Description:

Native Americans
Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 1841
1841 Annual Indian Report by the Friends of Indians Committee
Document
An annual Report of the 1841 Indian Committee. 2pp typed, measuring 8" x 12.5", Philadelphia, dated April 15, 1841. Signed in text by the Clerk, Thomas Wistar, by direction of the Committee. Entitled "Report of the Committee of the Yearly Meeting of Friends held in Philadelphia, appointed for the Gradual Civilization, &c., of the Indian Natives…and directed to be printed for the use of the members." With flattened folds. Soiling and light toning at the edges. Adhesive residue on verso.

In part:
"The Committee charged with promoting the Gradual Improvement and Civilization of the Indian Natives…The Indians have been in a the past year, in consequence of the embarrassment and distress produced by the ratification of the treaty, and their uncertainty as to the best course to be pursued by them in their trying and perplexing circumstances. They still cling to the hope that they shall be able to ward off the calamity which threatens them, either through the favourable disposition of the new administration and senate to give their case a rehearing, or by an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. Small as the hope afforded by these sources may appear to a disinterested observer, they are buoyed up by it, and seem as unwilling as ever to look toward relinquishing their present homes…"

"…A letter from the Senceas residing at Tonawanda, was addressed to the Committee, from which the following extracts are taken: 'By the help of the Great Spirit we have met in open council this 23d day of the 5th month, 1840, for the purpose of deliberating on the right course for us to pursue under the late act of the government of the United States relating to our lands. Brothers, we are in trouble; we have seen told that the president has ratified a treaty by which these lands are sold from our possession. We look to you and solicit your advice and your sympathy under the accumulating difficulties that now surround us. We feel more than ever, our need of the help of the great and good Spirit, May his counsel ever preserve and direct us all in true wisdom…Brothers, what we want is that you should intercede with the United States government on our behalf. We do not want to leave our lands. We are willing that the emigrating party should sell out their rights, but we are not willing that they should sell ours. Brothers, we want the president of the United States to know that we are for peace; that we only ask the possession of our just rights. We have kept in good faith all our agreements with the government. In our innocence of any violation we ask its protection. In our weakness we look to it for justice and mercy. We desire to live upon our lands in peace and harmony…"

Since 1787, interactions between Native peoples and the Federal Government have gone through what can be divided into six distinct phases: agreements between equals (1787-1828), removal and reservations (1828-1887), allotment and assimilation (1887-1934), reorganization (1928-1953), termination and relocation (1953-1968), and self-determination (1968–present). The Friends of the Indian was a group which, along with other activist groups claimed that the "Indian problem" had been handled wrongly in the past and had led to the mistreatment of American Indians. Many members of the Friends of the Indian had previously worked in the Office of Indian Affairs and knew of Indian mistreatment firsthand. They viewed Indian removal and the reservation system as immoral and believed that Indians would be better off being fully integrated into the rest of American culture, rather than remaining distinct. Unfortunately, the process of assimilation proved devastating for Native Americans, with the U.S. government gaining further control over Native communities and essentially putting an end to the way of life that had existed among Native peoples for hundreds of years.

The president at the time was John Tyler, who brought an end to the long, bloody Seminole War in May 1842. However, Tyler also was a strong supporter of the forced cultural assimilation of Native Americans.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 12.5"
  • Medium: Document

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