The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter From the Southward relative to the Indians.

Having repeatedly observed in several of the prints in the Northern Colonies since the Commencement of the Rupture with the Western Indians &c. that they are among other Charges accused of Ingratitude to the English, and that every Paragraph relative to them, contains formidable Threats of Chastizing and cutting off those ungrateful Barbarians. It naturally led me to consider on what Account the Indians have that Epithet bestowed on them, and what are the Obligations they owe to us ; and here I must confess I was quite at a Loss how to proceed in my Enquiry, or in what light to consider these Threats or Epithets ; first I was induced to look upon the whole as Ironical from my Apprehension that few people of common Understanding Could imagine the Savages were to be chastized by the inconsiderable Numbers hither to sent against them, the Truth of which the public Accounts of their Defeats tho often exaggerated and partially represented have sufficiently proved. Not satisfied therefore with this Conclusion I began to attribute it to Design and Policy, that Pontiac the [Chief] might be alarmed on his Secretary's reading the paragraphs fraught with Anathema's and Denunciations of Vengeance in Imitation of the Stile of the Roman Pontiff, and imagining that we really were able and ready to effect whatever paper gave us reason to expect in the next, which might induce his Indian Majesty to sue for Peace from us. -- But this Opinion I soon laid aside on recollecting that neither the King or any of his Ministers could read ; and should it be given to any Traders yet in Captivity amongst the Indians, they would be at a Loss how they should explain a Passage which from their Experience of the Situation and Abilities of the Indians. must to them have appear'd improbable and absurd.

At last I began to consider them as Words calculated to spirit up the People, containing as little Foundation, as a Paragraph from the Brussels Gazette, which in Europe has the Advantage of feeding the Vanity of the French, or encouraging their Troops ; but here may produce too great a Contempt of an Enemy already too much despised, which is commonly followed by a Neglect of necessary Precautions against them.

Tired of accounting for such apparent Gaconades, I have taken upon me to address the Public in hopes that I may be able in some measure to remove a mistaken Notion entertained of the Indians.

That the Indians, are barbarous and savage all must allow, so are all ignorant uncivilized Nations : the Britons, Germans and all northern Europeans as well as Asiatics were originally so. some of whom are but newly emerged from a State of Barbarity, nay they generally exceeded them in Cruelty with the Addition of several other Crimes, to which the Indians who have small intercourse with us, are unacquainted ; the Britons as well as many other Nations offered human Sacrifices, murdered many who fell into their Hands, and exercised other Acts of Barbarity. The Indians can do no more ; neither are they guilty of half the Cruelty represented by antient Authors of other Nations: their first Fury subsiding, their Prisoners are generally well treated and enjoy the same Privilege with themselves.

The English who are so fond of Liberty. cannot but esteem the Indians for their love of it. and desire to preserve it when they apprehended it was likely to be invaded. The antient Britons would have readily excused Caesar's Visit to civilize them, and are applauded for their Resistance.

The Mexicans would have done the Same by the Spaniards. who out of pious Regard for their Souls, and without the least worldly Motives came into their Country.

The Indians require a vast Space for their Hunting and therefore their Lands are as dear to them as ours can be to us. they never would have suffered the French to erect any Post in their Country, but from the Favours they obtained for the Toleration they afforded, nor did the French ever presume on any Occasion to call the Country their own West of the Lakes, they knew that Favour and good Treatment would always secure them the Use of it, and they were too wise to make public a Claim which would have alarmed the Indians jealous of their Liberties, and must end in the Loss of their Trade and Frontiers, and whatever they ceded to us could at most be no more than the Posts : for the Enjoyment of which we must satisfy the Natives.

Whether thro' the Indians Ignorance or good Nature we have already possessed and purchased large Tracts for meer trifles. half of which is yet unsettled, in this the Obligation is certainly on our side.

Those Indians who attended our Troops (and whose very Appearance contributed to our Success. and drew off the Rest unwilling to quarrel amongst themselves) received Cloathing and Presents,and whatever we may think, they well knew they deserved them

The Indians neither want our Protection nor Assistance, they are sufficiently formidable in themselves, they have no Apprehensions but of our Designs neither can any other Power give them Uneasiness.

If we allow them a Trade, is it not equally, or more advantageous to us, than themselves, and were they not happier before our Arrival than ever they have been since. I should be glad to know what are the Obligations they owe us, and with what Justice they are branded with Ingratitude ? A Vice I fear too common amongst all civilized Nations?

For my part I cannot conceive any Obligation they owe, unless we think them indebted to us for suffering them to exist. which is beyond our power to prevent, or that we claim their Gratitude for the Goods and Rum which hath already produced such happy Effects amongst them to the promoting of Quarrels, shortning of their Lives and lessening of their Numbers, in return for the valuable Furr-trade carried on to the Advantage of this and our Mother Country.

I could wish we had well weighed the several Circumstances contributing to the present Defection of the Indians, before we laid more to them than they deserved.--- to vindicate them from unjust Aspersions and endeavour at removing ill grounded Prejudices was my sole Motive for submitting these few Observations to the Public, and for a more able Pen to enlarge upon.

PHILO VERITAS.