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Life of Thomas Eddy

SW_WH1793_Page_255

posed in the Commissioners will appear to have beenexecuted with great ability, and the utmost fidelity,yet, their report, from the novelty and magnitude ofits subject, may induce the Legislature to seek fur-ther information, before it finally decides on thecourse to be pursued. Thus, a final decision maybe delayed longer than the ensuing session of the Legislature; and, when every proper source of inform-ation has been exhausted, that decision may beagainst the enterprise. There is nothing in the pre-sent act to preclude such decision; and hence weare of opinion, that the act furnishes no adequatemotives for private subscriptions, either in lands ormoney. We submit these sentiments to the Commissioners,with all deference, and we remain, with respect, ROBERT TROUP.JOHN NICHOLS.S. YOUNG, Esq. New York, 12th mo. 10th, 1816. ESTEEMED FRIENDS, Your favour of 28th ult. was last evening laidbefore our Committee on Indian Affairs, and wewere directed to communicate to you such remarksas we might judge suitable, relating to the subjectalluded to in your letter. Many of our Committee have been, for some time, attentive to the situation of the Seneca nation, andhave had great fears lest they might be sadly im-posed on, by the person who has purchased the pre-emption right of the Holland Company. It may beuseful to state, that all the land on the west side ofthe River Genesee, belonged originally to the state ofMassachusetts—that is, the right of soil, or the exclu-sive right of purchasing the same of the Indians; theright of jurisdiction has always been considered tobe in the state of New York. The state of Massachu-setts sold their pre-emption right to the whole coun-