452 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



IN reviewing' this system, of colonial warj 

 hot only its militaiy operations, but its originj 

 moral and political tendency and effect, are also 

 worthy our attention and remark; 



The Origin of these wars will easily be 

 found in the different interests, feelings, and 

 passions of men. The Europeans who made 

 tlie first settlements in America, were from dif- 

 ferent parts of the European continent ; from 

 Spain, Portuf^al, England, France, Holland and 

 Sweden. They brought with them the opin- 

 ions, customs and habits, of the governments 

 and churches to which they had been accustom- 

 ed, and were more or less influenced by particu- 

 lar moral considerations, and local circumstan- 

 ces. These ^vere greatly different ; but in one 

 view and design, they were all agreed- They 

 all meant to obtain possession of the different 

 parts of the American continent, to which they 

 removed ; and to make a firm and permanent 

 settlement on the lands, of which they took pos- 

 session. The Indians, unacquainted with the 

 European character, and too ignorant and cred- 

 ulous to suspect unfriendly or mischievous de- 

 signs in tkeir new visitors, every where received 

 them with the tokens of unfeigned hospitality 

 and joy ; and viewed them as a race of beings^ 

 far superior to themselves. The Europeans a- 

 vailed themselves of their superior knowledge 

 in all the arts, commerce and business of life ; 

 and of the native simplicity and ignorance of 

 the orifirinal inhabitants. Bv a careful attention 

 to the Indian temper, character, and state, they 

 engaged their confidence, procured their friend- 

 shin, and obtained their consent to settle on 



