Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 329 pages of information about Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe.

Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 329 pages of information about Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe.
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.

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Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.