Copy of a letter to Majors Ridge & Boudinot.
Brainerd Nov.r 5, 183
Majors {J Ridge
{E Boudinot
My dear friends,
I hope you will not be displeased at my reminding you again of the embarrassing circumstances of the mission in consequence of that article in your treaty about which I wrote you sometime ago. I have no idea but that those who proposed that article , acted from entire good will to the A.B.C.F.M. and to the mission cause generally. But they did not know, or did not recollect at the time, the statements made officially by Mr. Moyt, and incidentally by others, at the commencement of our missions among the Cherokees. You know, Sirs, that from the first settlement of this continent by the whites, the Indians have been continually crowded and pushed back, so that all, almost, within hearing of white people, have become chafed and sore on every side, so that now they can scarcely be touched by a white man, without cringing and shrinking away from his presence. White people in general have treated the Indian in such a manner that it has become very difficult for even honest white men to convince them that they are honest. This has been the great barrier in the way of missions among the Indians, and of Indian improvement. But by the persevering laborers at the United Brethran, the Cherokees became convinced that it was possible for white men to be faithful and kind. When we came therefore we found the door open into every part of the country, though the people were not all entirely relieved from their fears. Some had still remaining apprehensions that we should at some future period call on them either for money or land, as they pray for what we were doing. To remove these fears we assured them again and again that we never should. Mr. A. Moyt the then superintendent of the Cherokee mission, declared officially in a letter to the council that we never should call on them for land, or any thing else or pay for what we were doing. And it is stated also by Cherokees heard him, that at a Council at Fosterville May 1819 Mr. Moyt, after reading a communication from Mr. Worcester, told the council that what we were doing for them was entirely gratuitous, designed simply for their good and that, if, at any time, the council should consider our labour no longer needed, and not desire our continuance longer, we should immediately retire and leave our improvements for the benefit of the nation