The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-02-05 00:00:00, page 2

those pa/fons they Imbibe. Elevated by tinsdiftiaaiefy
they haveaffurned fucn a tone of Superiority over the Ik
dians, and treat,them with such insolence and icorn, that
the antipathy between the two races has become implaca
ble. Eren in Feuu, wrere negroes are mere numerous,
and employed m fidd-work as well ^s domestic service,
they inOorain their ifeendant over the Indians, and their
mutual hatred subsists with equal violence. The lawshave
infyfiriouQy fomented this aversion, to which accident
gave rile, and by most rigorous injunctions, have endea
voured to prevent every intercourse that might form a
bond of union between me two races. Thus, by an art
ful policy, the Spaniards derive fireugth from that which
is the wesknefs of other European colonies, and have te
cured 4 associates and defenders, those very performs who
etfewhere arc objects of jealousy end terror.
The Indians tofm the lad, and the most depressed order
of men in that country, wnich belonged to their aucefters*
I have already traced,the progress of the Spanish ideas
with re,?a to the condition and treatment of that peo
ple, and have mentioned.the most important of their mofy
early regulations, concerning a nutter of to much confe
cuencein the adminifiratimof their new dominions. But
trace that p< red to which I have brought down the htho
ry of Amer..a, the information and experience acquired
during two centuries, have enable® the court of Spain
to make fuck improvements in this put of its American
system, that a Ihort view of the prefect condition of th|
Lilians may prove both curious and interesting.
By Q famous regulations of Charles V.in 1542, which
have b, l so often mentioned, the high pretentious of the
conquerors of the New World, whoconfidered its inha
bitants as flafy, to whole' service they had acquired a full
tight of property, were finally abrogated. From that pe
riod, the Indians have been reputed freemen, and iotitled
to the privileges of fubjeas. When admitted into this
rank, it was deemed just, that they should contribute to
wards the support and improvement of the society, which
had adopted them as members,. But as no confrGrable
benefit could be expeded from the voluntary efforts of men,
unacquainted with regular iaduftry, and averse tq labour,
the court e? Spain found it neceflary to fix and future, by
proper regulations, what it thought reasonable to exaft
from them. With this view, an annual tax was impaled
• upon every male, from the age of eighteen to fifty; aad,
at the fame time, the nature as well as extent of the ser
vices which they might be required to perform, were as
certained with precision. This tribute varies in different
provinces, but if we take that paid in New Spain as a
medium, its annual amount isnea^y four Killings 1 head,
no exc rbitant sum in countries where, as at the source of
wealth, the value of money is extremely low. The
rightof levying it likewise varies. In America, every In
dian is either an immediate vassal of the crown, or depends
upon force fubjeft to whom the diftrid, on w*.ich
re reAdes, has been granted for a limited time, un
der the denomination of ercomenda. In the former case,
about mra fourths of the tax is paid into the royal Trea
sury ; in the latter, the fame proportion of it belongs to
the holder of the grant. When Spain firft took pofftffion
of America, the greater part of it was parcelled out among
its conqueror, or those who firft fettled there, and buta
small portion reserved for the c^own. As those grants
which weic made for two lives only, reverted successively
to the fov, eign, I.e had it in his power either to diffufe
his favours by grants to new proprietors, or to augment
his ownmenue by valuable annexations. Of these, the
latter has been frequently chosen : The number of Indi
ans now depending immediately on the crown, is much
greater than ' n 'he firft age after the conquest, and this
branch of the royal revenue continues to extend.
The benefit arising from the services of tie Indians ac
crues either to the crown, or to the holder of the meemi^da,
according to the feme rule observed in the payment of tri
bute. Those fences, fowever, which cat )now be legal
ly ex^ed, are very different from the servile talks ov'gi
onally imposed upon the Indians. The nature of the work
which they mud perform is defined, and an equitable
recommence is granted for their labour. • The Rated fer
tices demanded of the iridians, may be divided into two
branches. They are either employed in the works of pri
mary n^ceffity, without which Society cannot fubfifteom
fortably, or are compelled to labour in the mines, from
Which tee Spanish colonies derive their chief value and
importance. In consequence of the former, they are obli
ged to affid in the culture of maize, and other grain
of necedafy confutation ; in tending cattle, in erecting
ediftes of public utdify, in building bridges, and in fmn-'
ing k@ road*, bye they cannot be condrained to labour
in rawing vines, olives, and sugar dines, or any species
of cultivation, which has for its objeft the gratification
of luxury, or commerce 1 profit. In conftquence of
the letter, the Indians are compelled to undertake the
more unpLUaut task, of extracting ore from the-dowels
el the rr th, and of refining it by friceeffive processes, no
less ®wr.o!e(ome than operofe.
