The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-07-21

WOOueu SnOreS OI tle beautiful DelaWare.
The son Of an English High Admiral, born
the heir of great estate, qualified by birth,
education and talents, for the highest earth
ly honors and distinctions, he preferred to
his opening splendid worldly prospects, the
humble discipleship of his Redeemer, and
cast in his lot with despised religious sect
Prosecuted for the singularity of his reli-
gious opinions and customs, disguised with
the pride and ostentation which had so ex-
tensively usurped the name of religion in
his native land, he turned his attention to
the Transatlantic wilderness, and resolved
10 seek in its depths, an asylum for himself
and his brethren. Having obtained grant
from his monarch, Of an extensive tract of
land in North America, as a COMPUTATION
for sum of money due for the services of
his father, he undertook the establishment
Of new colony. Landing on the shores of
the Delaware, in the vicinity of some In
dian villages which then occupied the spot
where Philadelphia now rears its temples
and spreads its wealth and magnifcence,
he was met by the red natives Of the soil.
And how did he treat them Did he at.
tack them with artillery and musketry, with
sword and bayonet Did he overreach
them by superior cunning to the despoiling
them Of their possessions, OF circumvent
them to their destruction by deep laid STRAIT
agems! Far otherwise. He met them
with the exercise of the genuine principles
OF that religion which he professed. He
treated them as human beings, as members
of the same great family, with that benevo-
lence and justice from which man has no
right to swerve in his intercourse with his
fellow man. He purchased of them lands
which they were willing to sell, by fair and
honorable barter. He respected their rights,
and took no undue advantage of their gno-
rance and weakness. Fhe consequence
was they became his devoted friends. The
power af, kindness and justice melted and
subdued the souls of the Susquehannocks,
the Delawares and the Raritans, recently
burning with vengeance against the white
man on account of aggressions committed
upon them by some of the settlers Of neigh
boring colonies. No midnight war whoop dis
turbed the infant settlement of Penn. No
cries Of the wounded & dying were heard in
their peaceful dwellings. No bloody mas.
city. The Indians dwelt among them as
brothers, furnishing them with abund-
ant provisions, the fruits of their hunting
and fishing. Amidst this delightful harmo-
ny, the forests began to disappear, and the
horrors of the desert gradually to change in
to cultivated fields and gardens and flourish
ing towns. The echoes Of the wilderness,
the howlings Of wild beasts, and the battle
cry Of the savage, gave place to the voice of
prayer and praise. 1t is refreshing TO turn
from review Of the fraud and treachery,
the oppression and cruelty, which it must
be acknowledged, has, with but few excep-
tions, characterized the Europeans toward
the Aboriginees, in the colonization Of this
new world, to the contemplation of such a
suene as this. What a contrast does the
first settlement of Pennsylvania furnish to
the settlement of Mexico, Guatemala, and
Peru by the Spaniards, and the circumyen-
ton and butchery of millions ortheir confid-
ing natives, by the fiendsh avarice and am
bition Of Cortes, Alvarade and Pizarro,
who traversed waves, the unknown world explored,
The cross their standard, but their faith the sword
| What contrast to the settlement Of the
West India Islands when,
/" Dreadful as hurricanes, athwart the main,
Rushed the fell legions of invading Spain,
With fraud and force, with false and fatal breath,
| (Submisson bondage, and resistance death,)
They swept the Isles. In vain the simple race
KneePd to the iron sceptre of their grace;
Or with weak arms their fiery vengeance braved;
They came, they saw, they conquerd, they enslav'd
And they destroy'd; the generous heart they broke
They crush'd the timid neck beneath the yoke.
| Where'er to battle march'd their fell array
The sword of conquest plow'd resistless way
Whereer from cruel toll they sought repose
Around the fires of devotion rose,
The Indian as he turned his head in fight,
Beheld his cottage flaming through the night,
And midst the screams of murder on the wind,
Heard the mute blood-hound's death.step close be
hind"
What contrast, may also add, does thu
conduct of William Penn toward the Indians
furnish to those almost numberless encroach
ments, violation Of treaties, deeds of frauC
and violence, by which the accurate ant
true historian must record, that most of tn,
native tribes have been driven from tht
lands between the Atlantic and the Missis
sippi; spoilatons ofavarice and unrighteou
exertions of superior powerupon the feeble
fof which the warmest patriot will find
difficult to apologize, and which ever,
| cr;anA of 3nst;ca ard human tyr Tnuat nm heel