Copy of a letter Mr. Boudinot dated
Brainerd July 6 - 1836
Mr. E. Boudinot,
Dear Brother,
Dear Brother, you know I have not been in the habit of troubling myself or my Cherokee friends about their national affairs. In D. 1819, when some of your people emigrated to the west, and were rather blamed for so doing, I told them that I loved those who went to the west just as I did those who remained here, and that I had myself a great desire to go there: And thus I have continued to say till the present time. A few years ago when some thought it it would be certain death for the Cherokees to go to the west, and that we all aught to be willing to sacrifice every thing, almost, to prevent it, I said "I would not turn my hand to remove them, or to keep them here; for this plain reason, "It was none of my business:" and if it were I knew nothing what would be for their good. To stay here might be death and to remove might be death. The Lord only knew what was best, and I was perfectly willing to leave the event with Him, and those whose business it was to attend to it. But for myself I could see no motive to induce a Cherokee to desire to remain in this country, surrounded and intermixed with whites. Yet I ever spoke of it as a matter that did not concern me, and
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