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Dinsdale, Matthew / Matthew Dinsdale papers, 1836-1897: Folder 1
[Transcribed journal entries], pp. [1]-13
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Page 6
6. of their thriftless idel habits and the debasing and demoralizing in-fluence of their indolence. The Almighty designed the Earth to be cul-tivated, the Indians as a general thing will not do this, consequently they are removed by Heaven, that another race may occupy. In this God is righteous, as it cannot matter what race of mankind inhabits the Earth so long as the Divine purposes are accomplished. But the Indian tribes ought to have, (and must have, if we do our duty) our sympathies and prayers, and Christian labors. I feel for them in kind tho not in the same degree as Crhist felt for the Jews when he lamented and wept over their city. You may be sure I felt some interest in the prospect of seeing the Menominee's on this interesting occasion as the whole tribe is only together once a year. And as I thought I should probably not have another opportunity I took the trouble to go. The payment ground is on their own land quite at a distance from any white settlers, and well suited to such an occasion. It is on the shore of a Lake several miles long and three or four wide, having a very pleasant sandy beach. I started from Oshkosh in a waggon about 10 o'clock A. M. travelled that way 13 miles till we came to Wolf River which had to be crossed in a canoe the rest of the distance I walked along an Indian trail thro' tall timber in company with a Doctor, a Brothertown Indian a member of our church, and another person. We reached the ground about 7 P.M. I took supper at a provision tent kept by the aforementioned Brothertown and allow me to say that a better table than he set I have seldom sat down to. As I could not see much that ight and not liking to sleep on the ground in a tent, I went to a steam boat which was anchored at a short distance,
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