Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/447

 the North American Indians. 435.

nor-Minggo, all the head warriors, ancl old beloved men, fhould either en tirely deftroy thofe books, or in an artful manner fend them to their enemy the French, in order to deftroy their conftitution : but they were of opi nion, common fenfe would not allow even thofe to receive them, under any pretence whatfoever therefore they ought to be burnt in the old year's accurfcd fire. By that means, the honeft poor could live in peace and quiet j for now they were unable by poverty, or backward by their ho- nefty, to buy juftice, in paying thofe people of cunning heads and ftrong mouths to fpeak the truth : and the hearts of rich knaves muft then become honeft, as they would not needlefsly give thofe large bribes, for painting their black actions with a white colour,

They urge, that while litigious, expenfive, and tedious fuits are either encouraged by our artful fpeakers, or allowed by our legiflators, the ho neft poor man will always be a great lofer ; which is a crying evil.* Be- caufe he is humble, modeft, and poor, his feeble voice cannot be heard. The combined body of the noify rich mnft drown his complaints.- Hi3 only fatisfaction is, that his heart is honeft, though that muft prove very fmall comfort to a wife crying over helplefs children, in a fmall wafte houfe. They fay, that as no people are born rogues* truth appears plain enough ; for its native drefs- is always fimple, and it never refides in troubled wa ters, but under the ftriking beams of the fun. It is not therefore juft; either to compel, or tempt people to buy juftice j it ihould be free to al!* as the poor are not able to purchafe it*

They affirm, that as all laws mould be enacted by the joint voice of the honeft part of the fociety for mutual good, if our great chieftain and his afliftants refufe altering thofe that are hurtful to the people, we ought to fet them afide on 'account of their ill principles, and for driving to fuppors their own bad: aclions, by bad laws that a-s wife free-men, we mould with all fpeed chufe honeft men in their room, to ad the part of fa thers of their country, and continue them juft as long as they behmved Rich : for leading men are chofen onty to do good to : the people ; and whenever they make a breach of their truft, injuring the public good, their places of eourfe become vacant, and juftly devolve to the people, who con* ferred them. Our law, they fay, condemns little rogues, but why fliould k fpare great ones ? That we hang the former with ftrong ropes of hemp',

Kkk 2 b.u:

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