HISTORY OF VERMONT. 169 



fled from the tribe, as, the only way to safety, 

 peace, and rest. 



There was a Jitjicss and propriety in this 

 government, or rather, it was fully adequate to 

 its end and design, and to the situation and state 

 of the savage. A modern statesman would 

 smile--^t this idea of Indian government : And 

 because he could lind no written constitution, 

 or bill of rights, no mutual checks, and balan- 

 ces, accountability and responsibility, pronounce 

 it weak, foolish, and contemptible. But it was 

 evidently derived from the dictates of nature, 

 and well adapted to the state and situation of 

 the savage. The idea of property was so plain 

 and clear, and the objects to which it related 

 were so few and simple, that there was no need 

 of a code of laws to describe and define it. 

 The rights of the individual, his freedom and 

 liberty, were so strongly felt, and so universally 

 acknowledged, that no person dared to invade 

 them. The crimes of the vicious received a 

 just and a full punishment, in the disgrace, con- 

 tempt, and danger, they brought upon the guil- 

 ty. The individual had all the security, in the 

 public sentiment, custom, and habit, that gov- 

 ernment can any where afford him. All that 

 was to be defended was the territory ; the in- 

 terest, the independence, and sovereignty of the 

 tribe ; and every part of the government was 

 adapted and c|.esigned to form, to animate, and 

 to inflame, a national spirit of vigour and inde- 

 pendence. 



Agreeably to its nature and design, the 

 tendency and effect of the savage government, 

 was equality, freedom^ and independence^ among 



