Part 1
Transcriber’s Notes:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end.
* * * * *
AN ADDRESS TO THE People of _New-England_.
REPRESENTING
The very great IMPORTANCE of attaching the INDIANS to their Interest; not only by treating them justly and kindly; but by using proper Endeavours to settle _Christianity_ among them.
By _SAMUEL HOPKINS_, A. M. PASTOR _of a Church in_ Springfield.
_I perceive that GOD is no Respecter of Persons: But in every Nation, he that feareth him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him._
Apostle PETER.
Printed in _Boston_, 1753. Being a Conclusion to the _Historical Memoirs_ relating to the _Housatunnuk_ INDIANS; with an Account of the Methods used for the Propagation of the Gospel amongst the said _Indians_, by the late reverend Mr. JOHN SERGEANT.
Now recommended to the serious Consideration of the Inhabitants of _Pennsylvania_, and the other Colonies.
_PHILADELPHIA_: Reprinted by B. FRANKLIN, and D. HALL. 1757.
AN ADDRESS, _&c._
My Design in this Address is to represent, to the People in this Country, the very great Importance of treating the _Indians_, who live among us, and upon our Borders, in a just, kind and charitable Manner; and that we do, by all proper Means and Methods, endeavour to attach them to us, and to the _British_ Interest. This, I apprehend, is a Subject that has been too much neglected, and that greatly wants to be set in a clear and just Light. And I sincerely wish that some Gentleman of greater Abilities and Address than I can pretend to, would take it in Hand: Tho’ if my weak Endeavours may be a Means of moving others to do Justice to a Subject of such Weight, I shall heartily rejoice in it.
That I may offer what I have to say in the clearest and most concise Manner I can, I shall go into the following Method.
_First_, I shall endeavour to shew, that it is of vast Importance to the _British Provinces_ and _Colonies_ in _America_, especially to the Provinces of the _Massachusetts_, _New-York_, and _New-Hampshire_, that they be in good Terms with the _Indians_, and attach them to their Interest. And,
_Secondly_, I shall endeavour to shew, by what _Means_ this may be effected: Or what are the most likely Methods to bring it to pass.
1. I am to shew, that it is of vast Importance, that we be in good Terms with the _Natives_; and that we engage them in our Interest. I freely grant, that the _Indians_, simply considered, are not of such great Consequence to us. We can subsist without them. But yet, their Trade is a considerable Article, worthy the Care of any politick People, and managed as it might, and ought to be, would yield us great Profit. But if we consider them with Relation to _Peace_ and _War_, as attached to us, or to our _Enemies_, they are of the last Importance to us; for they certainly have the Ballance of Power in their Hands, and are able to turn it for or against us, according as they stand affected to us. _Canada_, inconsiderable as it is, and from which, separate from the _Indians_, we have little or nothing to fear in Time of War; _Canada_, I say, would be more than a Match for us, in case they join with them against us. He must be a great Stranger to, and very ignorant of, the Circumstances both of the _English_ and _Indians_, who is not sensible of this. Our Circumstances are such, that we cannot guard ourselves against the Incursions of such Enemies in Time of War; for our _Frontiers_ are of vast Extent, and border upon the adjacent Wilderness; which, tho’ almost inaccessible to us, yet is the very Element in which they delight to live. They are at Home in it. The People therefore who inhabit our Frontiers, while they follow their necessary Business, are exposed to be an easy Prey to them; and many of them have been surpriz’d in their Fields and Houses, and in a most barbarous Manner put to Death. A small Number of _Indians_, encouraged and supported by the _French_ (which they are ready enough to do) can easily keep us in a constant Alarm, put us to an immense Charge, destroy many, and impoverish more, in our exposed Places, and not put themselves at all out of their Way; yea, find their Account in it; for as they live by Hunting, so where Game is most plenty they are best off: And where can they find a better Supply, than among our Cattle, Sheep, and Corn-Fields? There they live at Ease, distress and impoverish us, and the adjacent Wilderness is their Refuge. By retiring into it, they are soon out of our Reach; and long Experience has taught us how ineffectual the Measures we have taken for our Safety and Defence have proved.
