[MD] Speaking of Indians

[Case]

I believe that the reference in the Declaration is to the French and Indian
war in which the British government instigated war at the expense of the
colonies But here are other comments made by Thomas Jefferson with regards
to our nations original inhabitants:

"I may challenge the whole orations of Demosthenes and Cicero, and of many
more prominent orators, if Europe has furnished any more eminent, to produce
a single passage, superior to the speech of Logan, a Mingo chief, to Lord
Dunmore when Governor of this State." 
Thomas Jefferson
(As cited in Chinard,
1964).

 "The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be
founded, are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them, they
cannot love us." 
 Thomas Jefferson

"We have long heard of your nation as a numerous, peaceable, and friendly
people; but this is the first visit we have had from its great men at the
seat of our government. I welcome you here; am glad to take you by the hand,
and to assure you, for your nation, that we are their friends. Born in the
same land, we ought to live as brothers, doing to each other all the good we
can, and not listening to wicked men, who may endeavor to make us enemies.
By living in peace, we can help and prosper one another; by waging war, we
can kill and destroy many on both sides; but those who survive will not be
the happier for that. Then, brothers, let it forever be peace and good
neighborhood between us."
Thomas Jefferson
To the Brothers of the Choctaw Nation
December 17, 1803

Lots more at:
http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/Jefferson/Indian.html

Case

Hi All, 

Today is July 4, Independence Day here in the U.S. As is my practice on 
this day, I reread The Declaration of Independence. I thought it might 
be of interest to Pirsig fans to know what our Founding Fathers had to 
say in this seminal document about Indians. In a long list of "Injuries 
and Usurpations" initiated by the Kind of Great Britain, the signers of 
the Declaration included the following:

"He has incited domestic Insurrection amongst us, and has endeavoured 
to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers. the Merciless Indian 
Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished 
Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions."

Platt