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Apology of the Paxton Volunteers - 9

We have long been convinced from sufficient Evidence that the Indians that lived as Independent Commonwealths among us or near our Borders were also our most dangerous Enemies, both in the last and & War, altho’ they still pretended to be our friendsl. The Wyalusing Indians, who lived on the Sesquehannah are confessedly at war with us; and we are certain that that part of them who lived at Bethlehem carried on a Correspondence with our Enemies and furnished them with the Implements of War & are justly suspected of committing Murders in Northhampton County; as one of them is proved upon oath to be the Person that murdered Stinton with his Family. The Rum-debauched & trader-corrupted Thieves & Vagabonds that lived on Sesquehannah & Ohio are indesputably unfaithful & perfidious. Scarcely were the most public Treaties concluded with them, when they murdered the Inhabitants; nay in the very Time of them, they were forming Schemes how they might destroy us, after they had received, Blankets, Ammunition, & other Presents from the white People. The five Nations, that have ever retained some Reputation for Honour & Fidelity have told us, that they have reproved the Delawares & shooks them by the Hair of the Head, as they express it; & have lately gone to War against them & have taken 40 of their Wariors prisoners. The Commonwealths of Indians permitted contrary to the Maxims of Good Polity to live in a time of War in our Bounds have been our most dangerous Enemies, were guides to other Indians, reported our weak & defenceless state to the French together with all our Motions & Dispositions against them; & at the same time Time wearing the Cloak of Friendship, they could readily obtain Provisions Ammunition & warlike Implements to convey to our Enemies. Their well known Claim to Freedom & Independency put it in their Power to harbour Spies & give Intelligence. They have ever asserted & exercised the Right of making War & Peace as independent Nations, never came under our Laws, nor acknowledged Subjection to our King & Government; but they always governed themselves by their own Customs, & exercised the Power of Life & Death over their own People. ‘Tis true that the little Commonwealth at Conestoga have in one Point Stipulated with us that if an Indian killed a White man, the Indian should be tried by our Laws; which is still consistent with their being a free & independent State. Mournful Experience has convinced us that no Nation could be safe especially in

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