Beschreibung:

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, SENECA TRIBE]. Manuscript document signed by some FIFTY-EIGHT CHIEFS OR ELDERS of the Seneca tribe (most with an "X," their marks), constituting an original petition addressed by the Senecas "To His Excellency William H. Seward, Governor of the State of New York," Cattaraugus Reservation, [Western New York], 28 October 1841. 3 pages, folio, 310 x 210mm. (12 1/4 x 8 1/8 in.) approximately, lined stationery, three small holes with loss of one word, neat repairs, double matted in a frame hinged to a larger frame, incorporating a portrait and two engraved descriptions, glazed (in UV-40 plexiglas) . Unexamined out of frame. THE TRIBE OF RED JACKET PETITIONS GOVERNOR SEWARD TO COMPLAIN OF ABUSES A highly unusual petition signed by 58 chieftains of the Seneca tribe, complaining of land transactions with the Ogden Land Company and complaining that the tribe had not been properly represented, according to existing treaties: "...there are two parties violently opposed to each other among the Seneca Indians. [T]he one comprising about [1/15] part of the nation favoring the...Ogden Land Company -- the other... utterly hostile to emigration. The former party having been aided...by men who understood the legal methods...have been enabled to take advantage of the ignorance of the other party, and...succeeded in getting the annuities belonging to the nation into their hands. Ever since the resignation of the sub-agent they have obtained our annuity due from the State of New York without the consent or knowledge of the Nation, and the man who received it absconded...[T]he affair was not settled without much difficulty and the excitement of much unpleasing feeling...Compelled by our experience of the wrong to which our nation is exposed the undersigned Chiefs...have regularly appointed the following Chiefs residing on the Buffalo Creek Reservation to act in behalf of the whole nation in this matter...But if, in your opinion such an arrangement would be inconsistent with the provisions of the treaties under which the annuity is payable, we would request your Excellency to inform us what alterations in Said treaties...may be necessary..." The Seneca, a once-powerful tribe of Iroquois stock, controlling the land in western New York, had been the dominant tribe in the Six Nations or League of the Iroquois, but fought on the British side during the Revolution. In 1794 the Canandaigua Treaty established "perpetual peace," but their eloquent chief, Red-Jacket (1758-1830), warned repeatedly of the threat to their culture from missionaries and dangers to their lands from speculators. Although the state passed laws designed to protect the Seneca from land speculators, the present petition vividly documents the fact that, only 11 years after Red Jacket's death, the speculator's deceptions continued. Today, the Seneca reside on several reservations in New York and one in Ontario.