'1540
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
and draw up a paper addressed to the Political Chief expressing your entire submission and obecliance to the Govt-Separate your- self from all factions and bad men and have nothing more to do with them but remain peacibly and quietly at home If you will do this and take an active part {if you take any part at all) in sup- porting and defending the Government all will be right in the end, and you will get lands and a settlement in the country-you came here to get lands to live on, but with what face can you present a petition to the Government asking for favors when the same hand that presents the petition is raised in open rebellion against the authority of the country1-What would the Govt of the United States do in such a case, they would crush you to the very earth- but you will find this Govt more lenient than that one would be in a similar case,-And if you rely with full confidence on this Govt and submit to it at onci:, and fully and freely as I before said all will be right, and everJ thing can be settled- Do not let designing men deceive you ns to the part the people of this colony will take, they are unanirrwus in disapproving all such violent proceedings and they will all be faithful to the Govt of their adoption and if necessary take up arms in its defence. You have been dreadfully imprudent I have heretofore spoken highly in your favor to the Govt, what can I say now 1 The Slave question is now pending before the Legislature and many other questions of great interest to the new settlers what effects are such mad proceedings likely to have on the decision of those ques- tions1 I fear a fatal effect-your proceedings have jeopardised the fair prospects of the whole country and cast a stain on the hitherto high character of Americans. I do not wish any person basely to submit to oppression, but it is not submitting to oppression to submit to the laws more especially when we have voluntarily pledged ourselves to obey those laws by removing to the country. you have not obeyed the laws for you have not saught redress through them. you have settled where you are in violation of law, for it prohibits all settlement within twenty leagues of the line without the previous approbation of the Presi- dent but notwithstanding all this you could have obtained permis- sion to settle there and grants of land had you taken the proper course, and I am of opinion it is not too late yet provided you now take the proper course and submit freely and fully and without any kind of hesitation to the Govt- . I will befriend you all so far as I can consistent with my duty• to the Govt but I am a Me:,,;ican Citizen and officer and / wiU sacrifice my life before I will violate my duty and oath of office
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