CHAP. IX. J FOR THE NATIVES? 155 



that henceforth the government will defend their 

 rights. 



VI. The administration of justice within the 

 limits of the tribe should be left to the natives. 

 Crimes are very uncommon, although murders, re- 

 sulting from superstition, sometimes happen. It is 

 clear that instruction as to the deep guilt of this act, 

 and an intimation that it is contrary to the laws of 

 civilized nations, are the best means to prevent it 

 in future. And I can bear witness that it requires 

 very little labour to convince them of the enormity 

 of this practice, and to make them discontinue it. 



VII. To invest formally, and in an impressive 

 manner, the principal men of a tribe with a certain 

 degree of authority, to show these people that we 

 regard them as capable of becoming civil func- 

 tionaries, and to connect gradually the native admi- 

 nistration of justice with the law of the country, 

 seem to be the next steps to civilization. Each of 

 these native functionaries should act as a magistrate 

 in his own tribe, or as a constable in regard to Eu- 

 ropean colonists, denouncing their aggressions to 

 the proper authorities, securing runaways, and de- 

 livering them up for trial. Several instances have 

 occurred in which natives have of their own ac- 

 cord secured runaway prisoners, and have brought 

 them to the towns. In such cases, the usual reward 

 should be given to the captors, and it should not 

 be pleaded, as I have known it done, that a great 

 benefit would be conferred upon them by retak- 



