Canandaigua Sept^r 4 179[6] Sir, The [undecipherable] The, which I wrote you respecting the money for Capt. Abeel due to the Ind^s in consequence of the murders committed by a White Man at Can- andea a year ago last April is of moment to me & the settlement on the frontier, as well as other matters which I shall here state to you. The papers herein inclosed will explain to you the murders committed by an Indian at Cayugea and the manner the White People in the Vicinity proceed in the business. It is a question among our Attorneys, whether the laws of the US should be paramount to the existing laws of the State of N. York & whether an offence of this kind is not cognizable in the laws of the Same. One trial has been held upon an Indian who lived at Stockbridge near Oneida for the murdering of another Indian and was acquitted, one reason was offered in his favor that he lived in the tract of land which belonged to the Indians and all this under the juris- diction of the State [by?] the preemption rights of their [undecipherable] land being obtained by the people of the State of N. York, but it is not an incorporated place, and now [actually] in the possession of the Indians. The State Government has the jurisdiction of the whole Indian Country and the right of preemption, excepting the tract belonging to the Seneca Nation West of Genesee River. The Indians of the Six Nations have formed such ideas of their annuities which they receive from the US and the State of N.Y. that they make very little exertions to obtain a living other in any other way — And the Americans have their line of forts all around them and settlements encroaching upon them Country [so] that they have given up all National honor which they ever have had, and all have become [addicted] [to] to idleness, drunkeness and theft — and have taken to killing each other, there have been five murders among them- selves within Six months — They have [received] their payments and immediately [expended] it for Liquor & in the course of the frolicks have killed one or two — I have taken much pains to persuade them to avoid intoxication but all to no purpose & am fully convinced, that nothing will alter the natural propensities, [until?] [God?] Almighty [sees] fit to [induce?] death. The Indians being not contented with killing one another have lately murdered a White Man at Oneida — their own story I have inclosed to you as stated by Jacob Reed one of the Oneida Ind^s and the act. of the White People differs which is as follows — The Man that was murdered put up at M^t [undecipherable] who serves the Oneida as their Black Smith, & in the course of the evening Nick (so called) asked the traveler for a dram he complied & gave it & [him?] the him, the [?] asked him several times and the traveler granted it, and went to bed, in the night Nick went to the room where he was asleep and seized him with one hand by the throat and struck him repeatedly with the other untill he was taken away by some other Indians, the [Left margin: Copy of a Letter to [undecipherable] [undecipherable date notation]] Man expired next morning, the Ind[ian] since is taken and confined in goal and it is probable will be hanged. What I wish to mention particularly is the murder at Cayuga, that the man [undecipherable] may be left at liberty — I think [the?] [three?] Indians from Grand River in upper Canada some [undecipherable] here [have?] to consult with me & intreated he might be liberated and hope your wisdom will direct such measures as to have it accomplished — as the murder was committed among themselves and I believe it would be best for them to settle it among them — The Cayugas have threated that the next murder they should be confined for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of a White Man & hope soon [things?] may [undecipherable] be done as it, now, much depends on the Gov^t of the US— I have Sir written you often & have rec^d no answer, beg again to be so obliging as to write me in this business.