September 3, 1838
To the Honourable General Tipton
General I received yesterday your letter dated 2nd September, to which I give to day the answer which you requested me to give you. It is not the least of the world in my power to satisfy those whom you call the dissentients, and to harmonise the whole matter, because it is not let to my choice to go, or not to go West. I am under the dependance of my Bishop and at his disposal, as much at least as any soldier of your troops is at your disposal; I wrote to him for the subject of being allowed to follow the Indians, in the case, that most of them would be willing to emigrate; I received a full denial of my request; of course I must not think any more of going West.
Was I at liberty to go or not to go, though I had no personal objection,
in the case the Indians would be willing to go, it would be
repugnant and hard
to me
to associate in any way to the unaccountable measures lately
taken for the removal of the Indians. You had right perhaps, if duly
authorized, to take
possession
of the land, but to make from free men slaves, no man can
take upon himself
to do so in this free country. Those who wish to move must
be moved,
those who want
to remain must be left to themselves. Col. Pepper, in the
name of the president, spoke several times in that way, and he said that
by
the 5th
of August
those who want to remain, would be submitted to the law of
the country. Of course
it is against men under the protection of the law, that you
act in such a dictatorial manner; it is impossible for me, and for many
to
conceive how such
events may
take place in this country of liberty. I have consecrated
my whole life,
my whole
powers to the good of my neighbours, but as to associate
to any violence against them, even if it were at my own disposal, I cannot
find
in
me strength enough
to do so. May God protect them, and me, against numerous
misrepresentations
which are made, both of them and of me.
I am sorry, General, not to be able to comply any further with your wishes.
Your most obedient Servant
BENJAMIN PETIT
The Trail of Death: Letters of Benjamin Marie Petit (1925)
Irving McKee