The mode of exacting r,oth these services is the fame,
a^d is under regulations framed with a view of rendering
it asliftie approve as p^ffible to the Indians. They a/X
tailed out alternately in divisions, termed Mitas, and no
person can be compelled to goboi in his turn. In Peru,
the number called out must not exceed the seventh part of
the inhabitants in any diflrift. Ip New Spain, where the
Indies are more numerous, it is fixed at four io the hun
dred During whattime the labour of those Indians, who
are employed in agriculture, continues, I have not been
able to learn. Butin Peru, each Mita, er division defii
ned for the mines, remains there fix months; and while
engaged in this service, a labourer never receives lefe than
two millings a day, and often eafr more than doubleshat
fem. No Indian refidbig ata greater distance than thir
ty miles from a min„e is included in the Mita, or division
employed in working it; nor are the inhabitants of the
low country exposed to certain deftrußion, by compel
ling them to remove from that warm climate to the cold
elevated regions where minerals abound.
The Indians who live in the principal towns are entire
ly fubjed to the Spanish laws and Magifhates; but fa
their own villages, they are governed by Caziques, some
of whom are the defendants of their ancient Lords, 0-
thert arc named by the Spaniffi viceroys. These regulate
the petty affairs of the people under them, according to
maxims of justice, tr&nfmitted to them by tradition from
"M r ancestors. To the Indians, this jurifdiaion, lodg
in such friendly bands, afford fomftonfolation ; and so
^u^ formidable is this dignity to their new mafim, that
they often allow it to defeend by heriditary right. Rr
the farther relief ofmen so much excofed to opprtffian, the
Spanish court has appointed an officer in ever, diftrid,
with the title of the Protedor of the Indians. It ,is Qis
function, as the name imp lies, to aff@rt the rights of the
Indians, to appear in their defence in thecourtsof justice;
and by the interpolation of his authority, to set bounds to
rhe encroachments and exactions of his countrymen. A
certain portion of the reserved fourth of the annual tribute,
is defined for the falery of the Caziques and Protestor,
another is applied to the maintenance of the clergy em
ployed in the inftrudion of the Indians. Another par,
items to be appropriated for their fuppert, and the pay
ment of their tribute in years of famine, or when a parti
cular diftrici is affected by any extraordinary calamity.
Brides this, provision is made by various laws, that hos
pitals Ihail be founded in every new settlement for the re
ception of Indians. Such hospitals have accordingly been
eroded, both for the indigent and infirm in Lima, in Cuz
co, and in Mexico, wherethe Indians are treated with tea
deruefs and humanity.,
Such is the great outline of the jurifprudeuceand policy by
which the Indians are now governed in the provinces
belonging to Spain. In those regulations of the Spafiilh
monarchs, we discover no tracts of that cruel system of ex &
termination, which they have been charged with adopt
ing; and if we admit, that the necessity of feeuring fub
hftence for their colonies, or the advantages derived from
working the mines, give them a right to avail themfelvts•
of the labour of the Indians, we must allow, that the at
tention with which they regulate and recompence that la
bour, is provident and sagacious. In no,code of laws is
greater solicitude difplayw', or precautions multiplied with
more concern for the prefirvation; th^ security, and the
happiuefs of the fubjefe, than we discover in the calleßi
-011 of the Spanish laws for the Indies, But those latter
regulations, like the more early eJi&s which have been
already mentioned, have too often proved iitefFedirl re
medies against the evils which they were intended so pre
vent. In every age, if the farce causes continue to ope
rate, the fame effects must follow. From the jmmevfe
difiance between the power eotruiled with the execution
of laws, and that by whose authority they are enabled, the
vigour even of the most absolute government must relax,
and the dread of a superior too remote to observe with ac
curacy, or to punith with dispatch, must infenfisly abate.
Notwithstanding the numerous injunaions of the Spariilh
monarch, the Indians flill fufrer, 011 many occasions,
both from the avarice of individuals, and from the exa&i
ons of the Magistrates, whs ought to have protested themj
onreafonable talks are imposed ; the term of their labour
isprclbnged, and they groan under all the intuits and
wrongs which arc the lot of a dependent people. From
some information on which I can depend, such oppreftion
abounds more in Peru, than in any other colony., But it
is not general. According to the accounts, even of those
authors who are most expefed to exaggerate the Offerings
of the Indians, they, in several provinces, enjoy not only
ease, but affluence; they possess large farms; they are
makers of numerous herds and flocks; and, by the know
ledge which they have acquired of European arts and in
dut!%are foppiied not only with the necefferies, but
with many luxuries of life.
