1 82 The Winning of the West 



having spared the two squaws, "as all civilized peo- 

 ple should" ; and he added that in so doing the cap- 

 tain's conduct offered a most agreeable contrast to 

 the behavior of some of his fellow citizens under 

 like circumstances. 61 



Repeated efforts were made to secure peace with 

 the Indians. Andrew Pickens, of South Carolina, 

 was sent to the exposed frontier in 1792 to act as 

 Peace Commissioner. Pickens was a high-minded 

 and honorable man, who never hesitated to condemn 

 the frontiersmen when they wronged the Indians, 

 and he was a champion of the latter wherever pos- 

 sible. He came out with every hope and belief that 

 he could make a permanent treaty ; but after having 

 been some time on the border he was obliged to ad- 

 mit that there was no chance of bringing about even 

 a truce, and that the nominal peace that obtained 

 was worse for the settlers than actual war. He 

 wrote to Blount that though he earnestly hoped the 

 people of the border would observe the treaty, yet 

 that the Cherokees had done more damage, especially 

 in the way of horse stealing, since the treaty was 

 signed than ever before, and that it was not possible 

 to say what the frontier inhabitants might be pro- 

 voked to do. He continued : "While a part, and 

 that the ostensible ruling part, of a nation affect to 

 be at, and I believe really are for, peace, and the 

 more active young men are frequently killing peo- 

 ple and stealing horses, it is extremely difficult to 

 know how to act. The people, even the most ex- 



61 Robertson MSS., Blount's letter. March 8, 1794- 



