From these observations, the propriety of our general inferences will be sufficiently evident. It will appear, that the natives of the American continent will retain a high sense of independence ; and that among them the influence of political authority will be very inconsidera ble.
In small societies, where the exertion of every man is wanted, and where that exertion bears directly and powerfully on the effect which is produced, every man will perceive his own importance. Where property is little known, bodily strength and dexterity will be the chief and most enviable distinctions, and the display of these qualities the only road to eminence. Accordingly, in war, when, more than at any other time, the Indians discover a sense of political subordination, the most ad velum ous and experienced leader conducts them to the villages of the hostile tribes ; but if :mother, bolder and more skilful than he, shall appear, the latter is entitled to occupy the place where the danger is greatest ; and to plan the stratagem in which most art is required. In the chace, the most daring and hardy of the community is followed by the rest ; he guides them through the thicket, and shows them where the game is most abun dant. If any badge of distinction is worn, it is referable to the personal qualifications of him who wears it ; to his prowess in attacking his enemies; his skill and perseve rance in torturing them ; or the number of their scalps which he has brought off in triumph. In the council of the nation, every one is entitled to speak. When the old men arc listened to, it is because they have fought in many battles, as well as seen many days; and unless their advice corresponds with the present feelings of the tribe, it is wholly disregarded. There is no law, no ma gistrate among these simple children of nature ; and no punishment is inflicted, either by the society, or by any officer whom that society might appoint. Every man thinks and acts for himself; he feels his independence, and rejoices in the possession of it. Hence, among the natives of America, a sense of injuries is exceedingly quick, and revenge is prompt and effectual; "to look at them with a suspicious eye is to strike them, and to strike them is to put them to death." Every member of the community perceives that his own exertions are equal to the supply of his wants; and, a stranger to submission, he will sooner die than part with his liberty, or acknowledge himself to be in any way the servant of another. Many of the Indians perished through grief. when they discovered that the Spaniards treated them as slaves; and many of them sunk under the pressure of authority, and put an end to their own existence. See Oviedo, lib. iii. ch. 6. p. 97; and Labat, ii. 138.
The description given above may be considered as applicable, in general, to the rude inhabitants of the western hemisphere ; and especially to those who oc cupy the more temperate latitudes. In some provinces, however, even where the debilitating influence of the climate is inconsiderable, we may perceive the begin nings of political associations ; as in these provinces, several of the inferior tribes, whether from local cir cumstances or conveniency, are so far attached to one another as to be comprehended under one general name. But they are conjoined rather than united.
They seldom or never act in concert ; and have no con ception of an enlarged or extensive plan of conspiring operations. The Californians, several of the nations in Paraguay, and some of the larger tribes on the banks of the Oroonoco, and the Saint Magdalene in New Grana da, may be referred to this class. In other parts of America, government seems to have advanced much farther than we should expect to find it among people in the infancy of civilization. The Iroquois might be distributed with sufficient propriety into the chiefs, the nobles, and the multitude. The natives of Florida had long been accustomed to subordination, when they were first known to Europeans ; their caciques were here ditary ; the warriors of the royal name were distin guished by a peculiar dress, and a variety of ornaments ; and their privileges were numerous, and established. The sceptre of power had been stretched over the peo ple ; the yoke of servitude was effectually and fatally applied ; obedience was exacted,and obedience was paid. But the Natchez, a tribe once occupying a province in Louisiana, but now extinct, and the inhabitants of Bogota, seem to offer the most perfect examples of tyranny and submission which the New World can present to the eye of a philosopher. Among the Natchez, the people were considered as vile, and funned to obey. Above the people, were the families which were denominated re spectable ; and these were in possession of high ho nours and dignities, which descended to their children. At the head of all was the chief, the first minister of the Sun, which they worshipped, and reputed the brother of the god ; a company of chosen youths attended him wherever he went, and devoted their lives to his ser vice : his will was the law, and disobedience to his au thority was the principal crime which was recognized by the state. When he entered the temple, the people offered to him the Same homage which he was conceived to pay to the divinity. And when he died, the youths devoted to his person, together with his wives and fa vourites, were sacrificed at his tomb, that he might ap pear in the future world with an attendance suitable to his rank. Thus the superstition of the Natchez had ri veted the chains of uncontrolled authority ; and though not far advanced in civilization, they had, by a melancho ly fatality, experienced the worst of those evils which polished and enfeebled nations are destined to suffer. In the province of Bogota, and in some of the islands, a similar system of tyranny, arrogance, cruelty, and super stition was to be found. The injunctions of the ruler were identified with the mandates of heaven ; the peo ple had learned to submit ; the splendour of dominion, long established and regularly supported, had dazzled their eyes ; they grasped their fetters in barbarous transports of joy, and looked upon themselves as the noblest, as well as the happiest of mortals.