166-169, 174.
[144:2] It is not easy to define the peculiarity of Penn's Indian policy.

It is vulgarly referred to as if it consisted in just dealing, especially in not taking their land except by fair purchase; and the "Shackamaxon Treaty," of which nothing is known except by vague report and tradition, is spoken of as some thing quite unprecedented in this respect.

The fact is that this measure of virtue was common to the English colonists generally, and eminently to the New England colonists.
A good example of the ordinary cant of historical writers on this subject is found in "The Making of Pennsylvania," p.238.The writer says of the Connecticut Puritans: "They occupied the land by squatter sovereignty....

It seemed like a pleasant place; they wanted it.

They were the saints, and the saints, as we all know, shall inherit the earth....