Part 60 (1/2)
The universal Concern of the neighbouring White People on hearing of this Event, and the Lamentations of the younger _Indians_, when they returned and saw the Desolation, and the butchered half-burnt Bodies of their murdered Parents and other Relations, cannot well be expressed.
Notwithstanding this Proclamation [by the Governor], those cruel men again a.s.sembled themselves, and hearing that the remaining fourteen _Indians_ were in the Workhouse at _Lancaster_, they suddenly appeared in that Town, on the 27th of _December_. Fifty of them, armed as before, dismounting, went directly to the Workhouse, and by Violence broke open the Door, and entered with the utmost Fury in their Countenances. When the poor Wretches saw they had _no Protection_ nigh, nor could possibly escape, and being without the least Weapon for Defence, they divided into their little Families, the Children clinging to the Parents; they fell on their Knees, protested their Innocence, declared their Love to the _English_, and that, in their whole Lives, they had never done them Injury; and in this Posture they all received the Hatchet! Men, Women and little Children were every one inhumanly murdered!--in cold Blood!
The barbarous Men who committed the atrocious Fact, in defiance of Government, of all Laws human and divine, and to the eternal Disgrace of their Country and Colour, then mounted their Horses, huzza'd in Triumph, as if they had gained a Victory, and rode off--_unmolested_!
The Bodies of the Murdered were then brought out and exposed in the Street, till a Hole could be made in the Earth to receive and cover them.
But the Wickedness cannot be covered, the Guilt will lie on the whole Land, till Justice is done on the Murderers. THE BLOOD OF THE INNOCENT WILL CRY TO HEAVEN FOR VENGEANCE.
If an _Indian_ injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that Injury on all _Indians_? It is well known, that _Indians_ are of different Tribes, Nations and Languages, as well as the White People. In _Europe_ if the _French_, who are White People, should injure the _Dutch_, are they to revenge it on the _English_, because they too are White People?
The only Crime of these poor Wretches seems to have been, that they had a reddish-brown Skin, and black Hair; and some People of that Sort, it seems, had murdered some of our Relations. If it be right to kill Men for such a Reason, then, should any Man, with a freckled Face and red Hair, kill a Wife or Child of mine, it would be right for me to revenge it, by killing all the freckled red-haired Men, Women and Children, I could afterwards anywhere meet with.
But it seems these People think they have a better Justification; nothing less than the _Word of G.o.d_. With the Scriptures in their Hands and Mouths, they can set at nought that express Command, _Thou shalt do no Murder_; and justify their Wickedness by the Command given _Joshua_ to destroy the Heathen. Horrid Perversion of Scripture and of Religion!
To father the worst of Crimes on the G.o.d of Peace and Love! Even the _Jews_, to whom that particular Commission was directed, spared the _Gibeonites_, on Account of their Faith once given. The Faith of this Government has been frequently given to those _Indians_; but that did not avail them with People who despise Government.
We pretend to be _Christians_, and, from the superior Light we enjoy, ought to exceed _Heathens_, _Turks_, _Saracens_, _Moors_, _Negroes_ and _Indians_, in the Knowledge and Practice of what is right. I will endeavour to show, by a few Examples from Books and History, the Sense those People have had of such Actions.
Homer wrote his Poem, called the _Odyssey_, some Hundred Years before the Birth of Christ. He frequently speaks of what he calls not only _the Duties_, but _the Sacred Rites of Hospitality_, (exercised towards Strangers, while in our House or Territory) as including, besides all the common Circ.u.mstances of Entertainment, full Safety and Protection of Person, from all Danger of Life, from all Injuries, and even Insults.
The Rites of Hospitality were called _sacred_, because the Stranger, the Poor, and the Weak, when they applied for Protection and Relief, were, from the Religion of those Times, supposed to be sent by the Deity to try the Goodness of Men, and that he would avenge the Injuries they might receive, where they ought to have been protected. These Sentiments therefore influenced the Manners of all Ranks of People, even the meanest; for we find that when _Ulysses_ came, as a poor Stranger, to the Hut of Eumaeus, the Swineherd, and his great Dogs ran out to tear the ragged Man, _Eumaeus_ drave them away with Stones; and
”'Unhappy Stranger!' (thus the faithful Swain Began, with Accent gracious and humane,) 'What Sorrow had been mine, if at _my_ Gate Thy rev'rend Age had met a shameful Fate!
But enter this my homely Roof, and see Our Woods not void of Hospitality.'
He said, and seconding the kind Request, With friendly Step precedes the unknown Guest, A s.h.a.ggy Goat's soft Hide beneath him spread, And with fresh Rushes heap'd an ample Bed.
Joy touch'd the Hero's tender Soul, to find So just Reception from a Heart so kind: And [']Oh, ye G.o.ds! with all your Blessings grace'
(He thus broke forth) 'this Friend of human Race![']
The Swain reply'd. [']It never was our guise To slight the Poor, or aught humane despise.
For Jove unfolds the hospitable Door, 'Tis Jove that sends the Stranger and the Poor.[']”[69]
These Heathen People thought, that after a Breach of the Rites of Hospitality, a Curse from Heaven would attend them in every thing they did, and even their honest Industry in their Callings would fail of Success. Thus when _Ulysses_ tells _Eumaeus_, who doubted the Truth of what he related, ”If I deceive you in this, I should deserve Death, and I consent that you should put me to Death,” _Eumaeus_ rejects the Proposal, as what would be attended with both Infamy and Misfortune, saying ironically,
”Doubtless, O Guest! great Laud and Praise were mine, If, after social Rites and Gifts bestow'd, I stain'd my Hospitable Hearth with Blood.
How would the G.o.ds my righteous Toils succeed, And bless the Hand that made a Stranger bleed?
No more.”--
Even an open Enemy, in the Heat of Battle, throwing down his Arms, submitting to his Foe, and asking Life and Protection, was supposed to acquire an immediate Right to that Protection. Thus one describes his being saved, when his Party was defeated;
”We turn'd to Flight; the gath'ring Vengeance spread On all Parts round, and Heaps on Heaps lie dead.
The radiant Helmet from my Brows unlac'd, And lo, on Earth my s.h.i.+eld and Javelin cast, I meet the Monarch with a Suppliant's Face, Approach his Chariot, and his Knees embrace.
He heard, he sav'd, he plac'd me at his Side; My State he pity'd, and my Tears he dry'd; Restrain'd the Rage the vengeful Foe express'd, And turn'd the deadly Weapons from my Breast.