An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, vol 1 | Page 8

various kinds, in larger
societies, would occasion emigrations, and all the arts of navigation
would be employed for the relief and assistance of the distressed. So
that if America was found peopled in some measure nigh 5,500 years
after the creation, it cannot be deemed a thing more wonderful and
unaccountable, than the population of many eastern islands, especially
those lying at a considerable distance from the continents. The great
Author of nature, who first framed the world, still superintends and
governs it; and as all things visible and invisible are instruments in his
hand, he can make them all conspire towards promoting the designs of
his providence, and has innumerable methods, incomprehensible by us,
of diffusing the knowledge of his name, and the glory of his kingdom,
throughout the spacious universe.
[Sidenote] The natural proprietors of the country.
Those scattered tribes of savages dispersed by Providence through the

American continent, occupied its extensive forests; and it must be
confessed, that no inhabitants of Europe, Africa or Asia could produce
a better title to their possessions. Their right was founded in nature and
Providence: it was the free and liberal gift of heaven to them, which no
foreigner could claim any pretension to invade. Their lands they held
by the first of all tenures, that of defending them with their lives.
However, charters were granted to European intruders, from kings who
claimed them on the foot of prior discovery; but neither the sovereigns
who granted away those lands, nor the patentees who accepted their
grants, and by fraud or force acquired possession, could plead any title
to them founded on natural right. Prior discovery might give foreigners
a kind of right to lands unoccupied, or possessions relinquished, but
neither of these was the case of the American territories. Nations who
lived by hunting like the savages in America, required a large extent of
territory; and though some had more, others less extensive districts to
which they laid claim, yet each tribe knew its particular division, and
the whole coast was occupied by them. Indeed, in a general view, the
whole earth may be called an inheritance common to mankind; but,
according to the laws and customs of particular nations, strangers who
encroach on their neighbours property, or attempt to take forcible
possession, have no reason to wonder if they obtain such property at
the risque of life. In justice and equity, Indian titles were the best ones;
and such European emigrants as obtained lands by the permission and
consent of the natives, or by fair and honourable purchase, could only
be said to have a just right to them.
In the centre of the continent the people, comparatively speaking, were
numerous and civilized; the tribes farther removed from it on each side
lived more dispersed, and consequently were more rude. Some
historians have represented them as naturally ferocious, cruel,
treacherous and revengeful; but no man ought to draw conclusions,
with respect to their original characters, from their conduct in later
times, especially after they have been hostilely invaded, injuriously
driven from their natural possessions, cruelly treated, and barbarously
butchered by European aggressors, who had no other method of
colouring and vindicating their own conduct, but that of blackening the
characters of those poor natives. To friends they are benevolent,
peaceable, generous and hospitable: to enemies they are the reverse.

But we forbear entering minutely into this subject at present, as we
shall have occasion afterwards to make several remarks on the
character, manners and customs of these tribes. Just views of them may
indeed excite compassion; yet, for our instruction, they will exhibit to
us a genuine picture of human nature in its rudest and most
uncultivated state.
[Sidenote] Religious divisions the primary cause of emigrations to the
west.
With the revival of learning in Europe, towards the close of the
fifteenth century, a more free and liberal way of thinking, with respect
to religion, was introduced and encouraged, than had taken place
during many preceding ages. At this period several men of genius and
courage appeared, who discovered to the world the gross absurdity of
many of the tenets and practices of the Romish church; but were
unwilling totally to overturn her established jurisdiction and authority.
At length Luther boldly exposed her errors to public view, and the
spirit of the age, groaning under the papal yoke, applauded the
undertaking. Multitudes, who had long been oppressed, were ripe for a
change, and well disposed for favouring the progress of that
reformation which he attempted and introduced. By this means great
commotions were excited throughout Christendom, and thousands
united and entered warmly into designs of asserting their religious
liberty. Hence a spirit of emigration arose and men seemed bent on
visiting the remotest regions of the earth, rather than submit to spiritual