Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 to David McClure

This letter was copied in an unknown hand. Writes to the Reverend David McClure and thanks him for the "remembrances of the pure friendship of our early years." Goes on to discuss his views on the Indian Wars and his ideas for intermarriage between whites and Native Americans. Recounts that the government attempted to prevent settlers in Kentucky from "any incursions into the indian country." Also reports that messengers were sent to invite the Native Americans on the Kentucky frontier to a meeting. Writes, "[t]hese pacific overtures were followed by a pretty general irruption of the said indians, and upwards of one hundred men, women, and children, of Kentucky, were butchered, within six weeks after the said messages were delivered." States that the government had no choice but to "effect a peace by force," adding that the defeats of Generals [Josiah] Harmar and [Arthur] St. Clair "have nothing to do with the propriety, or justice of the measures of government." Calls the Native Americans "the willing instruments of the most execrable white men," and reveals his attempts to devise a "rational plan to civilize the indians." Suggests paying bounties to "induce sober, young men, to intermarry among the young indian-women." Adds that women in the large cities who have "strayed from virtue's paths," could be "married to the sons of the wilderness." Ends by ordering twenty of McClure's sermons on moral law to be distributed amongst his settlements in Maine. Contains some water damage. Letterpress copy. See GLC02437.05664 for McClure's reply.