Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe | Page 3

bespeak the
favour of the world in behalf of their opinions by mentioning their
names, he will proceed with the matter in hand, viz. the troubles of the
Marshpee people, and his own trial.

INDIAN NULLIFICATION, &c.

It being my desire, as well as my duty as a preacher of the gospel, to do
as much good as in me lay to my red brethren, I occasionally paid them
a visit, announcing and explaining to them the word of life, when
opportunity offered. I knew that no people on earth were more
neglected; yet whenever I attempted to supply their spiritual wants, I
was opposed and obstructed by the whites around them, as was the
practice of those who dwelt about my native tribe, (the Pequods,) in
Groton, Conn. of which more will be said in another place.
Being on a tour among my brethren in May, 1833, I was often asked
why I did not visit my brethren of Marshpee, of whom I had often
heard. Some said that they were well provided, and had a missionary,
named FISH, who took care of their lands and protected them against
the fraud of such of their neighbours as were devoid of principle.
Others asserted that they were much abused. These things I heard in
and about Scituate and Kingston, where I had preached. Some of those
who spoke thus, were connected with the missionary. The light thus
obtained upon the subject being uncertain, I resolved to visit the people
of Marshpee, and judge for myself. Accordingly I repaired to Plymouth,
where I held forth on the civil and religious rights of the Indians, in Dr.
KENDALL'S church, and was treated with Christian kindness by the
worthy pastor and his people. Dr. KENDALL gave me a letter of
introduction to Mr. FISH, at Marshpee. Being unacquainted with the
way, I strayed a little from it, and found a number of good
Congregationalists of the old school, who invited me to tarry and
preach to them in the evening, which I did, to their acceptance; for they
and their pastor desired me to remain and preach on the Sabbath, which,
however, I could not consistently do. I proceeded thence to Sandwich,
where I made my mission known to Mr. COBB, the Orthodox preacher,
who appeared to be pleased.
Mr. COBB said that he had agreed to exchange with Mr. FISH, on the
Sabbath following, but as it was inconvenient for him to do so, he
would give me a line to him. With this furtherance I set forward, and
arrived at Mr. FISH's house before sunset, informing those I met on the
way that I intended to preach on the next day, and desiring them to
advise others accordingly. When I made my business known to Mr.
FISH, he treated me with proper kindness, and invited me to preach for
him. When I awoke in the morning, I did not forget to return thanks to

God for his fatherly protection during the night, and for preserving me
in health and strength, to go through the duties of the day. I expected to
meet some hundreds of the tribe, and to hear from their lips the sweet
song of salvation which should prepare their minds for the words of life,
to be delivered by one of the humblest servants of God. I hoped that
grace might be given to me to say something to my poor brethren that
might be for their advantage in time and eternity; after which I thought
I should see their faces no more. I looked to see them thronging around
their missionary in crowds, and waited for this agreeable sight with
great anxiety.
The time appointed for the service was half past ten. When it arrived,
we got into our carriages and proceeded to the Meeting-house, which
was about two miles and a half distant. The sacred edifice stood in the
midst of a noble forest, and seemed to be about a hundred years old;
circumstances which did not render its appearance less interesting.
Hard by was an Indian burial ground, overgrown with pines, in which
the graves were all ranged North and South. A delightful brook, fed by
some of the sweetest springs in Massachusetts, murmured beside it.
After pleasing my eyes with this charming landscape, I turned to meet
my Indian brethren and give them the hand of friendship; but I was
greatly disappointed in the appearance of those who advanced. All the
Indians I had ever seen were of a reddish color, sometimes approaching
a yellow; but now, look to what quarter I would, most of those who
were coming were pale faces, and, in my disappointment, it seemed to
me that the hue of death sat upon their countenances. It seemed very
strange to me