Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/307

 An Account of the Choktah Nation. 295

relations the fad difafter. Prefently, nothing could be heard through the nation, but heavy murmurs and fharp threats. Governor Johnftone had the murderer Toon apprehended, and confined him to be tried in due courfe of law. This delay of executing juftice on one, and' whomv we only fecured from their refentment as they imagined, tempted them to think on a general maflacre. Soon after the fitting of the general court, their revengeful hearts became eafy : for the man was fairly tried, and condemned, becaufe he did not kill the favage in his own defence, but while he was re treating from him. I have reafon to believe the Indians would not have allowed the French, when in garrifon among them, to delay mooting any of their people, whom they but even fufpected of having killed the meaneft of their kindred : for, in the year 1740, the Mufkohge, on a falfe fufpicion, forced the commanding officer of the Alebahma garrifon, by their loud threats, to kill one of the militia foldiers. When they were leading him to the place of execution, he requefted the favour of a bottle of wine, to enable him to die with the firm conftancy of an honeft French warrior : he received, and drank it off, and declared his innocence of the imputed -crime, with his laft words. The fignal was given, and the foldiers, by order, quickly (hot the unfortunate man. But the Englifliman, who had been likewife a foldier, would not have been condemned by the mere afiertion of the Choktah favage, coft what it would ; as it was both re pugnant to our law, and too dangerous a precedent to give to fo treach erous a people. He was juftly condemned on his companion's oath. His excellency Governor Johnftone acted fo fairly and tenderly in this affair, that, by his requeft, one of the Chikkafah traders was fummoned to fit on the trial, as he or' a long time knew the bafe difpofition of the Choktah ; but no favourable circumftances appearing on his fide, he was condemned.

Although the Choktah had their defired revenge, yet, when their leader came parading into Tumbikpe garrifon, with a gun he had taken from a white man, whom he murdered on the Chikkafah trading path ; our fuper- intendant's reprefentative mamefully refufed to act the part of the magi- ftrate, or to impower the commanding officer of the Fort tofecure the mur derer, though he prefied him with manly earneftnefs, and protefted that he would gladly confine him, were it not contrary to the tenour of his com- aiiffion. The favage having boafted a while after his triumphal entrance,

returned

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