McClure Advocates Methods of Civilizing Indians to Knox
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
McClure Advocates Methods of Civilizing Indians to Knox
Description
Letter, discusses frontiers and pioneer life; discusses Indians and Indian life; mentions publication on moral law; discusses racial intermarriage and Christianity to civilize Indians; discusses race issues. Proposes focusing on children, particularly boys, and immersing them in white culture. Mentions Indians in New England.
short description
Ltr, des Indians and Indian life.
year created
1792
month created
10
day created
22
author
sent from location
East Windsor
recipient
in collection
in image
note
Partly illegible.
notable person/group
Henry Knox
David McClure
Kirkland
Sargeant
Sergeant
poor
settlers
Indians
savages
white men
white women
British
children
citizens
Canada Indians
French
missionaries
boys
farmers
tribes
Narraganset
Mohegan
Stockbridge
Oneida
Onoida
Delaware
Ohio
notable location
East Windsor
Ohio
Narraganset
Rhode Island
Boston
New England
frontiers
Canada
Indian Country
New Jersey
western posts
notable item/thing
alliance
arts
industry
morality
religion
husbandry
hostile disposition
implements
mechanical trades
intermarriage
law
civilization
language
pubic expense
spinning wheels
clothing
axes
hoes
annual donations
trading houses
school
legal claim
notable idea/issue
moral law
Indian affairs
notable phrase
honorable board of correspondents
insurmountable difficulties have frustrated the wisest plans that have been attempted
spirit of the country is high against Indian barbarity
spread the blessings of peace and security to the wilderness
attempt the extirpation of its inhabitants
nation suffer most in the tenderest and most vulnerable parts
list of brave men that must fall in the dreadful conflicts
thoughts in the present crisis
repel by utmost force their cruel & sanguinary purposes
result of reflections of long standing on Indian affairs
regard not the feeble shafts of malice
disappointed ambition
consciousness of integrity is our best defense
judicious men express most uneasiness that the western posts are still detained
hostile Indians receive supplies, comfort and assistance to annoy & distress us
wisdom of those who are at the helm of government
favored people of these states who now flourish on the soil that once supported their tawny ancestors
establishment of missions among the Ohio Indians
Indians have no legal claim to this attention
debt we owe to humanity
divine author of universal philanthropy who has by the luster of his example & the sublimest precepts taught us to feed and cloath our enemies
Indian farmer
removed into the country of the Oneidas
subsist primarily by husbandry
house was comfortable and his family hospitable living in the mode of white people
years past many Indian youths of both sexes have lived among the English and been instructed & have adopted our language and manners, but returning back to their own country they see nothing that they have learned among us
laughed out of their civil manners and again embraced the savage manners of their own people
stream has been too powerful were they disposed to struggle against it
cherish the principles of civilization
Six nations
Indians are most attached to those who supply their present wants
donations of cloathing
axes
horse
trading houses be established to supply the articles
custom invited by underselling especially all foreigners with whom they now traffic
tribes to whom we have access
happier condition would speedily open the eyes of those that are now hostile
incline them upon every principle of interest & happiness to ask our friendship and alliance
wild nature of indians may be civilized
they must be gradually and gently led along invited and assisted and feel a present advantage for they have little regard to futurity
habit of the savage state
remnants of Nanagansets, Mohegan & stockbridge indian tribes
cultivation of the ground
support themselves by husbandry
chief assistance they have had from the white people has been an exemption from public taxes and also a supply of missionaries
propagation of Christianity
schools for the instruction of their children might easily be introduced and being thus far induced to think favourably of civilization
prepared for their conversion to Christianity
labours of pious and judicious missionaries
habitations of cruelty become the dwelling places of righteousness
nations ready to perish rise up & bless the generous promoters of the divine charity
suggest but two impediments
number of steady and skillful farmers
sent into the Indian country
never claim as their property
furnished with spinning wheels and looms for domestic manufacture
prejudices subside and join to promote the work of reformation
hostile disposition of the indians
supposed dishonor
work might be gradual
intermarriages should be patronized by government and the adventures & their children deemed reputable by law & equally intitled to the privileges of citizens with the inhabitants of the states
proposed pension to the adventurers & provision for the education of their children
experiment would perhaps most successfully commence among the people bordering on the frontiers or in vicinity of the tribes who may now be in alliance with us
habits of familiar acquaintance may dispose the white people there to feel less aversion to the colour and the Indian manners
furnished with some of the most necessary implements of husbandry and their respective trades
produce of their labour be distributed among the indians
instances of intermarriages with the french
marriages in contemplation should be sanctioned by law and equally binding with those among ourselves
licencious intercourse would prevail and frustrate the good proposed
every family of Indians in a tribe or town what should have a certain number of such intermarriages within the same should perhaps be entitled to a donation to a certain amount annually
inclined to till the ground or learn mechanical trades furnished with necessary implements and tools
business should be managed without public notoriety and by judicious men
officers in the army
few among either the soldiers or frontier settlers of sober morals who would be willing to engage
New England Indians
instruct them in husbandry and the arts
plan you have hinted at in your letter
British or American people
incorporation of white men and women with them by intermarriages
entertain no reasonable doubt of the future attachment to us as friendly allies
extension of the blessings of civilization
young men of virtuous manners & industrious habits could be found willing to engage
persons of this character would answer the design proposed
connections among the tribes
tame & civilize the Indians and render them valuable members of society
communications on the subject of Indian affairs
contain much valuable information
thoughts appear to be extremely just and benevolent
humanize the savage dispositions of the Indians
dispose them to a peaceable and friendly alliance
embrace our useful arts
precepts of wisdom
glorious labor
attempts have been made heretofore by enlightened & liberal men to accomplish this
success has fell short of their expectations
national ground to hope that any valuable purpose can be answered
attempts to civilize
savage state
embracing the christian system
practice the wishes of that system
virtue of industry in the labours necessary to build up & support families & society
taught the principles of morality & religion
several discouragements have appeared in the way of their receiving the arts of civilization
inability in their state of poverty to furnish themselves with the necessary implements and means particularly of husbandry
want of sober and skillful men
received your kind & obliging letter
most hearty thanks for the indearing pledge of a friendship which my heart ardently reciprocates
strengthens with time
good wine grows better by age
under much obligation to you
favorable notice which you are pleased to shew my intended publication on the moral law
respect you more for the benevolent motives which excite you
distribution of a number of them
gone forth with a laudable zeal to settle the new country
fall short of your just expectations
acceptable and useful to those whose welfare you seek
document number
1792102240001
page start
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Item sets
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Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (9 pages) | AKN02 (9 pages) | Collection: Henry Knox Papers. [microfilm] | R: 32, P: 147 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Reverend David McClure | East Windsor | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |