P-74(9), p. 1
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Vincennes 25th April 1816 |
Sir
On sunday Little Eyes informd me that the British had avised the Indians not to permit the surveying & settlement of their lands purchased from them untill they rec'd their annuities from the United States- That a talk to that effect had been dispatchd to all the Indians of the Indiana & Illinois & to the Mahas, Richards &c of the Missouri- & further, that in the course of this year, a Great Council would be held at Portage De Soux, & that an agent of the British would attend it to see that the Indians had justice done them, by the U.S. in what ever regarded their lands- He added that the exceptionable conduct of the Weas & Vermillion Kickapoos at Ft Harrison was justly to be attributed to the British-
You are acquainted with the favorable opinion I have of Little Eyes- He has never decieved me, & however extraordinary or improble his communication may appear, I assure you I have no doubt of its truth.
I regret that Little Eyes was not at the council- But being at a distant hunting ground he was not invited-
Little Eyes observed the conduct of the Weas & Vermillion Kickapoos had been disingenuous & flagrantly unjust- That they all knew the land had been sold & the boundary fairly establishd, & that instead of caviling or pretending they knew nothing of the sale, they ought frankly to have acknowledged the cause of their objection to the surveying of the land- That his friendship for the U.States induced him to offer me his advice- That when the Indians assembled at Ft Harrison, I should deliver them their annuities, which would instantly remove all obstacles to the quiet occupation of the land- Otherwise, he apprehended they would persist in their opposition
The sincerety of Little Eyes maybe questioned, but what ever was his motive for suggesting this arrangement, it is not to be doubted, that the immediate delivery to the Indians of their annuities would have a good effect- Seven months have elaps'd since the treaty at Detroit; & ere this they profess to believe their goods might have been forwarded- They do not, or will not comprehend the explanations frequently given, as to the cause of there
P-74(9), p. 2
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delay- British agents or Traders or disaffected Indians have repeatedly informd
them, that the U.States would keep their land, but that they would pay them
nothing for it- That they need not expect their annuities- and that the
President would deceive them.
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Copy of a letter
from B. Parke |
P-62(9), Enc. p. 1
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Lafrombois said that he had but little to communicate, & that related to
peace- That Pecan had sent a message to all the Miamies informing them that he
was about establishing a village at Eel River, & invited them to bring
their wives & children there- That they would endeavor to establish their
village in the old form- That their presents would be delivered at Ft
Wayne- That the commanding officer at Ft Wayne told him that there
were many dishonest agents- but he would see that justice was done them- That the
President would fulfill all his engagements with them- and that he (Lafrombois)
had learnd that the British had sent a belt to the Kickapoos advising them to
remain at peace
Being asked whether the Indians had thought farther on the subject of the disputed boundary, Lafrombois answered that it was the general sentiment amongst the Indians that Genl. Harrison, Barron the interpreter and all the Indians who had been at the treaty (probably that of the 30th Septr l8O9) should be call'd together- That it was probable that some of the Indians did not understand the subject- That the Kickapoos had been sent for- but that they had nothing to do with it- That the land never belonged to them
It being suggested that their opposition to the treaty, repeatedly ratified, might be considered unfriendly- Lafrombois observed that were the President offended he could not help it- That it would be hard were the Indians to be defrauded of all their lands. The Little Ducks- said that two young men had arrived with a belt of wampum from the British- that the British told them that they must remain at peace and neither kill the white people, or steal their horses- that if they went to war again, they would be exterminated- that they were too weak- That when the, British & Americans made peace, the latter promised to cloth & feed the Indians plentifully- but when they looked upon them, they saw them naked & starving- that they did not expect this- that the Americans had not complied with their promisses- that the young men who brought the belt, had told the Indians, that the British gave them than they could destroy, whilst
P-62(9), Enc. p. 2
