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Primary Source Quotes
Diary entries, papers, and treaties are incredibly rich sources of information. Original words help reveal various attitudes toward differing cultures. Even a small selection of quotes will reveal the biases, and, often, the misunderstandings that existed between the Native Americans and the English colonists.
The first three quotes, from Brother Assaraquoa, an Indian chief, and Benjamin Franklin, reveal the Native Americans' attitude towards the colonists' attempt to teach the Indian children the ways of English society. The Brafferton School and others like it were designed not only to educate the Indian boys in academics, but to get them to acknowledge the superiority of English culture and embrace it. The boys would see that Christianity was the only true religion, renounce their traditional ways, and convert. On completing their studies, the young men would return home to preach the Christian gospel and praise English ways.
The final statements, from Thomas Wilson, Thomas Jefferson, and William Byrd, communicate various beliefs about the Indian way of life and the need to educate them, civilize them, and define them.
“BROTHER Assaraquoa,
You told us likewise, you had a great House provided, for the Education of Youth, and that there were several white People and Indian’s Children there, to learn Languages, and to write and read, and invited us to send some of our Children amongst you, Etc.
We must let you know, we love our Children too well, to send them so great a Way, and the Indians are not inclin’d to give their Children Learning: We allow it to be good, and we thank you for the Invitation; but our Customs differing from yours, you will be so good as to excuse us.”
The TREATY Held with the INDIANS of the SIX NATIONS, at Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, in June, 1744. To which is prefix’d, An Account of the first Confederacy of the SIX NATIONS, their present tributaries, Dependents, and Allies, and of their Religion, and Form of Government (Williamsburg, Virginia, 1744), p. 68.
“When they [the Indian students] came back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the wood, unable to bear either cold or hunger…were therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor councilors; they were totally good for nothing.”
Unnamed Indian chief in Peter Nabokov, ed., Native American Testimony: A Chronicle of Indian-White Relations from Prophecy to the Present, 1492-1992 (New York: Viking, 1991), 214.
“…And now if the Indians would accept the Offer, the English would take half a dozen of their brightest lads and bring them up in the Best manner; The Indians after consulting on the proposal replied that it was remembered some of their Youths had formerly been educated in that College, but it had been observed that for a long time after they returned to their Friends, they were absolutely good for nothing being neither acquainted with the true methods of killing deer, catching Beaver or surprizing an enemy. The Proposition however, they looked on as a mark of the kindness and good will of the English to the Indian Nations which merited a grateful return; and therefore if the English Gentleman would send a dozen or two of their Children on Onondago the great Council would take care of their Education, bring them up in really what was the best manner and make men out of them.”
Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, May 9(?), 1753, Harwicke Collection, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations.
“They will come to enjoy the Benefit of Agriculture, and of all the Arts that are useful in Society: they will of consequence grow happier and more numerous. They have yielded up to us a considerable Part of their Country: and it is but common Gratitude, to show them the way of living comfortably in the rest. We have introduced amongst them both Diseases and Vices, which have destroyed great Numbers of them: Surely it is fit we should communicate something good to them.”
Thomas Wilson, Knowledge and practice of Christianity made easy to the meanest capacities, or, An essay towards an instruction for the Indians, 1742.
“…and I am safe in affirming that the proofs of genius given by the Indians of N. America, place them on a level with Whites in the same uncultivated state…..I believe the Indian then to be in body and mind equal to the whiteman.”
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 8 25 February to October 1785 , Julian P. Boyd, Editor
“Though these Indians dwell among the English and see in what plenty a little industry enables them to live, yet they choose to continue in their stupid idleness and to suffer all the inconveniences of dirt, cold, and want rather than disturb their heads with care or defile their hands with labor.”
William Byrd, History of the Dividing Line, and Other Tracts, From the papers of William Byrd, of Westover, in Virginia, Esquire (Richmond, Va., 1866)
“…there is but one way of converting these poor infidels and reclaiming them from barbarity, and that is charitably to intermarry with them, according to the modern policy of the Most Christian King in Canada and Louisiana.”
William Byrd, History of the Dividing Line, and Other Tracts, From the papers of William Byrd, of Westover, in Virginia, Esquire (Richmond, Va., 1866)
This article was written by Lori Clock, elementary school teacher, La Mirada, CA.
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Historic Triangle