Some, I am sensible, will say, let us not be at any Cost and Pains to gain the Friendship of such a perfidious Crew, but let us destroy them all. Quickly said indeed, but not so soon nor so easily effected. Those Persons who are for destroying them would doubtless soon do it, were they first bound and delivered up to them. But one Question here is, how we shall get them into our Power? And another is, Whether it would be so humane, generous and Christian-like, to take away their Lives, were that in our Power, as it would be to cultivate Friendship with them, and to seek their best Good? If we should be so sanguine as to endeavour to destroy them, it would doubtless prove a vain Attempt; and serve only to drive them to the _French_, who would be very ready to receive and protect them. If we neglect them, and take no Measures to engage them in our Interest, or to cultivate Friendship with them, this will probably render them indifferent to us, and dispose them to hearken to the enticing Insinuations of _Romish_ Emissaries; and our Situation must be very unhappy, when they become engaged in the _French_ Interest.
If it be objected, that the _French_ have already gained a large Number of _Indians_ to their Interest, and therefore if we use our best Endeavours to gain others, it will avail nothing; for those who are devoted to the _French_, will nevertheless distress us in Time of War. I reply,
It is very true, that the _French_ of _Canada_, thro’ their Policy and Vigilance, have taken the Advantage of our Neglect, and gained a large Number of the _Natives_ to their Interest, and are gaining more and more every Year; and some even from among our own _Indians_. They spare neither Cost nor Pains to accomplish their Designs of this Nature, being sensible enough how advantageous it is to them, and how injurious to us; and if they continue to be active, and we negligent, as in Times past, is it not too probable that they will, in a little Time, attach to themselves all the _Indians_ in _North-America_? Does it not then concern us to use proper and vigorous Endeavours to prevent this apparent Mischief, by counter-working the _French_? who are, I suppose, tampering with all the Tribes of _North-America_, to engage them in their Interest. And should we succeed in our Endeavours (as it is highly probable we might, if proper Steps were taken) so as to engage the _Five Nations_, and some other Tribes, in hearty Friendship with us; and especially if we should bestow such Favours upon them, as would induce them to settle upon our Frontiers; it would in all Probability prevent the Evil spoken of in the Objection; for the _Indians_ from _Canada_ would not molest us, if a Number of the Natives, in hearty Friendship with us, were placed in our Borders. Of this we have had a very plain Proof the last War, in the Safety of _Stockbridge_, and the adjacent Places, from any Attempts of the Enemy from _Canada_.
_Stockbridge_ is in the very Road of, and more exposed to, the _Indians_ from _Canada_, than any other Place whatever; and yet we see that the Enemy turned off East to _Connecticut-River_, and West to the _Dutch_ Settlements, where they did much Mischief; while _Stockbridge_, _Sheffield_, _New-Marlborough_, and _Number One_, tho’ more exposed, were not molested. This, so far as we can discern, was owing to a small Number of _Indians_ dwelling at _Stockbridge_, who are our hearty and fast Friends; which the Enemy being sensible of, cared not to come within their Reach, lest they should be taken in their own Snare. And if we should encourage the Settlement of other _Indian_ Towns upon our Frontiers, where Hunting is most handy to them, as _Stockbridge_ has been encouraged; should we give them Townships of Land suitable for their Improvement, build a Meeting-House and School-House in each Town, and support Ministers and School-Masters in them; would not this convince them that we are their true Friends, and seek their Good? Would it not induce them to settle in our Borders? especially those of them who are desirous that they themselves and their Children should be instructed? Would they not be a Guard to us in Time of War? And if, after all, we should meet with some Trouble from the _Indians_ of _Canada_, might it not be effectually prevented, by playing our _Indians_ upon them, as they do theirs upon us? And would not the Charge of all this be a Trifle, compared with that of defending ourselves in Time of War? But if we neglect them, and take no Measures to cultivate Friendship with them, and especially if we deal injuriously by them, shall we not put an Advantage into the Hands of the _French_ (which they will not fail of improving) to engage them in their Interest, and to employ them against us in Time of War? which would prove a very great Calamity to us, if not our utter Ruin. These Things considered, is it not of very great Importance, that we be at good Terms with the neighbouring _Natives_?
