Against the EJP pseudo-Protestant Jesuitical Racism
If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that Injury on all Indians? It is well known that Indians are of different Tribes, Nations and Languages, as well as the White People. In Europe, if the French, who are White People, should injure the Dutch, are they to revenge it on the English, because they too are White People? The only Crime of these poor Wretches seems to have been, that they had a reddish brown Skin, and black Hair; and some People of that Sort, it seems, had murdered some of our Relations. If it be right to kill Men for such a Reason, then, should any Man, with a freckled Face and red Hair, kill a Wife or Child of mine, it would be right for me to revenge it, by killing all the freckled red-haired Men, Women and Children, I could afterwards any where meet with.
But it seems these People think they have a better Justification; nothing less than the Word of God. With the Scriptures in their Hands and Mouths, they can set at nought that express Command, Thou shalt do no Murder; and justify their Wickedness, by the Command given Joshua to destroy the Heathen. Horrid Perversion of Scripture and of Religion! to father the worst of Crimeson the God of Peace and Love! -- Even the Jews, to whom that particular Commission was directed, spared the Gibeonites, on Account of their Faith once given. The Faith of this Government has been frequently given to those Indians; -- but that did not avail them with People who despise Government.
http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf3/massacre.htm
A Narrative of the Late Massacres,
in Lancaster County, of a Number of Indians, Friends of this Province, by
Persons Unknown
With Some Observations on the Same
These
Indians were the Remains of a Tribe of the
Six Nations,
settled at
Conestogoe, and thence called
Conestogoe Indians. On
the first Arrival of the
English in
Pennsylvania, Messengers from
this Tribe came to welcome them, with Presents of Venison, Corn and Skins; and
the whole Tribe entered into a Treaty of Friendship with the first Proprietor,
WILLIAM PENN, which was to last "as long as the Sun should shine, or the Waters
run in the Rivers."
This Treaty has been since frequently renewed, and the
Chain
brightened, as they express it, from time to time. It has never been
violated, on their Part or ours, till now. As their Lands by Degrees were mostly
purchased, and the Settlements of the White People began to surround them, the
Proprietor assigned them Lands on the Manor of
Conestogoe, which they
might not part with; there they have lived many Years in Friendship with their
White Neighbours, who loved them for their peaceable inoffensive Behaviour.
It has always been observed, that
Indians, settled in the
Neighbourhood of White People, do not increase, but diminish continually. This
Tribe accordingly went on diminishing, till there remained in their Town on the
Manor, but 20 Persons,
viz. 7 Men, 5 Women, and 8 Children, Boys and
Girls.
Of these,
Shehaes was a very old Man, having assisted at the second
Treaty held with them, by Mr. PENN, in 1701, and ever since continued a faithful
and affectionate Friend to the
English; he is said to have been an
exceeding good Man, considering his Education, being naturally of a most kind
benevolent Temper.
Peggy was
Shehaes's Daughter; she worked for her aged Father,
continuing to live with him, though married, and attended him with filial Duty
and Tenderness.
John was another good old Man; his Son
Harry helped to support
him.
George and
Will Soc were two Brothers, both young Men.
John Smith, a valuable young Man, of the
Cayuga Nation, who
became acquainted with
Peggy,
Shehaes's Daughter, some few Years
since, married her, and settled in that Family. They had one Child, about three
Years old.
Betty, a harmless old Woman; and her Son
Peter, a likely young
Lad.
Sally, whose
Indian Name was
Wyanjoy, a Woman much
esteemed by all that knew her, for her prudent and good Behaviour in some very
trying Situations of Life. She was a truly good and an amiable Woman, had no
Children of her own, but a distant Relation dying, she had taken a Child of that
Relation's, to bring up as her own, and performed towards it all the Duties of
an affectionate Parent.
The Reader will observe, that many of their Names are
English. It is
common with the
Indians that have an Affection for the
English, to
give themselves, and their Children, the Names of such
English Persons as
they particularly esteem.
This little Society continued the Custom they had begun, when more numerous,
of addressing every new Governor, and every Descendant of the first Proprietor,
welcoming him to the Province, assuring him of their Fidelity, and praying a
Continuance of that Favour and Protection they had hitherto experienced. They
had accordingly sent up an Address of this Kind to our present Governor, on his
Arrival; but the same was scarce delivered, when the unfortunate Catastrophe
happened, which we are about to relate.
On
Wednesday, the 14th of
December, 1763, Fifty-seven Men, from
some of our Frontier Townships, who had projected the Destruction of this little
Common-wealth, came, all well-mounted, and armed with Firelocks, Hangers and
Hatchets, having travelled through the Country in the Night, to
Conestogoe Manor. There they surrounded the small Village of
Indian Huts, and just at Break of Day broke into them all at once. Only
three Men, two Women, and a young Boy, were found at home, the rest being out
among the neighbouring White People,some to sell the Baskets, Brooms and Bowls
they manufactured, and others on other Occasions. These poor defenceless
Creatures were immediately fired upon, stabbed and hatcheted to Death! The good
Shehaes, among the rest, cut to Pieces in his Bed. All of them were
scalped, and otherwise horribly mangled. Then their Huts were set on Fire, and
most of them burnt down. When the Troop, pleased with their own Conduct and
Bravery, but enraged that any of the poor
Indians had escaped the
Massacre, rode off, and in small Parties, by different Roads, went home.
