in the nation where he lives; and the weakness of the
executive power is such, that there is no other way
of punishment but by the revenger of blood, as the
Scripture calls it; for there is no coercive power
in any of their nations; their kings can do no more
than to persuade. All the power they have is no
more than to call their old men and captains together,
and to propound to them the measures they think proper;
and, after they have done speaking, all the others
have liberty to give their opinions also; and they
reason together with great temper and modesty, till
they have brought each other into some unanimous resolution.
Then they call in the young men, and recommend to
them the putting in execution the resolution, with
their strongest and most lively eloquence. And,
indeed, they seem to me, both in action and expression,
to be thorough masters of true eloquence. In
speaking to their young men, they generally address
the passions. In speaking to the old men, they
apply to reason only. [He then states the interview
with the Creeks, and gives the first set speech of
Tomo Chichi, which has been quoted.] One of the Indians
of the Cherokee nation, being come down, the Governor
told him that “he need fear nothing, but might
speak freely,” answered smartly, “I always
speak freely, what should I fear? I am now among
friends, and I never feared even among my enemies.”
Another instance of their short manner of speaking
was when I ordered one of the Carolina boatmen, who
was drunk and had beaten an Indian, to be tied to a
gun till he was sober, in order to be whipped.
Tomo Chichi came to me to beg me to pardon him, which
I refused to do unless the Indian who had been beaten
should also desire the pardon for him. Tomo Chichi
desired him to do so, but he insisted upon satisfaction.
Tomo Chichi said, “O Fonseka,” (for that
was his name,) “this Englishman, being drunk,
has beat you; if he is whipped for so doing, the Englishmen
will expect that, if an Indian should insult them
when drunk, the Indian should be whipped for it.
When you are drunk, you are quarrelsome, and you know
you love to be drunk, but you don’t love to be
whipped.” Fonseka was convinced, and begged
me to pardon the man; which, as soon as I granted,
Tomo Chichi and Fonseka ran and untied him, which I
perceived was done to show that he owed his safety
to their intercession.
XIV.
DUKE OF ARGYLE A PATRON OF OGLETHORPE.
“From his boyhood Oglethorpe uniformly enjoyed
the friendship and confidence of his gallant and eloquent
countryman, John Duke of Argyle; who, in an animated
speech in Parliament, bore splendid testimony to his
military talents, his natural generosity, his contempt
of danger, and his devotion to the public weal."[1]
[Footnote 1: VERPLANK’s Discourse before
the New York Historical Society, p. 33.]
This favorable opinion, acquired in military campaigns,
where his soldierly accomplishments and personal bravery
had attracted the notice and won the admiration of
the commanding officers, was preserved in after scenes,
and confirmed by the principles which they both maintained,
and the measures they alike pursued in Parliament.