2. I will, in the next Place, endeavour to shew what are the likely _Methods_ to bring this to pass: Or what Measures we must take with the _Indians_, if we would engage them in hearty Friendship with us.
And here, in general, our Conduct towards them must be such as shall make them sensible that we are indeed their hearty Friends; and such also as shall convince them that it is their Interest and Advantage to be in Friendship with us. Nothing short of this, I apprehend, will attach them to us, so as to answer the Ends proposed. If we often treat with them, renew the Friendship, and bestow upon them large Presents: Or, as they phrase it, Smoke together, brighten the Chain, or put the Brands together, to kindle up the former Fire; and yet leave Room for them to suppose that this proceeds not from true Friendship, but rather from Fear of them, or from Suspicion that they will join with our Enemies, &c. this will never be sufficient to engage them; the utmost we can rationally expect from it is, that they will not openly break with us, but keep up a Shew of Friendship, that they may have the Benefit of future Presents at our Hands.
Again, if we should by any Means convince them that we are their true Friends, and yet not go into such Measures with them as should turn to their _Advantage_, they would hardly be engaged for us. As all other People are governed by _Interest_, so are they. And the principal Handle we can take hold of, to attach them to us by, is their _Interest_, and that would not fail of doing it. If a Tribe of _Indians_ can sell their Skins to us for _Twenty Shillings_, and buy their Blankets for _Ten Shillings_; they will never go to _Canada_ where they must sell their Skins for _Ten Shillings_, and give _Twenty Shillings_ for a Blanket. Convince them that it is much for their Interest and Advantage to be our Friends and Allies, and we need not fear but that they will be so. Now, in order to convince them that we are truly their Friends, and that it is their Interest to be ours, we must,
In the first Place, treat them according to the Rules of Equity and Justice. We must not defraud and oppress them, but be honest and just in our Dealings with them.
The Natives, with whom we have to do, are Persons of so much Sagacity, that they can distinguish between just and injurious Treatment, as well as other Men. They are also as ready to resent, and perhaps more forward to revenge Injuries, than any other People under Heaven. If therefore we treat them in an unjust Manner, we may rationally expect that they will be so far from being our Friends, that they will join with our Enemies, and seek Opportunities of Revenge.
It is well known, that the _Indians_ are generally addicted to Drunkenness, and that when they have tasted a little Liquor, they have a strong Thirst for more, and will part with any Thing they have, for a sufficient Quantity to make them drunk.----And is it not as well known, that we have taken the Advantage of this their vicious Appetite, and for a few Quarts of Rum have purchased valuable Effects of them? Have not private Persons thus made their Gains of them, notwithstanding the good Laws that have been in Force to prevent it? And is not this the Manner of all private Traders, who go among their several Tribes for Gain?
In our publick Dealings with them at our Truck-Houses, where Rum has been freely sold them, Care has been taken that they should not be cheated, but that they should have the full Value of what they had to sell: An Indian therefore, who was Owner of a Pack of Beaver, Deerskins, or any other valuable Goods, could buy a large Quantity of Rum, and might get drunk perhaps ten times, or more; whereas, if he had fallen into private Hands, he must have contented himself with being drunk but once or twice. Which of these proves most injurious to _Indians_ in the End, I shall not pretend to determine.
When they are thus intoxicated, they fall out among themselves, fight, and sometimes kill, one another, and some have drunk themselves dead on the Spot. An Instance of each of these there has been, if I am rightly informed, at _Fort Dummer_, since that has been improved as a Truck-House. And whether the Guilt of that Blood does not lie upon us, I leave others to judge.
