National Gazette

A correspondent who wishes neither to flatter nor insult government, but to deliver his sentiments with that decent freedom which is the prerogative of every citizen of this country, says, that the Indians would be better managed by treaty than by war.

At the first settlement of this country, the provinces (as they were then) of Massachusetts Bay and Pennsylvania adopted, one, the hostile, and the other, the pacific method of dealing with the Indians. The experiment was fairly tried, and the misery of the first province was as remarkable as the prosperity of the latter. In Massachusetts Bay they were continually harassed with tumults and invasions.— The land, where many a melancholy tragedy was acted, was deluged with blood. The Indians killed half of its inhabitants, and it was once feared that they would extirpate every white man from the settlement. In Pennsylvania they knew nothing but harmony. They honestly purchased, and peaceably took possession of some lands from the Indians, and maintained an incessant and friendly communication with them, extending by degrees the settlement of the people of the province upon the frontier. The sacred saying was verified, in regard to Pennsylvania, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Our correspondent says, that the conduct of the general government in regard to the southern Indians was deservedly applauded. The state of Georgia had passed an act to dispose of the lands in the back part of the state belonging to the Indians, which they called "vacant lands." The general government denied the right to enter into the lands of the Indians without their being purchased or ceded : and concluded a treaty with the Indians upon just and humane principles. The murmurs which were made at the expense attendant upon this treaty were, perhaps, illiberal and improper. It would be happy for the interests of humanity if the northern Indians could be managed in the same amicable manner with the southern.

The character of the celebrated William Penn appears as great in the management of the Indians. as it was little and mischievous in the support of the tyrannical James the second, of England. against the immortal hero, William the third. The Quaker knew to tame an Indian, as well as a Moor to tame a lion,

Semblable au fier lion, qu'un Maur a su dompter.

Oui docile a son Maitre, a tout autre terrible;

A la main qu'il connoit il soumet une tete horrible,

Le fuit d'un air affreux, le flatte en rougissant,

Et paroit menacer, meme en obeissant.