youth up.  They live near our native home.  The first pleasure we ever derived from the exercise of benevolence, was in satisfying the calls of their women and children for bread, at our father’s door, and we always found them kind hearted to those who were kind to them.  We have often met with them to worship in their rural meeting-house, and have again and again explored with the angling rod, the romantic stream, abounding with the nimble trout, which courses through their plantation.

For those reasons, and these alone, we felt it our duty to give them an opportunity to be heard through the columns of our paper, while all others were closed to them, or cold to their complaints.  If we can do them any good, we shall have a full reward in the act itself.  We have it already in the simple tribute of gratitude, which they have unexpectedly bestowed upon our poor services.

They have sent us a communication, which is signed by the best men in the tribe.  We know most of these names, and they belong to the most sensible and most industrious to be found on the plantation.  Will other papers publish this simple appeal to the justice of the white men?  It is useless to say after this, that the Indians of Marshpee are content with their condition.  Something must be done for them.

    MARSHPEE INDIANS.

    “MR. HALLETT,

It has been stated in some of the papers that the Marshpee Indians are generally satisfied with their situation, and the conduct of the Overseers, and want no change.  It is also said that the most industrious men on the plantation are opposed to petitioning the Legislature to give them the management of their own property; and they would all have been quiet, if it had not been for Mr. Apes.

Now we know something of our own rights without being told by Mr. Apes, or any one.  We have confidence in Mr. Apes, and have seen no reason to doubt that he means well; but our dissatisfaction with the laws and the Overseers was the same as it is now, long before Mr. Apes came among us, and he will have our confidence no longer than while we are satisfied he does right.  If he does wrong, we shall oppose him as soon as any man, but so long as he honestly aids us in seeking for our rights, we shall be in his favor.  He is only one of us, and has no more authority over the tribe than any other member of it.  He has been adopted into the tribe, according to the Indian custom; and as long as he deserves our confidence, we shall regard him as a friend.

But it is unfair to attempt to prejudice the public against us, while we are petitioning for our rights.  It is not true that the Indians are satisfied.  The Legislature ought not to be deceived by such stories from interested men.  There is a universal dissatisfaction with our condition, and unless something is done to relieve us, the whole tribe must suffer, and they will