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Prince of Peace would more and more abound." The narrator, Rachel Price, adds, "I cannot convey the feelings of my own mind more fully than by saying they have long been in accordance with what he expressed in the interesting interview we had with him."

The Society of Friends, from the settlement of the province of Pennsylvania by William Penn, following his good example of kindness and justice, in a spirit of grateful humanity, has ever maintained friendly relations with the Indian tribes, and its members have devoted much time and means for their improvement in the arts of civilized life, and their moral and religious instruction. When more contiguous, the care of the society was more immediate and constant, begetting frequent interviews, and councils together, and addresses full of interest and instruction. For these injured and expelled sons of the forest, the sympathies of Rachel Price were always intensely awake. The records of the councils held with Friends and Deputy Governors, speeches delivered, &c., were procured and copied by her own hand. When the Cherokees published a newspaper, it was subscribed for, read, and contributed to, by her. She wrote to encourage them in the worship of the "Great Spirit,"-the "Common Father" of all,-to abstain from the use of ardent spirits,—from holding slaves,-holding up to their view, that "Surely the God of mercy and justice will one day or other plead the cause of the oppressed African, as

LETTER TO PRESIDENT JACKSON.

137

well as that of the afflicted Indian; He who of one blood created all nations on the earth,-who is our common Father, who has in his Divine goodness and mercy granted a portion of his Holy Spirit, as a witness placed in each of our hearts."

When that tribe was required by the policy of the General Government to remove to the west, she felt bound to raise her voice, though that of a feeble woman, in a feeling, pathetic, and solemn remonstrance, addressed to the President of the United States, pleading with him for the Indian, as she had with the Indian for the African. To be sure no result was likely to come from the appeal, but it was uttered in that authority that she was not at liberty to disobey. Quoting the Great Commandment of our Saviour, "that whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them," reciting the obligations of treaties formed, the example of Penn, and the duty of kindness and protection to the original owners of the soil, she proceeded to say, "The sympathetic feelings in the minds of many of the people are very much awakened on behalf of the natives remaining within the limits of some of the southern states, whose rulers seem determined to dispossess them, and drive them from the land of their forefathers, and from their comfortable homes,-made so by their own industry and economy, under the encouragement of former administrations of our government."

"Permit a feeble female voice to plead

for that distressed, afflicted people,-for sixty thousand individuals, equally the objects of redeeming love and mercy with ourselves, who profess the sacred name of Christians." "We deeply feel for our beloved country, lest by any rash or cruel act upon the helpless, the Almighty Power may see meet to avenge their wrongs. Although He is a God of mercy, He is also a God of justice, and will recompense us according to our works. 'For the crying of the poor and the sighing He will arise.' May the prayers of the sincere of heart be availing with Him who can turn the heart of man, and cause him to know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men. 'It is shewn unto thee, oh man, what is good, and what the Lord thy God hath required of thee,-to deal justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly before thy God.' If man, presuming in his own strength and power, persists in his own will to raise the iron hand of oppression, to exterminate the unoffending and helpless, may we not fear that He that hath all power in heaven and on earth, may see meet to turn it on the head of the oppressor ?" "May the President of the United States be willing to pause and reflect, remembering that not the hearers are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified."" "We are both advanced in life, and the time fast approaching when the awful language may be sounded in our ears, Steward, give up thy stewardship, for thou mayst be no longer steward.' May the King of kings,

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and Lord of lords, who is God over all the families of the earth, incline thy heart to justice, truth, and mercy."

In behalf of the Indians, in answer to the allegation against them that "civilization must displace barbarism”—she advocated, in their Gazette, their right to remain on the footing of their advanced civilization. "Is not this realized in and by the Cherokee nation and several other tribes? It would no doubt spread far and wide under the protecting care of a kind Providence, encouraged by a mild, pacific government,-like that of our worthy predecessor (William Penn), or under the fatherly, fostering protection of such a President as George Washington. Notwithstanding you may be driven from the land of your forefathers by the powerful hand of man, even beyond the Rocky Mountains, remember that you cannot go beyond the care of Him who regards even the sparrows, of Him who said to his disciples, 'are not ye of more value than many sparrows?' "'

In the year 1836, our beloved parents made their last journey together, to visit their daughter in Susquehanna county, on the north border of Pennsylvania, and other friends in the state of New York. Our mother made some notes of impressions on this journey, and it is interesting to observe the effects of new objects upon her reflective mind. It was probably her first ride by steam power, and she could not but regard the locomotive with its fire and puffing, whisking its long train along, as having

"an infernal appearance," and its rapid motion, like flying through the air from time to eternity. The slower pace in the canal boat up the Susquehanna, permitted time for observation and reflection, in better keeping with her own feelings. "We passed moderately along at the rate of four miles an hour, which afforded us an opportunity of looking upon the scenery; the works of art and the sublime works of the Creator; the lofty mountains and the rocks hanging over the river, the beautiful flowers of various kinds, all adding to the grandeur or loveliness of the scene, and producing a sweet sensation, comparable to the calm decline of life, when the day's work seems to be almost done. There was one subject of reflection which occurred often in our travelling, particularly on the rivers and mountains, striking my mind with great force, particularly in passing up the Susquehanna, that all these romantic scenes had been from time immemorial in the possession of the Indians,their peaceful homes, their hunting grounds,-their fisheries; where were their wigwams, and all the comforts they required in their wandering manner of life. But now, they are driven off by the whites from these abodes, designed no doubt by our Great Benefactor for their benefit as well as ours,-a poor and oppressed people, permitted now to have no share of what was justly their own. In solemn retrospect, the hillocks I see appear

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