Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to David McClure

[draft]
Philadelphia, 1' st October 1792.

My dear friend.

I have this day received your two favors the one dated the 3rd and the other the 18th ultimo; with the former I received your two discourses, upon the death of Doctor Pomeroy, and Mr. Elsworth.
I thank you, cordially, for these remembrances of the pure friendship of our early years.
As to the indian war, I have been really opposed to it upon principles of humanity, and a [regard] to the national character.
At the commencement of the present government, the war existed, tho not formally declared. - The government was bound to interpose its authority for the purpose of effecting a peace. In the first instance, that is the year 1789, the President of the United States stated to the people of Kentucky, the desires of the general government, for a solid peace, with the indian tribes, as the only dignified mode of proceeding and prohibited any incursions into the indian country. At the same time, respectable messengers were dispatched into every town on [2] on the Wabash river, and to the Miami village, expressing in the name of the United States, the above sentiments, and inviting the indians to a meeting, in order to adjust all differences. These pacific overtures were followed by a pretty general irruption [sic] 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.
In this situation of things, what was the government to do? Certainly to effect a peace by force, as it could not be done by milder methods. The defeats of Harmar and S. Clair have nothing to do with the propriety, or justice of the measures of government.
Some well meaning people exhibit a wonderful philosophy in this indian war. They seem to think that the frontier people may be slaughtered with impunity and that the injury done, or offered to an indian by one frontier man, may be avenged upon women, or children, living, one, two, three, or five hundred miles distant; but surely such sentiments would disgrace every principle of government, the essence of which is to regulate and defend each part as the whole - Never was abuse more profusely and more unjustly ascribed to a government, than has been imputed [3] imputed to the executive of the United States, in this indian war.
The indians, lying upon the Wabash river, and thence over to the Miami river emptying into lake Erie, began the present war in the year 1776, and they have been, more or less, in the exercise of it, from that, to the present time. We have invited them to treat of peace, annually, which they refused full encreasing their depredations.
We, having never had any treaty with these indians, have never taken any of their lands - We claim no lands, but those ceded by fair treaty, with the full understanding and free consent of those tribes, who were supposed to have the entire right to the lands in question. But, we are willing if it should be made to appear, at a treaty, that either the parties who sold the lands, had not a full right so to do, or, that the price was inadequate to make satisfactory compensation in either case.
But, if the indians, after fully understanding the justice and humanity of our intentions, should (influenced by other motives than their own interests which I cannot more explain at this time) continue their depredations, upon the defenceless families, I cannot perceive how [4] how the general government can be justified, upon any principles of either justice, or humanity, in not inflicting the most exemplary punishment on so incorrigible a race of men.
The indians, with whom we are at war, have been corrupted by their intercourse with vicious neighbours, and are probably the willing instruments of the most execrable white men existing on the face of the earth.
These indians are far different from those in a state of nature - they laugh at the ideas of their becoming husbandmen - they had rather possess one scalp than two oxen.
My mind has long been labouring to devise some rational plan to civilize the indians of this country. I cannot reconcile it to any system of moral rectitude, to encroach upon their lands, every inch of which is necessary to their subsistence as hunters, unless we learn them the arts and agriculture, in the exercise of which, they may do with less lands. Many ideas have presented themselves, in the progress of this inquiry, the result of which have not been satisfactory, because not practicable.
As I think you must have had this subject [5] subject much in your mind, I will thank you for the communication of the mode which you shall think the most eligible, all things considered. The government I think must go to some expence, in the pursuit of the business.
While this subject will be a gratification of your benevolence, it will be of eminent service in assisting my endeavours, to promote the welfare of an oppressed race of men. At present it is almost impossible to rejoice in the prosperity of our country, without exciting a deep regret, that the original proprietors of the soil, planted as such by the great author of nature, are entirely extinct: How much more delightful would be the reflection, that while we taught the wilderness to blossom as the rose, that we had also preserved the sources of life, and population, which were found in the country.
I have thought among other expedients, that we ought to give adequate bounties to induce sober, young men, to intermarry amoung the young indian-women, and settle [struck: as husbandmen in the country] as citizens or husbandmen, on condition, that the children they might have, should be brought up in a suitable manner - Young men may be obtained, but the arrangement ought to have a counterpart to it, white young women - These would not be so easily found.
But, [6] But, it is not improbable some females, who have in the large cities strayed from virtue's paths, and who have seen the errors of their ways, might be found, to be married to the sons of the wilderness, and have good pensions. But, if not, it would [inserted: not] be material, the intercourse of the white males would, in a period of twenty or thirty years, tame whole tribes, and bring them into the characters of husbandmen.
I embrace cheerfully the opportunity of subscribing for twenty of your discourses on the moral laws and I will distribute them among my settlements in the Province of Maine.
As to your kind idea, relatively to Dartmouth College, you may do as you think proper.
I am, My dear Sir,
with sincere regard,
Your friend & humble Servt:

The Revd: David Mc:Clure.