160
|
|
Department of
War. |
The reply to the Talk of,
The Chiefs and Head Men of the Piankashaws, now at Washington,
by their Father the Secretary
of War.
________________
|
My Children- |
|
I have listened to your talk with attention and have heard all you have said. |
|
My Children- |
|
The land you claim I know is good land- I know you have long believed your title to it was good. Your Great Father bought it of the Kickapoos- They believed their title was the best. There was great difficulty in ascertaining which title was best- there being great uncertainty as to the Indian Titles in that quarter- But your Great Father was guided by the best information he could get. |
|
My Children- |
|
Although your Great Father has paid for the land bought of the Kickapoos, yet he is Rich and you are poor. He will not cast you off, but will satisfy you for your land, according to the request you have made. |
|
My Children- |
|
You ask for ten miles square of land- It shall be given to you, and your Father General Clark will lay it off adjoining the Delawares, and mark it, that you may know it. |
|
My Children- |
|
You ask in addition to this ten miles square of land, for one thousand dollars in money. Your request in this particular also is granted. You will receive this sum at St. Louis from your Father Genl. Clark and this land, and this money, you agree shall be in full of all your claims, except such as are provided for by Treaty- and so does your Great Father understand it. |
161
|
|
My Children- |
|
In making this compensation for the land you have claimed. It is not to be understood as deciding whether the title be good-or not- But your Great Father wishes to satisfy you, and act generously towards you. |
|
My Children- |
|
You say your annuity is not as large as it was. It is believed you receive all that you are entitled to receive. You will receive a paper before you leave this containing a statement of your annuities. |
|
My Children- |
|
You should not rely upon your annuity nor upon the kindness of your Great Father in making you presents, for the support of yourselves, your wives and Children. Your people must cultivate the earth, like our people and be industrious, and you will prosper. Your Great Father is willing to help you, but you must also help yourselves. |
|
My Children- |
|
Your Great Father has a high esteem for the Piankashaws- He knows they conduct themselves well, as you have on this visit. Your conduct is highly pleasing to him. |
|
My Children- |
|
Your Great Father knows you are few and feeble- and he has pity on you. But take my advice and cultivate the ground, and be industrious and sober, and honest, and you will do well. |
|
My Children- |
|
You ask for horses to ride upon from St. Louis, home. You shall be provided as you wish with one a piece, at St. Louis. |
|
My Children- |
|
I shake hands with you, and wish you and your people may be prosperous and happy. |
167
|
|
To Colo |
Department of War
|
Sir,
By an understanding between the Piankashaw deputation and the Secretary of War (the nature of which by the enclosed extract of a talk addressed by the Secretary to said deputation) the sum of $1000 is to be paid to the Piankashaw Nation, on the return of its deputation. You are, accordingly, authorized to draw on the Secretary of War for that sum to be paid agreebly to said understanding, transmitting, thro' General Clark, the proper receipt for such payment. As soon as you have drawn the bill, you will advise the Department thereof, stating on what terms the same has been cashed, and the amount of premium, if any, received thereon.
|
I am,
Sir, |
42
|
|
To |
No-tah-koo-shing-ha |
Department of War, |
Friends & Brothers.
Your talk to your Father of the 5th of last month, is received. Your Father is just. The reason you have not had your salt provided for by the Treaty of Fort Wayne of 7th June 1803, is not because he wished to deprive you of it. But you moved away from the Wabash, and nobody told him you did not receive it. Your Father Red-Head is directed to look into this claim, and make it good to you; and to continue it every year. You may have Salt; or its value in money or any thing else.
But your Father is wise as well as just. He knows that you cannot prosper unless you are industrious, and till the ground; and learn how to provide for your wants. What sort of a dependence can you expect for the future, if you make no provision for it? The game is going away from you- But the earth always remains. Go to the earth, and till it; and it will give you bread and meat, and materials to make your clothes, and the means of comfort and happiness. You may talk about your poverty always, and that will never make you better off. You must be industrious. I advise you to be sober- and peaceable, and industrious. You will soon feel like new men. Your path will be all bright and straight. You will have plenty- Your Wives and your children will be well clad and happy; and you will bless the day when you determined to provide for your own wants by sobriety and industry.
