Message to the Governor, October 12, 1761 - 2
If what this man says be true, I believe you your selves will be
of opinion, that He was not to blame, and that he did no more than
you would have done in the like circumstances, or if you had stood
in his place. – For no one, whether Indian or White-man, could,
or ought to sit still, and Let his wife and children murdered before
his Face without striving to prevent it; even at the hazard of
killing the person who attempts it.
But if on the contrary it shall adhear in the Kings Court, where
this man shall be fairly tryed, that what He says is false & untrue
and that He killed the Indian wantonly or maliciously, and not in
defence of himself, or of his wife and children; He shall, in that
case, suffer the same punishment as if He had murder’d one of Us.
Which punishment, by our Laws, is Death.
Brothers,
I have been informed that you came from home with an intent to
take revenge of the English, for the Blood of your Kinsmen which has
been unhappily spilt; and that in all probability, you would have
proceeded to have done much mischief, had you not been prevailed
on vy Papoonan and our other good Friends at Wighlousis, to wait till
you should hear from me.
Brothers,
If this was your intention, I must needs tell you, that you were
by much too hasty, and greatly in the wrong; and that you would have
been very sorry afterwards, for any mischiefs you had done to us in
the heat of your passion and resentment.
you should first have applied and made your complaint to me, before
you had resolved on revenging the death of your Relation, your people
who were intinely innocent of it. – Had you taken this method, you might
have been assured, that according to the constant practice of this
Government, I should have done you all the Justice, and made you the,
best representative that was in my power.
Hearken thererfore to my words, and give credit [inelligible] to what I say to you,
for I speach from the bottom of my heart.
Brothers,
Your Forefathers and Ours, who were wise men, whenever wicked persons on either side committed any mischief, made it a rule to acquaint
Each other of it as soon as possible; and joined together in detecting and punishing.
[Transcribed by Nathan Borowski]