Now, if we treat the _Natives_ in this Form, will they, can they, live with us? Will not the Law of Self-Preservation oblige them to leave us, and to go where they may be better used? Some of the _Five Nations_ plainly speak it out, and say, “We cannot live with the _English_ and _Dutch_; they bring us so much Rum, that it destroys us; we must go to the _French_, who will let us have but little strong Drink.” Thus we alienate the _Indians_ from us, and as it were oblige them to go over to the _French_, who are often our Enemies, and fail not to employ them against us in Time of War. And if we proceed to deal thus injuriously with them, what can we expect but that they will leave us, and be a severe Scourge to us?
Tho’ the _Indians_ are sunk below the Dignity of human Nature, and their Lust after Drink exposes them to be cheated out of what little they have; yet this gives us no Right to deal unjustly by them. They have a natural Right to Justice, and may, with great Propriety, challenge it at our Hands, seeing we profess to be subject to the Laws of _Christ_, which teach us to do _that which is altogether just_. And we should be so far from taking the Advantage of their Ignorance, Vice and Poverty, to defraud them of what is their just Right, that we should rather be moved to Pity, and compassionate their deplorable State, and be _Eyes to the Blind_, &c.
I am fully persuaded, that if we were upright and just in all our Transactions with them; if our Trade with them was put into the Hands of faithful Men, who would deal justly by them; and if they were supplied with all Necessaries for themselves and Families at a moderate Price, it would not be in the Power of all the _French_ at _Canada_ (subtle as they are) to alienate them from us. The _French_ are not upon equal Ground with us in this Affair. For their Northern Climate is much more inhospitable and severe than ours is: Their Country is not so productive of those Fruits, which the _Indians_ very much live upon, as ours: Nor can they afford Goods which are proper and necessary for the _Indians_ at so cheap a Lay as we can: Therefore we can give them those Advantages which _Canada_ cannot. We can, without Damage to ourselves, make it their Interest to adhere to us: And when Experience has once taught them, that their Interest lies with us, they will want no other Inducement to engage them to us: Yea, it will not only attach those of them to us, who are not yet gone to _Canada_, but it will induce those who are, to return to their Brethren, for the Sake of the Profit they might reap by it; especially if we give them all the Advantage we can, consistent with our own.
As unjust and abusive Treatment of the _Indians_ tends naturally to alienate them from us, and to turn them off to the _French_; so a Series of just and faithful Dealing with them would be likely to attach them to us, and to make them our fast Friends. This again appears from the Temper and Conduct of that Part of the _Tribe_ of the _River Indians_ who live at _Stockbridge_. For tho’ they were, for a considerable Time, extremely jealous, that we had some ill Design upon them, even in the Favours they received at our Hands (a Jealousy founded, I suppose, upon the ill Usage the _Natives_ have too often been the Subjects of) yet by the just Treatment they, for a Course of Years, have met with from the _Government_, from Mr. _Sergeant_, Mr. _Woodbridge_, and others, they are become our hearty Friends; willing to live or die with us, whether in Peace or War.
It is very true, that in order to obtain the End proposed, our Trade with the _Indians_ must not be in private Hands. It must not be in the Power of every private Person to treat them as he pleases. We may upon good Grounds despair of their being treated with Equity and Justice, if every one may gratify his avaricious Temper in dealing with them. Our Trade therefore must be of a publick Nature, and must be committed to the Care and Management of faithful Men: Not to such as will seek the Service, and make Friends to procure the Post for them; (certain Indications of a Self-seeker) but Men of Uprightness and Integrity must be sought out; such, and such only, must be trusted with Business of such Importance: Good Instructions must be given them, which must be carefully adhered to.
