Journals of Conrad Weiser (1748), George Croghan (1750-1765), Christian Frederick Post (1758), and Thomas Morris (1764)Croghan, George
History
Journals of Conrad Weiser (1748), George Croghan (1750-1765), Christian Frederick Post (1758), and Thomas Morris (1764)
Croghan, George
Mississippi River Valley -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
I said, we did not intend to take the land from them; but only to drive
the _French_ away. They said, they knew better; for that they were
informed so by our greatest traders; and some Justices of the Peace had
told them the same, and the _French_, said they, tell us much the same
thing,—“that the _English_ intend to destroy us, and take our lands;” but
the land is ours, and not theirs; therefore, we say, if you will be at
peace with us, we will send the _French_ home. It is you that have begun
the war, and it is necessary that you hold fast, and be not discouraged,
in the work of peace. We love you more than you love us; for when we take
any prisoners from you, we treat them as our own children. We are poor,
and yet we clothe them as well as we can, though you see our children are
as naked as at the first. By this you may see that our hearts are better
than yours. It is plain that you white people are the cause of this war;
why do not you and the _French_ fight in the old country, and on the sea?
Why do you come to fight on our land? This makes every body believe, you
want to take the land from us by force, and settle it.[50]
I told them, “Brothers, as for my part, I have not one foot of land, nor
do I desire to have any; and if I had any land, I had rather give it to
you, than take any from you. Yes, brothers, if I die, you will get a
little more land from me; for I shall then no longer walk on that ground,
which God has made. We told you that you should keep nothing in your
heart, but bring it before the council fire, and before the Governor, and
his council; they will readily hear you; and I promise you, what they
answer they will stand to. I further read to you what agreements they
made about _Wioming_,[51] and they stand to them.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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