Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

Apology of the Paxton Volunteers - 15

From the Evidence that we have laid before the World, it appears that not only the Conestogoe Indians, but also those that lived at Bethlehem, & in other parts of the Province were all perfidious,--were in the French Interest & in Combination with our open Enemies,--furnished them with our public Papers every Week or Fortnight,--gave them Intelligence of all the Motions & Dispositions of the Province Army against them--were frequently with the French & Indians at their Forts & Towns,--supplied them with Provisions & Warlike Stores,--entertained strange Indian Spies,--joined with them in their War Dances, & in their Parties that made Incursions on our Frontiers,--were ready to take up the Hatchet against the English, when the French requested it,--murdered & scalped our Brethren,--insolently boasted of the horrid Murders they had committed, when they saw that our Blood was tamely covered at the last Treaty, and themselves loaded with Presents,--confessed they had been at War with us, & would soon be at War with us again--& even went so far, as to put one of their Old Warriors to Death when he refused to go to War against us. This is but a small part of the Evidence upon which we proceeded, who [sic] our Neighbors cut off that perfidious remnant of a Tribe at Lancaster & Conestogoe Mannor; & when we came to Germantown to petition the Governour for the Removal of the Bethlehem Indians now in Philadelphia out of the Province. And what evidence can we expect to be sufficient, to prove any Indian Commonwealth our Enemies, if this is is [sic] not? What then means all the malicious Clamour against us, as if we had murdered our innocent Friends? Are we not as justifiable in cutting off this Tribe of Enemies as any other? Can their living amongst us justify their Perfidy, or entitle them to commit Ravages upon his Majesty’s loyal Subjects with Immunity?---

We know it has been said by their Friends; if there was sufficient Evidence to convict any of the Conestogoe or Bethlehem Indians of being Enemies; why were not the particular Persons named & Actions brought against them, so that they might have the Benefit of a fair Trial; especially as they have publickly stipulated to be tried in our courts of Justice, if any of them should be accused of killing any of his Majesties Subjects?

This could never be under stood as a Stipulation to take Place when the Tribe became Enemies to his Majesty, but only to provide for the Trial of Murderers in a Time of Peace. In this Respect it was absolutely necessary, as they were an independent Common Wealth in the Heart of the Province, but it would be absurd when they were at War with us. When they gave up this Power to us, they notwith-

Contents of this annotation: