The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

FIVE CONFEDERATE NATIONS OF IINDI.AS. 1105 Indian Affairs, previolus to their Establishmlent In drawing up these Instiructions, particular Care should be taken to caution the TMissionaries and Schoolmasters to be prudent in tlheir Condluct, and. to avoid whatever might give offence to the Indi:ans, or aw-aken their Jealousy. Diligence in their Station, Sobriety, Gentleness, Condescension, and a disinterested Regard to the Welfare of the Indians, should be recommended, and that they. sedulously inculcate Principles of Loyalty among their I-earers, Converts and Pupils. VI. The last Article I shall mention as necessary to corpleat this Plan, and make it more extensively useful, is the erecting a College or Seminary in the old Oneida Town, where the Young Indians who are distinguished for their Genius, may repair for a more-enlarged Education, and be fitted for the Ministry. Very few of the Indians can be prevailed on to let their Children go any great Distance for Instruction, and when they are persuaded to it, the Children always go with Reluctance. They are continually anxious to return to their Parents and Brethren, which is an Obstruction to their literary Progress; and when they return to their own People they generally run into the greater Excesses for their former Restraints. It is therefore a mistaken Notion that Seminaries at a Distance from the Indians and only among Christians, are fittest for the Education of Indian Youths. Besides the Difficulty of bringing them to such Seminaries, and the small Degree of Improvement they carry from them, it serves to raise their Jealousy, and the Transition is too great and too sudden, from their former mode of Life, to that which they must hereby enter upon. Any Change in the Manners of a Savage People, who lhave an high Sense of liberty, like the Iroquois, should be gradually effected. It slould in some measure be the Result of their own Choice, as being apparently expedient, not of any Violence; which will not fail to rivet them firmly to their Customs, and shut their Minds against Reason and Conviction. Thle Indian Country is evidently the properest Place to fix a Seminary for this Purpose, where the Parents can frequently see their Children; by which all Uneasiness would-be removed from both, and those other Inconveniences avoided. It would also be pleasing to the Indians in general. They would look upon it as VOL. iv. 70

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The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...
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Page 1105
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Albany,: Weed, Parsons & co., public printers,
1849-51.
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New York (State) -- History
New York (State) -- History

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"The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ..." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/afj7943.0002.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 25, 2025.
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