ites got
rid of their tax by attending Mr. Fish's meeting. There was
always twice as many whites as blacks in the society. Last
summer, (1833,) he counted eighteen colored persons, and
twice that number of whites. Mr. Dwight, one of the Committee,
asked, if so many whites being there, did not tend to
discourage the Indians from being interested in the meeting?
Mr. Marston thought it might.

_Deacon Isaac Coombs_, who had been twenty years a deacon in
Mr. Fish's church, changed his sentiments, and was baptized
by immersion. He testified before the Committee of the
Legislature, that when he told Mr. Fish he had been baptized
again, Mr. Fish said, "that was rank poison, and that he
should expect some dreadful judgment would befal me." Deacon
Coombs, who is sixty years old, testified also, that the
Meeting-house was built for the use of the Indians. No one
could remember when it was built. There was but one colored
male church member, when Mr. Fish came to Marshpee, in
1811. He further stated to the Committee that his family got
discouraged going to Mr. Fish's meeting, from the preference
he gave to the whites. He did not come to see his family, and
lost his influence by taking part with the guardians against
the Indians. There was a difficulty in Mr. Fish's meeting
about the singing. The colored people were put back, and the
whites took the lead. Mr. Fish has 50 or 60 acres of pasture,
East of the river, besides the parsonage.

* * * * *

I have thus given my views of the law and the facts, touching the
parsonage in Marshpee, in order that the Indians and their Selectmen
who have desired legal advice on the subject, may fully understand
their rights. I am confident they will never attempt to obtain those
rights, except in a legal and peaceable way. The Courts at Barnstable,
it is said, are closed to them, in the way pointed out by the law, the
District Attorney refusing to prosecute the men who cut wood on the
parsonage. I invite the attention of that acute and learned officer,
Charles H. Warren, Esq. to the points made in this opinion, well
assured that if it can be refuted by any professional gentleman, it
can be done by him. If he cannot do so, I hope he will permit the
title of the parsonage to be brought before the Court, under an
indictment for cutting wood contrary to the act of 183