In fact, Eaton reported that “an opinion long since
conceived and never fairly controverter among the Tunisians is that the
Americans are a feeble sect of Christians”. And in a later letter to Pickering,
he again reaffirmed the Muslims’ view of Christian America when he reported how
pleased one Barbary ruler had been when he received the extortion compensations
from America which had been promised him in one of the treaties:
He said, “To speak truly and candidly. We must
acknowledge to you that we have never received articles of the kind of so
excellent a quality from any Christian nation.” When John Marshall became the
new Secretary of State, Eaton informed him:
It is a maxim of the Barbary States that “The Christians
who would be on good terms with them must fight well or pay well.” And when
General Eaton finally commenced his military action against Tripoli, his
personal journal noted: April 8th. We find it almost impossible to inspire
these wild bigots with confidence in us or to persuade them that, being
Christians, we can be otherwise than enemies to Musselmen. We have a difficult
undertaking! May 23rd. Hassien Bey, the commander in chief of the enemy’s
forces, has offered by private insinuation for my head six thousand dollars and
double the sum for me a prisoner; and $30 per head for Christians.
Why don’t he come and take it? Shortly after the military
excursion against Tripoli was successfully terminated, its account was written
and published. Even the title of the book bears witness to the nature of the
conflict: The Life of the Late Gen. William Eaton commander of the Christian
and Other Forces which Led to the Treaty of Peace Between The United States and
The Regency of Tripoli The numerous documents surrounding the Barbary Powers
Conflict confirm that historically it was always viewed as a conflict between
Christian America and Muslim nations.
