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Vincennes 3rd Novr 1809 |
Sir.
I have now the Honor to enclose herewith the Treaty concluded at Fort Wayne on the 30th September with the Miami, Eel river, Delaware and Putawatamie tribes; The additional article entered into with the Miamis and Eel river tribe on the same day, and the Treaty concluded with the Weas at this place on the twenty sixth ultimo conformably to the fifth article of the first mentioned Treaty. The Putawatamies and Delawares were admitted as parties to the Treaty in conformity with your instructions "that the chiefs of all those Tribes who have or pretend a right to these lands should be present", and the Putawatamies & Delawares being present there was no alternative but to make them parties in some shape or other. Indeed I am convinced that had the Treaty been made with the Miamis alone the consequences to them would have been extremely unpleasant, if not fatal. The refusal of the Miamis to acknowledge the right of the Delawares to the Country watered by the White river at the Treaty of Grouseland has from that time continued to rankle in the minds of the latter, and to produce a disposition which bordered on actual hostility- The poverty and wretchedness of the Putawatamies made them extremely desireous of a treaty at which they expected to have their more pressing wants relieved. To have excluded either would have been extremely impolitic on our part as it would have entirely alienated the minds of those tribes from us;- nor do I believe that the Miamis would have dared to conclude the Treaty without them.- as it is, the arrangement which has been made is just to all, and is therefore I believe, satisfactory to all. The Delawares besides a considerable addition to their annuity have had their equal right with the Miamis to the lands on White river confirmed. The Putawatamies have been gratified with a considerable present in goods which they much wanted, and a further addition to their annuity. This will create another tie to bind this numerous and warlike tribe to the United States. They were not however as perfectly satisfied with the Miamis when they left Fort Wayne as could have been wished,- there were so great a number present that the goods when divided amongst them were found greatly below their necessities, and indeed some of them went off without a single article. Every opportunity which the shortness of my stay after the signing of the Treaty, would allow was employed to convince them of the justice and generosity with which they had been
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treated. If any ill blood yet remains a little attention to the influential Chiefs will soon remove it. The Treaty as it now stands is nearly what the Miamis wished,- the other tribes have been admitted to it only as their allies, and their title to the lands on the Wabash left in Statu quo.- Their agreement to the Article in favour of the Delaware claim to the lands on White river, was prompt, candid and unequivocal. This arrangement will facilitate the acquirement of this valuable country by the United States, as the Delawares have had for a long time a desire to remove to the west of the Mississippi. The compensation given for this cession of lands, altho' somewhat higher than what has been heretofore given in any Treaty I have made with the Indians, is as low as it could possibly be made. Great pains have been taken by the British Indian Department of Upper Canada by their agents in this Country and by some of our own Citizens to disuade them from selling any more of their land, or to demand a price for it which they knew would not be given. The manner in which the United States sell their lands has been particularly explained to them; and hence their demand to have what they should sell surveyed on their account, and two dollars per acre allowed for it. Their tenaciousness in adhering to this Idea was astonishing; and it required no little pains to get them to abandon it.
I think however upon the whole that the bargain is a better one for the United States than any that has made by me for lands south of the Wabash. The Tract along the boundary line south from Fort Recovery is almost altogether of the very first rate. The County of Dearborn in this Territory adjoining it is settled up to the very line; and the Farms are thicker than in any part of the Western Country that I have seen, the neighbourhood of Lexington excepted. I am informed by the Register of the Land office at Cincinnati and other respectable persons, that it is their opinion that there will be several hundred familey upon this tract as soon as the Treaty is ratified and an office opened for the sale of it. The Tract adjoining on the Vincennes Tract is not so uniformly good; but it contains much more good land than either the Tract ceded by the Treaty of Grouseland, or that of Vincennes with the Delawares and Piankashaws.
I sounded the Chiefs on the subject of taking a Sum in gross or by instalments in lieu of annuities as compensation for the lands ceded; but I soon found that there was no possibility of succeeding. It is indeed the nature of Savages to provide for the wants of today at every sacrifice of future prospects; to cut down the tree to obtain the fruit; and to destroy the teeming animal for a present meal, whose progeny would increase their riches and add to their enjoyments- But our Indians have taken one decisive step to-
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wards civilization; they begin to look to futurity; and those comfortable refreshments which they yearly receive in the shape of annuities has taught them to set a proper value on this kind of payment. Our government too have greatly contributed to their acquirement of this knowledge; and Mr Jefferson has personally told them that he considered it the duty of the United States to purchase their lands in this manner, when they wished to sell even if they (the United States) had no immediate use for them. I am fully persuaded that no sum in hand would have induced the Miamis and Delawares to part from their lands. The Putawatamies are not so far advanced in putting off the savage notions, and it is probable that they would be induced to give up their permanent annuity for a larger one for a term of years; but then a proposition of the kind would contradict the principles, which we have been for years endeavouring to teach them.
I expect the Kickapoo Chiefs here about the 10th instant. They are very much under the influence of the Prophet, and it is possible that they may refuse to give up their claim to the lands North west of the Wabash, but I will pledge myself to obtain it in the course of eight or ten months. As the Miamis who are the real owners of the land have surrendered their claim, we can wait a favorable opportunity to obtain the relinquishment of their (the Kickapoo's) title derived only from present occupancy.
I have employed a Gentleman to make a Sketch of the two tracts lately purchased, from the best information we can obtain, which will be transmitted herewith if it is finished in time; if not it will be sent by the succeeding Mail.
A mischievous story had been circulated amongst the Indians at Fort Wayne, that the President did not want the lands I proposed to purchase, and that I wished to procure them for my own use and that of the People of Vincennes. To obviate this I told them that I should have no objection to permit some of their Chiefs to go on to the seat of Government this fall, and that they would hear from the Presidents own lips the pleasure he derived from their compliance with his wishes respecting the late cession of lands. When I came from Fort Wayne they had not determined whether they would go on or not. Knowing the inconvenience and expence to which these visits subject the Government I endeavoured to get them to relinquish the idea. I have lately however received a Messenger from the Delawares requesting that three of their Chiefs may be allowed to go on to take their new father by the hand. I could not refuse their request without violating my promise; but have consented to it only upon condition that the Miami and Putawatamie Chiefs are also willing to go on at this time. The former told me that they could not make it convenient to go this winter; and I have also instructed Mr Conner and Mr Shaw to endeavour to disuade them from going; so that I believe there is little danger of your being plagued with them this winter. But
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least they should contrary to my expectations and wishes, insist on going on, I have appointed Mr John Conner the Delaware Interpreter to accompany them, and have this day drawn upon you in favour of Mr Shaw the assistant Indian Agent at Fort Wayne for $.1000 in ten seperate drafts to provide horses and bear their expences of the Journey to Washington. If the trip should be abandoned I have directed the drafts to be returned to me.
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With great respect and consideration |
The Honble
William Eustis
Secy at War.
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