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the Indians within the American Territory, had scarcely any thing to eat- That
the British advised the Kickapoos to collect in a village on the Wabash- That
they would do so- but had not yet fixed upon a place- That the British advised
the Miamies to do the same thing- and for the Miamies & Kickapoos to live
together as friends- That if the Kickapoos saw any of the Puttawatomies moving
toward the frontiers for a mischievous purpose, they were advised by the
British to give information of it to the Americans
Copy
M-172(9), p. 1
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Piqua May 7, 1816 |
Sir,
The late Washington papers informs us of your appointment as Superintendant of Indian Trade
In my communications to the War Departmt for various reasons, I recommended an encrease of the usual quantity of goods sent as annuities to the Indians under my charge towit to the Delawares $3500 to the Shawanoese $3500 & to the Wyandotts $3500 annually. I have not been made acquainted with the determination of the Government thereon. the encrease is recommended by the soundest policy and at the same time would be the best economy for the Indians if they do not get supplied from us will go to the British, in fact during the present season numbers of my Indians have gone to Malden for cloathing. I could not forbid them for they were in want and I had it not in my power to furnish them I take the liberty of observing that the neat paterns of the Rhode Island cottons is found to be acceptable to the Indians for shirts
Be pleased to inform me at what time the annuities will be forwarded and whether any addition will be made to the quantity heretofore sent
The supplies for my Agency towit, the Shawanoese, Delawares and Wyandotts should take the direction of Pittsburgh descend the Ohio to Cincinnati and there remain subject to my orders
A few Boxes of Clay pipes and 4 or 500Dr Tobacco extra should be sent for Counselling and I wish that a few small handsome Flags may be sent me for distribution among the chiefs
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I am Sir with great respect |
Thos. L. Mc Kenney Esqr
Supt. Ind. Trade
M-172(9), p. 2
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Arrears due the Wyandotts and should be immediately paid
Statement
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Under the Treaty of Swan
Creek of July 4, 1805. I have |
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I earnestly recommend that the above amount be speedily paid that I may be authorised to draw for $3500 in money. This Nation farmed largely before the late war and they are now in much want of the money to enable them to repair their farms, build Houses and procure some stock. That the remaining $3000 be sent in goods with such addition as the Government may think proper among the Indians of my charge
Throughout my Agency are the fragments of many Tribes who once inhabited the Country east of the Mountains, these are of the Muncies, Mingoes Nanticokes, Mohegans, Senecas, Tuscarawas &c. &c. the whole constitutes a considerable portion of my agency they are entitled by law to no annuity it is the most difficult part of my duty to manage these people, the other Indians do not consider them entitled to participate in their annuities, the consequence is that whenever a distribution takes place much clamouring and discountent ensues. These wretched beings the descendants of the premitive inhabitants of the atlantic states are entitled to the commisseration of the government
M-172(9), p. 3
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some provision should be made for them it would not take less than $1500 worth
of goods to clothe them annually
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Jns Johnston |
Piqua May 7, 1816
J-147 (13), p. 1
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In the Treaty of Grouseland near Vincennes of Aug. 1805.
The first article has the following
"And whereas the Miamie Tribe from whom the Delawares derived their claim, contend that in their cession of said Tract to the Delawares (i.e. the lands watered by white River Inda) it was never their intention to convey to them the right of the soil but to suffer them to occupy it as long as they thought proper. the said Delawares have for the sake of peace and good neighberhood determined to relinquish their claim to the said Tract and do by these presents release the United States from the guarantee made in the before mentioned article of the Treaty of Aug. 1804"
The 4th article of the same Treaty recognises the Miamies Eel River & Weas (all Miamies) as being the rightful owners of all the country on the Wabash and its waters above the Vincennes Tract. white River on which the Delawares resided is a main branch of the Wabash
Treaty of Fort Wayne Septr 1809 The Miamies for the first time solemnly recognize the claim of the Delawares as follows.
