The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

484 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 51.
and St. Joseph's between the Lakes Erie, St. Clair,
Huron, and Michigan to form hereafter another State
equally large, compact, and water-bounded.
At first view it may seem a little extraneous, when
I am called on to give an opinion upon the terms of a
peace proper to be made with the Indians, that I should
go into the formation of new States. But the settlement of the western country, and making a peace with
the Indians, are so analogous, that there can be no
considerations of the one, without involving those of
the other; for, I repeat it again, and I am clear in my
opinion, that policy and economy point very strongly to
the expediency of being upon good terms with the Indians, and the propriety of purchasing their lands in
preference to attempting to drive them by force of arms
out of their country; which, as we have already experienced, is like driving the wild beasts of the forest,
which will return as soon as the pursuit is at an end,
and fall perhaps upon those that are left there; when
the gradual extension of our settlements will as certainly cause the savage, as the wolf, to retire; both being
animals of prey, though they differ in shape. In a
word, there is nothing to be obtained by an Indian war,
but the soil they live on, and this can be had by purchase at less expense, and without that bloodshed and
those distresses, which helpless women and children
are made partakers of in all kinds of disputes with
them.
If there is any thing in these thoughts, which I have
fully and freely communicated, worthy of attention, I
shall be happy, and am, Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant.