Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-05-08
ssNo, friend Charles, no right at all -

What right hast thou to their lands ?'
s'Why, the right Of discovery; the right
which the Pope and all Christian kings have
agreed to give one another"
''The right of discovery! strange kind
of right indeed. Now suppose, friend
Charles, some canoe loads of these Indians,
crossing the sea, and discovering thy island
of Great Britain, were to claim it as their
own, and set it up for sale over thy head,
what wouldst thou think of it %
sWhy-why-why," replied Charles, II
must confess [ should think it piece of
great impudence in them"
s'Well, then, how canst thou Christian
and Christian Prince too, do that which
thou so utterly condemnest in these people
whom thou callest saragesp Yes, friend
Charles, and suppose again that these In
dians on thy refusal to give up thy island of
Great Britain, were to make war with thee,
and, having, weapons more destructive than
thine were to destroy many Of thy subjects
and to drive the rest away wouldst thou not
think it horribly cruel %
The king asserting to this with strong
marks of conviction, William proceeded
Jewell, then, friend Charles, how can [ a
Christian do what should abbor even in
heathens No, will not do it. But [
will buy the right of the proper owners,
even of the Indians themselves By doing
this shall initiate God himself, in his JUS
tice and mercy, and thereby insure his bles-
sing on my colony, if ever should live to
plant one in North America Wecm's
life Of Um. Penn.
AS the light of truth and science advance,
the character Of the Indian, as well as that
| of VIM. Peen, shone brighter and brighter:
and the policy Of just and fair dealings,
which Penn ever manifested towards the red
men of the forest, is continually rising in
the public estimation.
While VIM. Penn was expressing his
confidence in the power of justice and bene-
fcence for security among the savages, the
King doubtless, regarded him as fanatic,
about to expose himself to the tomahawk.
But events proved that VIM. Penn had
more correct views of the Indian character
than his sovereign and had the spirit and
policy Of this philanthrophist been display
ed by all the emigrants to America, how
vast would hare ieeo.z tho saving OF human
blood and human woe. In that case we
should not have heard so much of the bra
very of our ancestors in destroying the ma
tives but we should have heard of the deeds
unspeakably more to their honor, and on
which posterity might have reflected with
out horror or regret.
The life and humane policy Of VIM. Penn
in respect to the Indians, exhibits a strong
contrast with the policy of Capt. Smith in
Virginia, and deserves the attention of all
politicians and philanthrophists.
Captain Smith, with company of emi-
grants, came to Virginia in 1907: and es-
tablished himself at place which was af-
terwards called jamestown, relying on for
tresses and weapons of death for defence a
gainst the Indians. VIM. Penn came to
Pennsylvania, and founded the city of Phil
adelphia, resolving to make no use of mill
tary weapons for defence against the natives,
believing that a spirit Of peace, justice, and
benefcence would afford more security
Capt. Smithinvaded the rights of the Indians
in Virginia, and sought for safety in his SOL
diers, cannon, forts, &C., and slept only in
the security Of sentinels and guards. But
VIM. Penn saved all this expense, and prov
ed that city of 'brotherly love- needs
neither soldiers nor cannon for its defence
and VIM. Penn and his followers, though
surrounded by thousands of Indians, could
| sleep sweetly, without even bars or bolts to
their doors.
| In Virginia the Indians were so desirous
to drive away the English, that they with
held provisions and it was not with diff
Guilty Capt. Smith could obtain food, and
of 100 persons, a considerable number ac-
tually starved to death. But in Pennsyl-
vania in consequence of the humanity and
justice Of the governor, the hearts of the
Indians were so open that they brought in
an ample supply of provisions for himself and
nearly 5000 followers.
Capt. Smith and his party could never
venture from the fort through fear of being
assaulted by the Indians, with whom they
were always in ''hot water" and often in
bloody war. Governor Penn, with his
broad brimmed hat and staff in his hand,
could walk through the country with safe
/ ty z; the Indians instead Of assaulting him
would throng about him to shake hands,
calling him brother! brother!
VIM. Penn and the Indians lived so per-
fectly in the spirit of brothers, that, during
the seventy years which he and the Friends
had the rule in Pennsylvania, there was
never known single instance of murder
The history of these two colonies shows
with great force the fulfllment of the scrip
ture which SAITH che that taketh the sword
shall perish by the swordP' Capt. Smiths
city, Old jamestown, built in violence and
blood, has been so swept from the face of
the earth, that there is scarcely tombstone
remaining to tell where it stood, while VIM.
Penn's city, Philadelphia, established in
Justice and brotherly kindness, has grown
up to be the glory of the country.