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turies; and this it effected through the want of permanent instruction, and the omnipotent control of opinion which is exerted by the press. Could Paul have put in requisition the press, as it is now put in requisition by Christianity, and have availed himself of literary societies, and Bible societies, and Lancasterian schools to teach the entire population to read, and of Bibles, and libraries, and tracts, Mahomet had never opened the bottomless pit, and the pope had never set his foot upon the neck of kings, nor deluged Europe with the blood of the saints.

Should any be still disposed to insist, that our advantages for evangelizing the world are not to be compared with those of the apostolic age, let them reverse the scene, and roll back the wheels of time, and obliterate the improvements of science, and commerce, and arts, which now facilitate the spread of the Gospel. Let them throw into darkness all the known portions of the earth, which were then unknown. Let them throw into distance the propinquity of nations; and exchange their rapid intercourse for cheer. less, insulated existence. Let the magnetic power be forgotten, and the timid navigator creep along the coasts of the Mediterranean, and tremble and cling to the shore when he looks out upon the broad waves of the Atlantic. Inspire idolatry with the vigour of meridian manhood, and arm in its defence, and against Christianity, all the civilization, and science, and mental power of the world. Give back to the implacable Jew his inveterate unbelief, and his vantage-ground, and his disposition to oppose Christianity in every place of his dispersion, from Jerusalem to every extremity of the Roman empire. Blot out the means of extending knowledge and exerting influence upon the human mind. Destroy the Lancasterian system of instruction, and throw back the mass of men into a state of unreading, unreflecting ignorance. Blot out libraries and tracts; abolish Bible, and education, and tract, and missionary societies; and send the nations for knowledge parchment, and the slow and limited productions of the pen. Let all the improvements in civil government be obliterated, and the world be driven from the happy arts of self-government to the guardianship of dungeons and chains. Let liberty of conscience expire, and the Church, now emanci

pated, and walking forth in her unsullied loveliness, return to the guidance of secular policy, and the perversions and corruptions of an unholy priesthood. And now reduce the 200,000,000 nominal, and the 10,000,000 of real Christians, spread over the earth, to 500 disciples, and to twelve apostles, assembled, for fear of the Jews, in an upper chamber, to enjoy the blessings of a secret prayer-meeting. And give them the power of miracles, and the gift of tongues, and send them out into all the earth to preach the Gospel to every creature.

Is this the apostolic advantage for propagating Christianity, which throws into discouragement and hopeless imbecility all our present means of enlightening and disenthralling the world? They, comparatively, had nothing to begin with, and every thing to oppose them; and yet, in three hundred years, the whole civilized, and much of the barbarous, world was brought under the dominion of Christianity. And shall we, with the advantage of their labours, and of our numbers, and a thousand fold increase of opportunity, and moral power, stand halting in unbelief, while the Lord Jesus is still repeating the injunction, Go ye out into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; and repeating the assurance, Lo I am with you alway, even to the end of the world? Shame on our sloth! Shame upon our unbelief!

Speech of the Chief SA-GU-YU-WHAT-HAH, called by the white People RED JACKET.

FRIEND AND BROTHER-It was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day. He orders all things, and has given us a fine day for our council. He has taken his garment from before the sun, and caused it

*Delivered in answer to the offer and request of an American missionary, to teach among the Indians the principles of Christianity. Some of their speeches have exhibited more of energy and pathos on occasions specially adapted to excite these qualities; but we have seen none which better illustrates the peculiar sagacity and eloquence of this unfortunate people, than the one before us.-ED.

to shine with brightness upon us. Our eyes are opened that we see clearly; our ears are unstopped, that we have been able to hear distinctly the words you have spoken For all these favours we thank the Great Spirit and him only.

Brother-Listen to what we say. There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats extended from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffalo, deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over the earth, and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread. All this he had done for his red children, because he loved them. But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water, and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends, and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, and granted their request; and they sat down among us. We gave them corn and meat;

they gave us poison in return.

Tidings Yet we

The white people had now found our country. were carried back, and more came among us. did not fear them. We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them, and gave them a larger seat. At length their numbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land. They wanted our country. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquor among us. It was strong, and powerful, and has slain thousands.

Brother-Our seats were once large, and yours were small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion among us.

Brother-Continue to listen. You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to

his mind, and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter You say that you are right, and we are lost. How do we We understand that your religion

know this to be true?

to us,

is written in a book. If it was intended for us as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not only but why did he not give to our forefathers, the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people?

Brother-You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the book?

Brother-We do not understand these things. We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and was handed down to their children. We worship in that way It teaches us to be thankful for all the favours we receive, to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel

about religion.

Brother The Great Spirit has made us all, but he has made a great difference between his white and red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs. To you he has given the arts. To these he has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since he has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that he has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right: he knows what is best for his chil dren. We are satisfied.

Brother-We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only wish to enjoy our own.

Brother-We are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbours. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest,

and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.

Brother-You have now heard our answer to your talk. This is all we have to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your friends.

Extract from a Speech on the British Treaty.*—

AMES.

THIS, sir, is a cause that would be dishonoured and betrayed, if I contented myself with appealing only to the understanding. It is too cold, and its processes are too slow for the occasion. I desire to thank God, that, since he has given me an intellect so fallible, he has impressed upon me an instinct that is sure. On a question of shame and honour, reasoning is sometimes useless, and worse. I feel the decision in my pulse if it throws no light upon the brain, it kindles a fire at the heart.

:

It is not easy to deny, it is impossible to doubt, that a treaty imposes an obligation on the American nation. It would be childish to consider the president and senate obliged, and the nation and house free. What is the obligation? perfect or imperfect? If perfect, the debate is brought to a conclusion. If imperfect, how large a part of our faith is pawned ? Is half our honour put at a risk, and is that half too cheap to be redeemed? How long has this hair-splitting subdivision of good faith been discovered? and why has it escaped the researches of the writers on the law of nations? Shall we add a new chapter to that

*The celebrated speech, from which this extract is taken, was delivered in the house of representatives, April 28, 1796, in support of the following motion: "Resolved, That it is expedient to pass the laws necessary to carry into effect the treaty lately concluded between the United States and the king of Great Britain."-After the debate, the votes stood, for carrying the treaty into effect, 51; against carrying it into effect, 48.-ED.

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