Louisiana and Aaron Burr 169 



He realized fully what hostilities meant, and had no 

 desire to see his State plunged into any Indian war 

 which could be avoided. 



Yet, in spite of this cautious attitude, Shelby had 

 much influence with the people of the Tennessee ter- 

 ritory. They confided to him their indignation with 

 Blount for stopping Logan's march to the aid of 

 Robertson ; while on the other hand the Virginians, 

 when anxious to prevent the Cumberland settlers 

 from breaking the peace, besought him to use his 

 influence with them in order to make them do what 

 was right. 46 When such a man as Shelby was re- 

 luctant to see the United States enter into open hos- 

 tilities with the Southern Indians, there is small 

 cause for wonder in the fact that the authorities at 

 the National capital did their best to deceive them- 

 selves into the belief that there was no real cause 

 for war. 



Inability to look facts in the face did not alter 

 the facts. The Indian ravages in the Southern Ter- 

 ritory grew steadily more and more serious. The 

 difficulties of the settlers were enormously increased 

 because the United States strictly forbade any of- 

 fensive measures. The militia were allowed to drive 

 off any war bands found among the settlements with 

 evidently hostile intent; but, acting under the ex- 

 plicit, often repeated, and emphatic commands of 

 the General Government, Blount was obliged to or- 



46 Shelby MSS., Arthur Campbell to Shelby, January 6, 

 1790; letter from Cumberland to Shelby, May n, 1793; John 

 Logan to Shelby, June 19, 1794; petition of inhabitants of 

 Nelson County, May 9, 1793. 



VOL. VIII. 8 



