THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Letter to Gage
(Johnson Hall, Aug. 22, 1771)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 8,
pp. 232-234.
p. 233.
that nothing more can be done than what you mention, and I am of your Opinion concerning the increase of Settlements at Detroit.-
You may recollect that the Six Nations appeared very eager to fall on the Kickapous & their Associates, but that it was not Judged adviseable, as it might interrupt the Trade & Communication, but if the Depys. who were sent to the Southward do not bring something satisfactory from thence It will be very easy to give free Scope to their resentment without appearing to be interested in it. Lord Hillsborough has in a late Letter, hinted as if some of the late proceed. appeared as if we interested ourselves too much in their private Affairs & Disputes, and that we should rather suffer them to Subsist as our best Security to prevent their uniting agt. us;- This I must Confess was allways my own political opinion, & my practice was entirely correspondent, therewith. These very Sentiments I suggested to his Majestys Minister, when Ordered to Effect a peace with the Cherokees, & the like I have observed very often since, At the same time That It then always was the Sense of Govt. to prevent as much as possible, their making war on each other from the cruelty with which such Wars are conducted, With the humanity of this sentiment, I could not but Close, but I really Judged it [bad policy whilst I complied with it, I could not therefore help being surprised, that my lately cooperating with the Six Nations to attempt to bring] the offending Tribes [to a Sense of their past ill conduct before we set them by the Ears,] could have been deemed liable to the least censure, [neither have I] ever Interfered or appeared in any of their private Concerns where the Security of the Public was not materially effected. This must make me more Cautious how I act in any thing of importance that is liable to misconception, or Misrepresentation. But I [can] Safely say that where they have Meritted it so much as th[ose] Nations, I think the encouraging those Tribes who dislike [them] to Chastize them is the best policy & may be effected without our Appearing to Interfere, in
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