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Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A correspondent reports that Indians complain Congress and Virginians seek to deprive them of hunting grounds without right, as Britain could not cede what it did not possess. They are willing to sell but warn of continental war if forced to relinquish, urging caution to avoid appearing as aggressors. Funds spent on Indian affairs could have purchased the lands.
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The Indians complain (says a correspondent) that the Congress and the Big Knife (the Virginians) want to deprive them of a vast tract of country to which neither of them have any just claim or right whatever. They assert that they are their hunting grounds, and that Great-Britain could not cede to Congress what they did not possess, and that they will never relinquish or give them up till they are driven to the setting sun, without a consideration for them. They have ever been disposed, and are still willing, to treat for the sale of the lands. Why then should the whole continent be set in a flame for the sake of a few acres of wilderness, to gratify the ambitious views of a few leading men in any particular state? As soon as the blow is given the fire will spread from south to north, and from north to south. The tribes of Indians will undoubtedly combine and associate for the purposes of war, and we should therefore be exceedingly careful that the world does not consider us as the aggressors. The monies already expended by Congress for the Indian Department, pay of commissioners, &c. we are told, would have been more than sufficient to purchase all the lands in question.
What sub-type of article is it?
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Domestic News Details
Event Date
November 16
Outcome
potential combination of indian tribes for war spreading across the continent if lands taken without purchase; monies expended by congress for indian department sufficient to buy all lands in question.
Event Details
Indians assert Congress and Virginians (Big Knife) have no just claim to vast tract of their hunting grounds, which Great Britain could not cede. They are willing to treat for sale but will not relinquish without consideration, warning that aggression will ignite war from south to north, with tribes combining; urges care to avoid being seen as aggressors.