Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
. Notes on the State of Virginia
/ From The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Volume 2
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An Appendix relative to the Murdering of Logan's Family.
AN APPENDIX RELATIVE TO THE MURDER OF
LOGAN'S FAMILY.(1)
The " Notes on Virginia " were written, in Virginia, in the years 1781 and
1782, in answer to certain queries proposed to me by Monsieur de Marbois, then
secretary of the French legation in the United States; and a manuscript copy
was delivered to him. A few copies, with some additions, were afterwards, in
1784, printed in Paris, and given to particular friends. In speaking of the
animals of America, the theory of M. de Buffon, the Abbe Raynal, and others
presented itself to consideration. They have supposed there is something in
the soil, climate, and other circumstances of America, which occasions animal
nature to degenerate, not excepting even the man, native or adoptive, physical
or moral. This theory, so unfounded and degrading to one-third of the globe,
was called to the bar of fact and reason. Among other proofs adduced in
contradiction of this hypothesis, the speech of Logan, an Indian chief,
delivered to Lord Dunmore in 1774, was produced, as a specimen of the talents
of the aboriginals of this country, and particularly of their eloquence; and
it was believed that Europe had never produced anything superior to this morsel
of eloquence. In order to make it intelligible to the reader-, the transaction, on which it was
founded, was stated, as it
__________
(1) In connection with this appendix see letter to Governor Henry, printed as
Note in p. 89.
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had been generally related in America at the time, and as I had heard it
myself, in the circle of Lord Dunmore, and the officers who accompanied him;
and the speech itself was given as it had, ten years before the printing of
that book, circulated in the newspapers through all the then colonies, through
the magazines of Great Britain, and periodical publications of Europe. For
three and twenty years it passed uncontradicted; nor was it ever suspected
that it even admitted contradiction. In 1797, however, for the first time, not
only the whole transaction respecting Logan was affirmed in the public papers
to be false, but the speech itself suggested to be a forgery, and even a
forgery of mine, to aid me in proving that the man of America was equal in body
and in mind, to the man of Europe. But wherefore the forgery; whether Logan's
or mine, it would still have been American. I should indeed consult my own fame
if the suggestion, that this speech is mine, were suffered to be. believed. He
would have just right to be proud who could with truth claim that composition .
But it is none of mine; and I yield it to whom it is due.
On seeing then that this transaction was brought into question, I thought it my
duty to make particular inquiry into its foundation. It was the more my duty,
as it was alleged that, by ascribing to an individual therein named, a
participation in the murder of Logan's family, I had done an injury to his
char
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acter, which it had not deserved. I had no knowledge personally of that
individual. I had no reason to aim an injury at him. I only repeated what I had
heard from others, and what thousands had heard and believed as well as myself;
and which no one indeed, till then, had been known to question. Twenty-three
years had now elapsed, since the transaction took place. Many of those
acquainted with it were dead, and the living dispersed to very distant parts of
the earth. Few of them were even known to me. To those however of whom I knew,
I made application by letter; and some others, moved by a regard for truth and
justice, were kind enough to come forward, of themselves, with their testimony.
These fragments of evidence, the small remains of a mighty mass which time has
consumed, are here presented to the public, in the form of letters,
certificates, or affidavits, as they came to me. I have rejected none of these
forms, nor required . other solemnities from those whose motives and characters
were pledges of their truth. Historical transactions are deemed to be well
vouched by the simple declarations of those who have borne a part in them; and
especially of persons having no interest to falsify or disfigure them. The
world will now see whether they, or I, have injured Cresap, by believing
Logan's charge against him; and they will decide between Logan and Cresap,
whether Cresap was innocent, and Logan a calumniator ?
In order that the reader may have a clear concep-
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tion of the transactions, to which the different parts of the following
declarations refer, he must take notice that they establish four different
murders. 1. Of two Indians, a little above Wheeling. 2. Of others at Grave
Creek, among whom were some of Logan's relations. 3. The massacre at Baker's
bottom, on the Ohio, opposite the mouth of Yellow Creek,. where were other
relations of Logan. 4. Of those killed at the same place, coming in canoes to
the relief of their friends. I place the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, against certain
paragraphs of the evidence, to indicate the particular murder to which the
paragraph relates, and present also a small sketch or map of the principal
scenes of these butcheries, for their more ready comprehension.