused it, and remain uncorrupted by the offer of their bribes. We told those who had signed the treaty that the council is now closed and you now think you have sold our lands but we are determined to hold our rights. You may sell your proportion according to your number. But we shall none of our land. But the Commissioner did not go as he said. He stayed two days after the Council was closed, and his books were open all that time and when the Augden Co used all their influence to weaken our party by offering large sums of money to induce them to sign the treaty--on the third day in the afternoon the Commissioner left the reservation, and went to Buffalo, and held a select Council with those Indians who had signed the treaty. The Augden Co, knowing our Agent had withheld our annuity from us, and that we intended to send a delegation to Washington and supposing we should be necessiated to hire money to defray the expences of our delegates went forward to all those they thought would be likely to accomo- date us, and by their influence prevented our getting any for that purpose. Brothers, we have no more to say on the foregoing subject Brothers, we and our People are well, and our friends residing at Tunesassah are also well. Brothers, our hearts are pained therefore we remember you, and aim to let you know our distress our necessity induces to ask assistance of our friends. We have prevailed on James Robertson to go to Washington for us. He will stop and see you on his Journey--in order to be advised by you who to apply to at Washington for assistance and we think it is not likely we shall be able to raise money enough to defray his expences while there--and would ask you to lend him as much as he may need. Our Agent says we shall have our annuity in the 6th mo. when we got that we will pay you, and will pay you what you think is right for the use of it we will hold ourselves accountable for whatever amount you may think proper to let James Robertson have for that purpose. We are determined to stay where we are, and enjoy our old homes we hold the same minds we were of when our friends Enoch Lewis and Joseph Elkinton visited us last fall. Brothers we beleive the love you have felt towards us emenated from the Great Spirit and we beg the Great Spirit to preserve you and us, and protect us in our rights. There is 16 Cheifs on this reservation, two of which have joined the emigration party. The Tonewanda Indi- ans are all firmly opposed to selling their land. At Buffalo reservation there is a majority of the Cheifs in favour of selling but the warriors are mostly opposed to it, the same may be said of Cat- taraugus reservation. There has 92 warriors of this reservation signed the remonstrance and added the number of each family to--making in all 700 souls, the Cheifs having signed it at Buffalo. This from your friends and Red Brothers. (Copy) their marks Governor X Blacksnake James X Robertson John X Peirce Sky X Pierce Tunis X Halftown William X Patterson Charles X Obeal George X Killbuck David X Snow Isaac X Halftown Jacob X Blacksmith Moses X Peirce Captain X Jones Robert X Watt Benjamin X Williams