The universal Concern of the neighbouring White People on hearing of this
Event, and the Lamentations of the younger
Indians, when they returned
and saw the Desolation, and the butchered half-burnt Bodies of their murdered
Parents, and other Relations, cannot well be expressed.
The Magistrates of
Lancaster sent out to collect the remaining
Indians, brought them into the Town for their better Security against any
farther Attempt; and it is said condoled with them on the Misfortune that had
happened, took them by the Hand, comforted and
promised them Protection.
-- They were all put into the Workhouse, a strong Building, as the Place of
greatest Safety.
When the shocking News arrived in Town, a Proclamation was issued by the
Governor, in the following Terms,
viz.
"WHEREAS I have received Information, That on Wednesday, the
Fourteenth Day of this Month, a Number of People, armed, and mounted on
Horseback, unlawfully assembled together, and went to the Indian Town in
the Conestogoe Manor, in Lancaster County, and without the least
Reason or Provocation, in cool Blood, barbarously killed six of the
Indians settled there, and burnt and destroyed all their Houses and
Effects: And whereas so cruel and inhuman an Act, committed in the Heart of this
Province on the said Indians, who have lived peaceably and inoffensively
among us, during all our late Troubles, and for many Years before, and were
justly considered as under the Protection of this Government and its Laws, calls
loudly for the vigorous Exertion of the civil Authority, to detect the
Offenders, and bring them to condign Punishment; I have therefore, by and with
the Advice and Consent of the Council, thought fit to issue this Proclamation,
and do hereby strictly charge and enjoin all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs,
Constables, Officers Civil and Military, and all other His Majesty's liege
Subjects within this Province, to make diligent Search and Enquiry after the
Authors and Perpetrators of the said Crime, their Abettors and Accomplices, and
to use all possible Means to apprehend and secure them in some of the publick
Goals of this Province,that they may be brought to their Trials, and be
proceeded against according to Law.
"And whereas a Number of other Indians, who lately lived on or near
the Frontiers of this Province, being willing and desirous to preserve and
continue the ancient Friendship which heretofore subsisted between them and the
good People of this Province, have, at their own earnest Request, been removed
from their Habitations, and brought into the County of Philadelphia, and
seated, for the present, for their better Security, on the
Province-Island, and in other Places in the Neighbourhood of the City of
Philadelphia, where Provision is made for them at the public Expence; I
do therefore hereby strictly forbid all Persons whatsoever, to molest or injure
any of the said Indians, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril.
GIVEN under my Hand,and the Great Seal of the said Province, at
Philadelphia, the Twenty-second Day of December, Anno Domini One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-three, and in the Fourth Year of His Majesty's
Reign.
JOHN PENN."
JOSEPH SHIPPEN, jun. Secretary.
GOD Save the KING.
Notwithstanding this Proclamation, those cruel Men again assembled
themselves, and hearing that the remaining fourteen
Indians were in the
Work-house at
Lancaster, they suddenly appeared in that Town, on the 27th
of
December. Fifty of them, armed as before, dismounting, went directly
to the Work-house, and by Violence broke open the Door, and entered with the
utmost Fury in their Countenances. -- When the poor Wretches saw they had
no
Protection nigh, nor could possibly escape, and being without the least
Weapon for Defence, they divided into their little Families, the Children
clinging to the Parents; they fell on their Knees, protested their Innocence,
declared their Love to the
English, and that, in their whole Lives, they
had never done them Injury; and in this Posture they all received the Hatchet!
-- Men, Women and little Children -- were every one inhumanly murdered! -- in
cold Blood!
The barbarous Men who committed the atrocious Fact, in Defiance of
Government, of all Laws human and divine, and to the eternal Disgrace of their
Country and Colour, then mounted their Horses, huzza'd in Triumph, as if they
had gained a Victory, and rode off --
unmolested!
The Bodies of the Murdered were then brought out and exposed in the Street,
till a Hole could be made in the Earth, to receive and cover them.
But the Wickedness cannot be covered, the Guilt will lie on the whole Land,
till Justice is done on the Murderers. THE BLOOD OF THE INNOCENT WILL CRY TO
HEAVEN FOR VENGEANCE.
It is said that
Shehaes, being before told, that it was to be feared
some
English might come from the Frontier into the Country, and murder
him and his People; he replied, "It is impossible: There are
Indians,
indeed, in the Woods, who would kill me and mine, if they could get at us, for
my Friendship to the
English; but the
English will wrap me in
their Matchcoat, and secure me from all Danger." How unfortunately was he
mistaken!
