In the younger days of Dr. Boudinot, th e following incident occurred. Two fine
young missionaries were sent by the Society of Scotland (some members of which
society were in our land, and the Doctor was one of them) to the natives west of Ohio.
The chiefs were called to consult whether they would receive them. After some day s in
council, they dismissed them, most courteously , with the foll owing answer;--that “They
exceedingly rejoi ced at the happiness of the whites, in being thus favoured by the Great
Spirit; and felt very grateful that they had condescended to remember their r ed breth ren
in the wilderness. But they could not help recollecting that the whites here had a people
among them, who because they differed in colour, the whites h ad made them slaves,
made them suffer great hardships, and lead miserable lives; (alluding to the bl ack sl aves
then in our colonies.) Now we cannot see any reason, (said they) if a people being black
will entitle th e whites to deal thus with them, wh y a red colour would not equally
justify the same treatment. We therefore determine to wait to see whether all the bl ack
people among y ou are made thus joyful and happy, (as you tell us your religion will
mak e us,) before we can put confidence in you r promises. We think a people who have
suffered so much, and so long, by y our means, would be entitled to your first attention.
We therefore send back the tw o missionaries, with many thanks; promising that when
we see the black people among y ou restored to freedom and happiness, we will gladly
receive your missionaries.” Here was reasoning well worthy of the descendants of
Abr aham, and even of Solomon! [p.140]