Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 186 pages of information about Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe.

Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 186 pages of information about Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe.

The next article is from the Boston Daily Advocate.  In the editorial remarks will be discerned the noble spirit of independence and love of right which are prominent characteristics of Mr. Hallett’s character, and which induced him, throughout the controversy, to lend the aid of his columns to the poor and oppressed descendants of the people who welcomed his forefathers to their shores.  He is not ungrateful for the kindness showed them in a time so remote.  I think it my duty to say of him, that he has been fruitful of good works in behalf of all the oppressed.  We Indians have tried his integrity and have found it sound metal.  He gave us the aid of his extensive learning and undeniable talent, and carried our cause before the Legislature with no other end in view than the good of the Commonwealth and of the Marshpee tribe, and a strong desire to wipe from the character of his native State the foul blot of our continued wrongs.  He never asked where his pay was to come from; but exposed the iniquities which had been transacted in the affairs of the Marshpee people, without hesitation, fear or favor, a course he has steadily pursued to this day.  We acknowledge his doings as acts of pure benevolence toward us, and we say that the sons of the pilgrim fathers may well be proud of such a brother.  Had others been only a little like him, we should have had no reason to complain; and we recommend him as an example, to all who may hereafter have dealings with Indians.  Let them do as he has done, and they will be honored as he is.  To be sure, it is no great matter to be loved and honored by poor Indians; but the good will of even a dog is better than his ill will.  The rich man fared sumptuously every day, while the poor one was lying at his gate, feeding on the crumbs that fell from his table, and the dogs only had compassion on him.  They both died; and we read that God sent a convoy of angels to bring the poor man safe home.  The rich man doubtless had a splendid funeral; but we do not hear that he had any favor from his Maker.  O, ye who despise Indians, merely because they are poor, ignorant, and copper-colored; do you not think that God will have respect unto them?

    THE MARSHPEE INDIANS.

We have received a genuine communication from one of the Marshpee Indians, and as we verily believe that tribe is in many respects wronged by the whites, and neglected by their legal guardians, the Legislature, we are desirous of giving them a hearing, that justice may be done them, if it be a possible matter to get such a thing as justice and good faith from white men toward Indians.  Undoubtedly some of their supposed grievances are imaginary and much exaggerated, but others are real, and tend greatly to depress them.  We have had an overflow of sensibility in this quarter toward the Cherokees, and there is now an opportunity of showing to the world whether the people of Massachusetts can exercise more justice and less
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Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.