From the BOSTON INDEPENDENT
CHRONICLE.
The following copy es a letter was lately received from
France.
Copy of a letter from Lieutenant General Burgoyne,
to Loro George Germaini, dated Camp, near Sara
, toga, August 20th, 17 7.
[Private.]
My Lord,
INE ED not enlarge upon the concern I have in com
municuting my finifler events. I am perfuaJed your
Lordship will give me credit for partaking every &nti
nient that your Lordship, or any other map, warmed with
principle and zeal in this concert, can feeL
[ln regard to the affair of Saintcoick, I have only to add
to the public account, that if ever there was 2 fituatiori to
juilify enterprize and tx< rtton, out of t^ beaten trod of
military service, it was that io which f found myfeif.
Had I facceeded, I should have effected a junction with
S:. Leger, and been now befcre Albany; and I flatter
nsyfelf 1 need only mention thole views, to thew thet in
hazarding this expedition, I had the founded principles
military reasoning on my fide, viz. Thar the advan
tages to be expected trom luccefe, were in a greater degree
fupcricr to tneeviis that could attend mifcar&ge. The
fecoudary purpoUs, to which I alluded in the public let
ter, were to try the affections of the country*; to Cum
pleat the provincial c^rps, many recruits for which w<r3
unable to escape from their villages, withe ut a force to
encourage end proved frm; and to difirad the councils
ofthe enemy; by conrinurcg their jeafonfy towards New-
Eagland. Major-General Riadefel has pressed upon me
repeatedly the mounting his dragoons ; the x^ were ani
mated with the fame desire ; and I conceived it a most
favourable occasion to give into their ideas and fclieiiaii
ons; beaufe in exerting their zeal to fulfil their favourite
purpose, they neceffanly would effect the greater purpose
of my own. The rest of the troops wfr.fele&ed from such
as would least weaken the fofid fcength of the army, in
case of ill-success; and I thought it expedient to take
a little trial of the provincials and Canadians, before
I might have occafiou for them in mere important ac
tions.
The original detachment could not have been trade
longer, without opening roads and other preparations of
time, ner Aould I have thought it juftifiabie to expose
the best troops to lots upon a collateral action. Had'my
inftruaiont been followed, or could Mr. Breymann have
marched at the rate of two miles an hour, any given
twelve hours out of the two arid thirty, frotefs would pro
bably have eufued, and misfortune w6uld certainly have
been avoided. I did not think it prudent, in the present
crisis, to mak> these circamftances to the public so firong
as Ido in confidence to your Lordship : but I rely, and
I will venture to fay, I expert, becaafe I think fafflee
will warrant the,expectation, that while, for the fake of
public harmony, that necessary principle for conducing
nice and laborious service, I colour the faults of the exe
cution, your Lordship will, in your goodnefe, be my ad
vocate ca th* King and tu th? w&rld, in vindication of the
plan.
The confequences.gfiis ass dr, my Lord, have Etwe
effect upon the Rrength ;r spirits of the army; but the
proved of the campaign, in other refpt&s, is far let's
prosperous than when I wrote last. In Spite of Bt. Leger's
yi&ory, fort Stauwix molds out obstinately. lam afraid
the experiatiotfs o ; Sir J. Johufon greatly fail him in the
riling of the country. On this fide, I find daily reason
to doubt the sincerity or the resolution of the profeffing
loyalifta. : I have about 400, but not half of them armed,
who may be depended upon ; the rest are trimmers,
merely actuated by interelL The great bulk of tke rcun-'
try is undoubtedly with the Coogrefs, in principle and
in ze^l ; and their meafertri are executed with a Secrecy
and dispatch that are pct to be equalled. Wherever tLo
King's forces point/ militia, to the amount of $ or 4000
atfemble in 24 hours.; they bri^g with them their fub
fittence, &c. a^d tiie alarm they return to their
farms.—„e Harntfiri grants tn tfif.ticular, a country uM
,^pk^ axd &/%#«#to%h to ibfitf wjar, now abounds
in the mo, adroe an^ rcrft r&Uhus race a t the Continent,
and ham, like a ^aib^ ifogfi^m n,^ my left. In ai part#
the mduftry and managemrut in driving cattle and remo
ving corn, are indefatigable and certain ; and it becomes
impracticable th move without portable mag nines. Ano
ther most embarraffng circumflance is, the want of a com
munication 'with Sir William Howe : Oithe m^ffengers I
have feat, I know rftwe being, barged, and am igreraat
whether any of the rest arrived. The fame fate has pro
bably attended those dispatched by Sir William Howe;
for only one letter is come to h^na, informing me his in
tention is for Pennfyivaaia ; that WafhlDgion has detached
Sulbvan; with 2500 men, t^ Albany ; that Putnam is in
the Highlands, with 4oooiren) that after my arrival at
Albany, the movement of the enemy must guide mine;
but that he wilhed theenemy might be driven out of tha
province before my operation took place against Connec
ticut ; That Sir Henry Canton remained in the command
in the neighbourhood of New-York, and would a& at
occurrences might tiireft. No operation, my Lord, has
yet been undertaken io my favour. T^ Highlands have
net c.vn been threatened. Che cor.ftquetice is, that Put
nam has detached two brigades tc Mr. Gates, who is
now firongly posted near rhe mouth of the Mohawk river,
with an army iv.ptricr tomine in troops of the CoDjrefe,
and a, many militia as he pitales. He is likewise far
from being deficient in aridiery, having, received alFths
pieces that were kested from the French fh.ip^ which got
into Lofton.