Another Proclamation has been issued, offering a great Reward for
apprehending the Murderers, in the following Terms,
viz.
"WHEREAS on the Twenty-second Day of December last, I issued a
Proclamation for the apprehending and bringing to Justice, a Number of Persons,
who, in Violation of the Public Faith, and in Defiance of all Law, had inhumanly
killed six of the Indians, who had lived in Conestogoe Manor, for
the Course of many Years, peaceably and inoffensively, under the Protection of
this Government, on Lands assigned to them for their Habitation; notwithstanding
which, I have received Information, that on the Twenty-seventh of the same
Month, a large Party of armed Men again assembled and met together in a riotous
and tumultuous Manner, in the County of Lancaster, and proceeded to the
Town of Lancaster, where they violently broke open the Work-house, and
butchered and put to Death fourteen of the said Conestogoe Indians, Men,
Women and Children, who had been taken under the immediate Care and Protection
of the Magistrates of the said County, and lodged for their better Security in
the said Work-house, till they should be more effectually provided for by Order
of the Government. And whereas common Justice loudly demands, and the Laws of
the Land (upon the Preservation of which not only the Liberty and Security of
every Individual, but the Being of the Government itself depend) require that
the above Offenders should be brought to condign Punishment; I have therefore,
by and with the Advice of the Council, published this Proclamation, and do
hereby strictly charge and command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables,
Officers Civil and Military, and all other His Majesty's faithful and liege
Subjects within this Province, to make diligent Search and Enquiry after the
Authors and Perpetrators of the said last mentioned Offence, their Abettors and
Accomplices, and that they use all possible Means to apprehend and secure them
in some of the public Goals of this Province, to be dealt with according to Law.
"And I do hereby further promise and engage, that any Person or Persons, who
shall apprehend and secure, or cause to be apprehended and secured, any Three of
the Ringleaders of the said Party, and prosecute them to Conviction, shall have
and receive for each, the public Reward of Two Hundred Pounds; and any
Accomplice, not concerned in the immediate shedding the Blood of the said
Indians, who shall make Discovery of any or either of the said
Ringleaders, and apprehend and prosecute them to Conviction, shall, over and
above the said Reward, have all the Weight and Influence of the Government, for
obtaining His Majesty's Pardon for his Offence.
GIVEN under my Hand, and the Great Seal of the said Province, at
Philadelphia, the Second Day of January, in the Fourth Year of His
Majesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Sixty-four.
JOHN PENN."
By His Honour's Command,
JOSEPH SHIPPEN, jun. Secretary.
GOD Save the KING.
These Proclamations have as yet produced no Discovery; the Murderers having
given out such Threatenings against those that disapprove their Proceedings,
that the whole County seems to be in Terror, and no one durst speak what he
knows; even the Letters from thence are unsigned, in which any Dislike is
expressed of the Rioters.
There are some (I am ashamed to hear it) who would extenuate the enormous
Wickedness of these Actions, by saying, "The Inhabitants of the Frontiers are
exasperated with the Murder of their Relations, by the Enemy
Indians, in
the present War." It is possible; -- but though this might justify their going
out into the Woods, to seek for those Enemies, and avenge upon them those
Murders; it can never justify their turning in to the Heart of the Country, to
murder their Friends.
If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that Injury
on all Indians? It is well known that Indians are of different
Tribes, Nations and Languages, as well as the White People. In Europe, if
the French, who are White People, should injure the Dutch, are
they to revenge it on the English, because they too are White People? The
only Crime of these poor Wretches seems to have been, that they had a reddish
brown Skin, and black Hair; and some People of that Sort, it seems, had murdered
some of our Relations. If it be right to kill Men for such a Reason, then,
should any Man, with a freckled Face and red Hair, kill a Wife or Child of mine,
it would be right for me to revenge it, by killing all the freckled red-haired
Men, Women and Children, I could afterwards any where meet with.
But it seems these People think they have a better Justification; nothing
less than the
Word of God. With the Scriptures in their Hands and Mouths,
they can set at nought that express Command,
Thou shalt do no Murder; and
justify their Wickedness, by the Command given
Joshua to destroy the
Heathen. Horrid Perversion of Scripture and of Religion! to father the worst of
Crimeson the God of Peace and Love! -- Even the
Jews, to whom that
particular Commission was directed, spared the
Gibeonites, on Account of
their Faith once given. The Faith of this Government has been frequently given
to those
Indians; -- but that did not avail them with People who despise
Government.
We pretend to be
Christians, and, from the superior Light we enjoy,
ought to exceed
Heathens,
Turks,
Saracens,
Moors,
Negroes and
Indians, in the Knowledge and Practice of what is
right. I will endeavour to show, by a few Examples from Books and History, the
Sense those People have had of such Actions.
