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Show 57 M8 INnuN' LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES [ET„. „K. « -1 Kopiel^ZS^te? ^ T ^ C°',,B" " " '^ rf "«»« «"»«""« m£,ttii^ ,n ' ? 1 6 ' amongst the said confederat e• sl.a1 " d ' g ° ° d 8 ' ° f V™"*' S b a " b C ProporUonaMy „ , v ?w As "offensive" as well as "defensive" wars are alluded to, and the advantages gamed in lands, goods, or persons" were to be divided proportionately, Mr Oliver declares this "must have had reference to an absorption of the whole territory of New England." Though the provisions are curious and seem to embrace somewhat covertly the right under certain conditions to wage an oflensive war and appropriate the territory thereby gained, Mr Oliver's inference is not fully justified. Moreover, it seems to be forbidden by the ninth article of the agreement. The only reference in this agreement to the treatment of the Indians is the following brief paragraph in article S: That the commissioners appointed are to see "how all the jurisdictions may carry it toward the Indians, that they neither grow insolent nor be injured without due satisfaction, lest war break in upon the confederates through miscarriages." 2 These references are given as furnishing some indication of the theory of the colonists of Massachusetts in regard to the rights and title of the natives, for it must be understood that this agreement was in truth the expression of Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island being refused admittance and Connecticut being virtually a silent factor. Another episode in which the question of primary title was brought forward was that caused by the abrogation of the charter and the course of Governor Andros. The history is too well known to need repetition here. It is necessary only to say the theory accepted by the Crown was that, iu consequence of the abrogation of the charter, no claim based on a grant from the Massachusetts Company or on a' purchase from the Indians was valid, and that no New England settler had ever acquired a legal title to his lands. The real object of this bold move appears to have been to force contributions from the people by compelling them to pay for new grants and new confirmations of their purchases. Indian deeds were declared to be "worth no more than the scratch of a bear's paw." Tuese items are sufficient to give a general idea of the policy and methods of dealing with the Indians in regard to their lands, adopted and practiced by the colonists of Massachusetts in the early days of their history while under Puritan control. In closing this brief examination of the period of Massachusetts history alluded to, the decision given by Doyle, who appears to be a fair and unbiased authority, may be adopted if the words "New Englanders" are limited to Massachu- 1 Collections Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. v, 2d ser., p. <69. - llnhhanl, General History, chap. 52. |