. Had I a latitude in my orders; I fhsuld think it my
duty to wait in this position, or perhaps as Hr back as
Fort-Edward, where , my communication with Lake-
George would be perfeaiy facure, till force event happen
ed to a ffifl ray movement forward ; but my orders being
pofitive,to " forces junafon with Sir Willlira Howe."
I apprehend 1 am not at liberty to remain inaßive ledger
than ihall be necessary to colled about ^5 days provision,
and to receive the reinforcement oft e additional compa
nies, the German drafts and recruits, now (and unfortu
nately only now) on Lake Campl?in.—Tr.e waiting the
arrival of this rei u forewent, is of indifpenfib|e necessity,
bee,iufe from the hour I pins the Matron's river a pd pro
ceed rewards Ahnny, all fifty of communication ceases.
I must exped ahrgc lody of the enemy fro# ) my left will
take post behind me ILave put out of the que.Wn the
waiting longer than the time neceffar, fr the foregoing
purpefes, Wcaufe the attempt, if tn critical, depending on
adventure; and tne fortune that often a'companies it, and
hardly jui'inable bur by orders from the State, would af
terwards he consummately desperate. I mean my Lord,
that by moving soon, though I should meet with insur
mountable diffteukies to my progrefe, I ffiall at least have
a chaste of lighting my ^y back to Ticonderoga ; but
the feafop a little further advanced, the distance increased,
and the march unavoidably tardy,besaufe surrounded by
enemies, a retreat might be /hut by impenetrable bars of
the elements, and at the fame time no possible means of
exigence remains in the country.
When I wrote mere confidently, I little forefaw
that I was to be left to pursue my way through
such 2 fraa of country, and host of foes, without any
co-operation from New-York; not did I then think
the garrisoning of Ticonderoga, would bU to my
share alone; a dangerous experiment would it be
to leave that post in weaknef#, and too heavy a dram
it is upon the life blood of my force to give it due
ftrengthi
I yetdr. hot defp'ond.—Should I faceted in forcing my
wtyfo Albany, and find tha. country in a fia y e to fobfift
my army, I fed think no mere of a retreat, but at the
word; fortify mere, and await Sir W. Home's operati
ons. Whatever may be my fate, my Lerd,
aHicnsto the treat! of lie King, and to the candidjudg
ment 'cf my prefiffen, when all the motives become pub
lic ; and I rest in confidence, that whatever decision may ba
passed up.o|my coodua, my good intent will not be quef„
tinned.
1 cannot elofe so ferions a letter without expressing my
fuller, i^kfaaion in the behaviour and countersue#
of the troops, and my complete, confidence that in all tri
als they will do whatever can be expected from men de
voed to their king and conn ry./
I have the honour to be. &c.
J. bcrgoyne.
F. S. Upon re-petufirig this letter, I am aporehen
fivc that the manner in which I have expressed ir,(elfj -e
---fpeaing the reinforcement being only upon Lake Ch?m^
plain, may seem ambiguous.—l do not mean to impute
ihe delay.to Any thing but accident=nor do I mean to
contest Sir Guy Carlstou's reasoning upon not complying
with my requisition to garrifpa Ticonderoga—l only la.
ment it. .'
Philadelphia! February 4.
CAME to the Stables at the Conneftogo
V^^grrn, on Wedfrtk^y evening the id inftaut,
a bhek M A RE, ^hput thirteen hin&tigh, supposed
to CM trout.three year# old, And on Friday morning
about fanrife, a dark bay HORSE came to the
above place , it „ supposed he hid just been lode hard,
as he wife in , great feeri , he ir about fovruer and a
half hands high, and ftfppefed to be about tight or nine
yean old. Th? owner or owners jf. /Hired to come,
prove their property, pa, ebhrn and t@k> them away.
JOHN JARVIS.