Art. 2. The Miamies explicitly acknowledge the equal right of the Delawares with themselves to the Country watered by the white River, but it is also to be clearly understood that neither party shall have the right of disposing of the same without the consent of the others: and any improvements which shall be made on the said Land by the Delawares or their friends the Moheccans shall be theirs for ever"
It is under the last clause of the preceding Article that the Moheccans claim. There is no other Treaty stipulation in their favour.
It is beleived the Delawares have resided on White River Indiana 40 or 50 years The Moheccans may be fairly considered a component part of this Tribe, for in speaking of the Delawares they call them their Grandfathers which implies relationship and dependence, as looking up to them for counsel and
J-147 (13), p. 2
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direction. they were unquestionably originally the same people. The Moheccans
has not been known as a people on white River for more than 18 or 20 years. it
is not beleived that more than six families of them have been there at any one
time, until since the sale of the Country, when about sixty souls moved there
last spring. they went in defiance of the orders of the Agent for Indian
affairs. The Delawares had repeatedly invited them all to move and settle
beside them on white River, for reasons unknown they did not accept of their
offer. the last was made from Fort Meigs at the Treaty of Sept. 1817. The
Indian Agent wrote it at the instance of the chiefs
The country on white River owned in part and occupied exclusively by the Delawares, was eagerly desired by the people & Government of Indiana. two different attempts had been made to purchase it after the late war, both of which were unsuccessful by reason of ignorance of the Indian character, by the persons employed in the negotiation. Governor Jennings afterwards wrote to the Indian Agent on the subject. the reply was that the Country could be procured if the proper steps were taken. the course was suggested thro' Govr Jennings to the Government here. a negotiation was ordered, wishing always to act with candour I immediately notified the Moheccans in N. York by letter of the time and place for holding the Treaty and invited them to attend. They transmitted written communications to the Delawares containing reflections on the white people and warmly urging them not to sell any more land. these communications I could not be the organ of to the Indians, because they were directly in the face of my duty. a letter was immediately transmitted to the Moheccans at New Stockbridge advising them that I could not deliver their communications to the Delawares (which the persons who wrote them ought to have known) and informing them that in any other case I should be glad to serve them. they did not think it necessary or proper to attend the Treaty which was signed at Saint Marys Oct. 3, 1818 altho they had ample time. but wrote to me to have a large Reservation, (I think of 20 Miles square) made for them. the chiefs of the Delawares would agree to grant them no reservation, saying that they wished the Moheccans to accompany
J-147 (13), p. 3
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them over the Mississippi. application was made to the Miamies also to
designate a reservation for them. my request to Richardville the Head chief was
to allow them a reservation on the Wabash River below Massasinway the reply was
that if the Delawares would not provide for their friends the Moheccans, it
could not be expected the Miamies would. it is very doubtful if the Moheccans
had been on the spot at Saint Marys whether the Delawares would have consented
to give them an acre, so desirous are they of taking all their friends along
with them.
Previous to the Miami chiefs signing the Treaty they required and received from the commissioners of the U.S. a paper purporting to hold them indemnified from any claims which the Moheccans might thereafter make in virtue of the 2d article of the Treaty of Fort Wayne of Sept. 1809 no such document was asked by the Delawares
No person employed in the negotiation ever thought it necessary at any stage of the business to have the agent of the Mohegans to the sale of the white River Country. they were not considered by the Indian chiefs who were parties to the Treaty nor by the officers of the U.S. as having a right in the soil, if there should be any doubts on this head Govr Harrison who negotiated the Treaty would clear them up. there is no man in the western country better acquainted with the Geographical limits of the various Tribes of Indians N.W. of the Ohio.
When we treat with Indians it is always with those who are in possession of the Country wanted. a great number of the Delawares are setled beyond the Mississippi. yet we do not consider it necessary to send to them and get their consent. the same case with the Putawatimies who are scattered over a great extent of Country. in treating with this Tribe at Saint Marys, we purchased from those only who lived on the lands and in the country adjacent. this rule has always governed and holds good in the case of the Mohegans, viewing them as a component part of the Delaware Nation, we purchased from those who exercised the chief authority and who resided in the country
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