The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

The Substance of the Remonstrance, relating to the killing of the Indians in Pennsylvania Government, which we Were oblig'd to omit in our last, is as follows, viz.

That they think themselves, as Englishmen entitled to an equal Share in the Privilege of Legislation; but that they are unequally represented, their five Counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and Northampton, have only 10 Members to represent them in Assembly: while the three Counties (and City) of Philadelphia, Chester and Bucks have 26. This they apprehend to be the Cause of many of their Grievances, and pray: that they may have a Number to represent them equal to the other Counties.

2. That they understand a Bill is now before the House of Assembly, and has actually received the Assent of a Majority of the House, wherein it is provided, that Persons charged with killing any Indians in Lancaster County, shall not be tried in the County where the Fact is committed, but in Philadelphia, Chester or Bucks. That this would be to deprive British Subjects of their essential Right of being tried by their Equals, of the Neighbourhood where they, the Accusers, and the Witnesses, were known: and putting their Lives in the Hands of Strangers, who may more justly be suspected of Partiality against them than their Neighbourhood in their Favour. That it would be casting an eternal Reproach upon whole Counties, as if unfit to serve their Country as Jurymen. And besides, that the well known Design of such a Law (which never would have passed if the Counties had been properly represented) is to comprehend a Fact committed, before it was thought of—But they hope the Assembly will not pass an Act of such dangerous Tendency, and so inconsistent with the British Constitution.

3. That the Indians now maintained and protected by the Government, are Part of the Tribes of our declared Enemies, in Friendship and Alliance with them, were privy to their Designs and barbarous Cruelties, without giving us any Assistance or Warning, several of them actual Perpetrators of those Murders and Ravages, and all the Rest of them justly suspected as Principals or Accomplices. That the screening such from the just Resentment of the injured, and supporting them at the public Expence, while the poor Frontier Inhabitants, ruined by the Savages, are exposed and distressed without Protection or Assistance, fills these Remonstrants with Rage, and tempts them to Actions that nothing but the most violent Necessity can vindicate: And therefore, they humbly and earnestly pray that these Enemies of his Majesty may be removed as soon as possible out of the Province.

4. That as Experience has shewn that the Indians are all perfidious, it is extremely dangerous and impolitick to suffer any of them to live within the inhabited Parts of the Province their Claim to Freedom and Independency putting it in their Power to act as Spies, to give Intelligence to our Enemies, and furnish them with Provisions and warlike Stores. To this fatal Intercourse may be ascribed most of the Ravages and Murders committed during the last Indian War. They therefore pray, this Grievance may be considered and removed.

5. They lament that no Provision has been made for the Frontier Inhabitants, who have been wounded in Defence of the Province—and pray that they may be taken Care of, and cured at the public Expence.

6. They pray that publick Rewards may be given for Indian Scalps, in Proportion to the Danger of the Enterprize.

7. They lament that Numbers of their nearest and dearest Relatives are still in Captivity among the Savage Heathen, to be train'd up in their Ignorance and Barbarity, or to be tortured to Death with all the Contrivances of Indian Cruelty, if they attempt to escape. That as Indians pay no Regard to the most solemn Promises of their Restoration, therefore these Remonstrants earnestly pray, that no Trade may hereafter be permitted with them, till the Captives are restored.

8. They complain that a certain Society of the People in the Province, in the late Indian War, and at several Treaties, held by the King's Representatives, openly loaded the Indians with Presents; and that—a Leader of the said Society, in Defiance of all Government, not only abetted our Indian Enemies, but kept up a private Intelligence with them, and publickly received from them a Belt of Wampum, as if he had been a Governor, or authorised by the King to treat with his Enemies. That by these Means the Indians have been taught to despise us, as a weak disunited People, &c. They therefore pray, that no private Subject may hereafter be permitted to treat with, or carry on a Correspondence with our Enemies.

9. They observe, that Fort Augusta, tho' expensive to the Province, gave little Assistance to our own People or Molestation to the Indians, owing, they suppose, to the Orders given to the commanding Officer,—They pray that Measures may be taken to make this Garrison more serviceable.