If the _Indian_ Trade at _Canada_ was in private Hands; if every private Person there might deal with the _Indians_ at Pleasure, we might then hope that those who are gone from us would soon return; for, in that Case, it is supposable enough that they would not meet with much better Usage there than they do here; tho’ it is scarcely supposable that they would meet with much worse. The _French_ Trade with the _Indians_ is wholly in the Hands of publick Officers, (it I am rightly informed) and a private Man, if he wants a Dear-skin, a Beaver-skin, &c. is not allowed to purchase of an _Indian_, but must go to the publick Stores. Upon the Supposition that those Officers are faithful, and deal justly by the _Indians_, it is surely a wise and politick Method to engage them in their Favour. And so long as every private Person in the English Government is at Liberty to trade with them, when, and where, he pleases, and to cheat them out of what they have, what can we expect but that they will repair to _Canada_, where they may be better used? Is it not owing to the ill Treatment they have met with from the _English_ and _Dutch_, that so many of them are gone already? And if no proper Measures are taken to prevent their being ill used, will not those who are yet behind soon follow their Brethren? Yea, if we furnish them with large Quantities of Rum, make them drunk, and then defraud them of what they have, do we not reduce them to a Necessity, either of living low and miserable with us, or of going from us, that they may fare better? How low, how dispirited, how miserable and brutish these few are, who live within our Borders, is too manifest. And whether we, by our ill treating of them, have not contributed to their Misery, is worthy of our serious Enquiry. Yea, would it not be proper for us to enquire, Whether we have not, by our Neglect and Abuse of them, provoked Heaven to let loose the Natives upon us, who have been one of the sorest Scourges that we were ever chastised with? What Multitudes have they, in a most cruel Manner, murdered in our Borders? How many of our Neighbours have they led into Captivity? Some of whom have been redeemed at a very great Expence, and others are become either Pagans or Papists, and continue still in a foreign Land. And who can count the Cost we have been at, to defend ourselves against their Incursions?
If the British Government should be disposed, in Time to come, to set up and maintain a publick, honest and just Trade with the _Five Nations_, or any other Tribes, thereby to attach them to us, to promote their true Interest, with other valuable Ends, that might thereby be answered; this Objection perhaps would arise, _viz._ That such a Proceeding will be a very great Expence to the Publick, for our Trade cannot be safe, unless it be protected by a considerable Force. A Fort must be built, and a Garrison of 50, 60, or perhaps 100 Men, with their proper Officers, must be maintained at each Place where the Trade is set up; therefore the Advantage would not countervail the Cost. To this I reply,
If such Garrisons should be thought necessary in the Places where a Trade is set up, to be a Guard to it, the Charge would nothing like equal that of an Indian War, which perhaps it might prevent.
But further, I apprehend that the Charge of such Garrisons might be spared; and that, instead of being necessary, they would prove very injurious to the Design; and that it would be a very wrong Step to be taken in that Affair.
All who are in any good Measure acquainted with the _Indians_ know, that they are extreamly jealous, lest any Incroachments should be made upon them; and it is not strange it should be so, considering what has past over them. And if a Number of armed Men were placed among them, and Forts built for the Defence of our Trade, they would be suspicious that something hostile was intended, and we should not be able to remove the Suspicion. They would behold us with a jealous Eye, and perhaps take Measures to frustrate the whole Design.
The most effectual Way to induce them to trust us, is to trust them; and they will be ready enough to protect our Trade if we desire it, and shew that we confide in them to do it. And when a little Experience has taught them how advantageous such a Trade would be to them, they would be ready enough to do it for their own Advantage. If therefore we should desire them to admit a Trader into one of their own Forts, or to build a Fort at our Charge in some convenient Place for such a Design, and to take Care that our Trade be safe; this would tend to convince them, both of our Friendship to, and of our Confidence in, them; and they would not only be pleased with it, but also ambitious to shew us that we may safely trust them: And were I to be the Truck-Master, I should esteem myself much safer in their Protection, than in a Garrison of 100 _English_ Men: For if such a Garrison should be placed among them, they themselves would suspect some ill Design carrying on against them; and the _French_ would infallibly tell them, that tho’ we pretended Peace and Friendship, yet our Design in the End is to dispossess them of their _Country_.