I shake hands with you, and wish you peace and prosperity.
|
Your Friend & Brother. |
43
|
|
To General, |
Department of War, |
Sir,
A letter has been addressed to the Department by No- tah-koo-sling-ha- and Black Dogs Son, setting forth their claim to an allowance of 25 Bushel Salt a year under the Treaty of Fort Wayne of 7th June 1803. That Treaty provides for 150 Bushels per Annum, to the parties to this Treaty- But what proportion is due the Piankeshaws, I have not the means of ascertaining. If on examination you find this Tribe to be entitled to the quantity of salt they claim; and to an arrearage of as many years allowance (as they write they are) as makes two hundred and fifty Bushels, you will make good their claim by paying it, either in the article itself, or in any other valuable commodity- or in money; and pay to them the 25 Bushels, or whatever may turn out to be due them, yearly thereafter, either in Salt or its value in any thing else.
|
I have &c. &c. |
91
|
|
Hamilton Esq Allen |
Office Indian Affairs |
Sir:
It is represented that there are some twenty Indians residing in Miami county, Indiana, who are claimed to be Eel Rivers separate & distinct from the Miamies, & that they have distinct interests from the latter which have been neglected by the Government. The impression here is that this is entirely a mistake. that the Miamies & Eel Rivers and any separate interests they ever had have long been merged. As however it would require a long & tedious examination to ascertain all the facts & circumstances in relation to the matter, & as you are doubtly well informed on the whole subject, it has occurred to me as the most ready mode of acquiring correct information to request you to be good enough to communicate to this office at your early convenience such facts & particulars as will enable the office clearly to understand the matter correctly. Any information in relation to the circumstances under which the alleged Eel Rivers are remaining in Indiana, their present situation &c. would be acceptable.
|
W M |
|
Sinclear Esq Joseph |
|
411-412
|
|
Fitch, Hon. Graham N. |
Department of the Interior, |
Sir:
Your familiar acquaintance with the claims of Eel Rivers (Miamies) upon which you made a report to this office on the 15th December last; your knowledge of the Indians themselves; and of the recent action of Congress in their behalf, based upon your report already referred to; induce me to request that you will act as the Special Agent of this Department, and you are hereby appointed such, in making payments to them from the funds, amounting in the aggregate to $10,266 2/3, which will be transmitted to you from the Treasury, and for which you will account under the following heads of appropriation, to wit:
|
|
"Fulfilling treaties with Eel Rivers (Miamies)" |
|
|
Enclosed you will find a list of the names of the individuals, Sixteen in number, entitled to receive, each, his, or her, share of amounts transmitted to you, in equal proportions; and it embraces the names of all the "Eel Rivers" entitled to participate in these annuity payments, save the three women, who have married Miamies, (and migrated west with that tribe) and their five children; a sufficient amount to pay whom, through their agent, has been reserved from the several appropriations.
To facilitate you in making your payments, and in the final settlement of your accounts, a receipt with a payroll has been prepared at this office, which is, herewith, transmitted to you.
Should the services of an Interpreter be necessary, you are authorized to employ one, at a rate of compensation not to exceed $2. 50/100 per day, for everyday he is engaged in assisting you. The certificate attached to the payroll must be signed by yourself, the Interpreter, and by at least one respectable citizen.
For your own services, you will be allowed $5. per day, for each day you are engaged in this service, and your actual travelling expenses will also be allowed.
|
Very respectfully. Your Obt
Servant. |
28
|
|
Cole Esq A. A. |
Office Indian Affairs |
Sir:
I have considered the application contained in your letter of the 12th inst. enclosing a memorial of certain Miami Indians & other papers, that they may be permitted to draw their share of the annuities due the tribe in Indiana where they desire to reside & am of the opinion that it is not competent for the Department to grant it.
The subject has frequently been before the Department, and has often been reported against.
The papers submitted by you are herewith returned
|
O. B. |
48
|
|
Cole Esq A. A. |
Office Indian Affairs |
Sir:
In reply to your argument in favor of the band of Miami Indians usually known as the "Eel Rivers", wherein it is alleged that their annuities have been withheld or misapplied for a number of years past, I have the honor to state that the investigation as to former payments will at once be commenced in the bureaus of the proper accounting officers and you will be advised of the result. The examination will be one of much labor and the time necessary for its consummation may embrace several weeks.
As to the identity of the Indians in question, there appears to be some difficulty. The evidence now in prossession of this office, derived from different sources is not only unsatisfactory in its nature, but has rather a tendency to render the subject more difficult and complex. An investigation and report will be asked for from the proper source and when received, you will be advised of the decision of this Department.
|
O. B. |
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