Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/282

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��An Account of tie Mufkohge Nation.

��view, the conquered are always the firft who humbly fue for peace. This beloved epiftle, that accompanied the eagles-tails, fwans- wings, white beads, white pipes, and tobacco, was fent by a white interpreter, and Me/he- Jbecke t a Mufkohge war-chieftain, to the perfidious Choktah, as a flrong confirmation of peace. Without doubt it was a mafter Ikcke of court- policy, to drive to gain fo many expert red auxiliaries ; and plainly mews how extremely well he deferves his profitable place of public trufc. I am afTured by two refpectable, intelligent, old Indian traders, G. G. and L. M. G. Efq-, that they frequently diffuaded him from ever dub- ling in fuch muddy waters ; for the confequence would unavoidably prove fatal to our contiguous colonies. This was confirmed by a recent in- flance the late Cheerake war, which could not have commenced, if the Mufkohge and Cheerake had not been reconciled, by the afliduous en deavours of an avaricious, and felf-interefted governor. If any reader reckons this too bold, or pcrfonal, I requefl him to perufe a performance, entitled, " A modeft reply to his Excellency J. G. Efq-," printed in Charles- town, in the year 1750, in which every material circumftance is fuffici- entiy authenticated.

When we confider the defencelefs date, and near fituation of our three fou- thern barrier colonies to the numerous Mufkohge and Choktah what favour able opinion can charity reafonably induce us to form of the continued train of wrong meafures the managers of our Indian affairs have dudioufly pur- fued, by officioufly mediating, and reconciling the deep-rooted enmity which fubfifted between thofe two mifchievous nations ? If they could not, confident with the tenour of their political office, encourage a conti nuance of the war, they might have given private indruclions to fome difcreet trader to drive to influence them, fo as to continue it.

It is excufable in clergymen that live in England to perfuade us to inculcate, and endeavour to promote peace and good will, between the favages of the remote defarts of America j efpecially if they employ their time in fpiritual affairs, to which they ought to be entirely devoted, and not as courtiers, in the perplexing labyrinths of date affairs : but what can be faid of thofe dates-men, who inftead of faithfully guarding the lives and privileges of valuable fubjects, extend mercy to their murderers, who have


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