DEPARTMENT OF WAR,

Office of Indian Affairs, 8th January, 1827.

SIR: In compliance with your directions, accompanied by a copy of the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 18th ultimo, directing the Secretary of War "to communicate to the House any correspondence or other information in the possession of the War Department, touching the present condition of the Quapaw Nation of Indians, and the measures, if any, that have been taken to alleviate their distresses," I have the honor to lay before you the accompanying copies of papers, numbered 1 to 19 inclusive, which embrace all the information in the possession of this office required by said resolution.

It may be proper to add that the distress which it appears existed among the Quapaws, during their removal from Arkansas to their new residence, and immediately after their arrival there, may be attributed, it is believed, to circumstances detailed in paper No. 17, and that this distress, as may be inferred from paper No. 19, was of bnt short duration, and has some time since ceased. In this paper Captain Gray, the agent, writes, “I am glad to be able to state, that the Quapaws are perfectly satisfied with their situation, and that they are on very friendly terms with the Caddoes, as well as all other Indians belonging to the agency."

I have the honor to be,

Your most obedient servant,

Extract of a letter from Governor Izard to the Secretary of War, of July 1st, 1825.

"On the 20th of last month the principal Chief of the Quapaw tribe, attended by a small suite, visited me at this place, and in a formal conference requested that I would communicate the wish of his People, to their Great Father, that they may remain a few years longer on the land ceded to the United States, by the treaty of November, 1824. I expressed to Hecketon (the hereditary Chief) my conviction that such permission could not be granted; but that I would nevertheless comply with his request, and would inform him of the President's decision. The deputies were satisfied with their reception, and I have no doubt that the removal of the tribe to the Caddo country, will be effected without difficulty, even before the term stipulat

ed. They asked permission to send a few of their chiefs to investigate the lands which they are to settle on, previously to the migration of the whole nation; to this I consented. They will be attended by an acting Indian Sub-Agent, Mr. Barraqué, an intelligent Frenchman, who has lived much among them, and who was particularly designated as the person they wished to accompany them."

No. 2.

Secretary of War to Governor Izard.

[EXTRACT.]

DEPARTMENT OF WAR,

July 8th, 1825.

SIR: "I have the honor to enclose herewith, a copy of the Quapaw treaty of the 15th day of November last, by which all the claims of the Quapaws to lands in Arkansas are extinguished, except the reservations therein specified. So much of the consideration which is agreed upon, and as is set forth in the second article, and which provides for the payment of five hundred dollars to each of the four head chiefs, and one thousand dollars for the first annuity, has been carried into effect, by a remittance of $3000 for those objects; as has been also that part of the same article, which provided for the payment of four thousand dollars, in merchandise, at the signing of the treaty. The remaining obligation in this article, to pay, in addition to their present annuity, the sum of one thousand dollars, for the term of eleven years, will be duly attended to. You will accompany this item in your estimates for your superintendency, annually, and at the proper time.

The following sums have been also appropriated by act of Congress of 3d March last, to carry into effect the other provisions of the treaty. Fifteen thousand three hundred and seventy-two dollars, for the purchase of provisions for six months, as provided for by the fifth article of said treaty.

One thousand dollars, for furnishing facilities for the transportation of the Indians, as provided for by the fifth article of said treaty. Five hundred dollars, for the pay of a Sub-Agent, or Interpreter, as provided for by the same article of said treaty.

At the proper time, which is referred to your discretion, you will issue in the public papers proposals for the supply of the provisions for the emigrants. As to the kinds which will be best, their selection is left to your discretion. I will thank you, meanwhile, and as soon as you can, to furnish me with an estimate of the cost which is likely to attend on the emigration, upon the best data you may be able to command. You will exercise a strict economy, and bring the disbursements as much within the appropriation as you can consistently with the objects contemplated by it. But in no case must the ex

penses exceed the appropriation. On submitting your estimates, you will notify the Department of the time when you will require the remittances to be made, which will be duly attended to.

It will be proper to have the places of delivery, from time to time, designated; and their designation is left to your discretion. You will be careful to take bond, with sufficient security, for the faithful execution of the contracts which you may enter into.

It is necessary to be very particular in issuing the rations to the Indians, and taking an account of them, so as to procure the necessary vouchers for settlement with the proper accounting officers of the Treasury. A descriptive roll should be kept, of the number of Indians who may receive rations, distinguishing the number of men, women, and children, to whom rations may issue. This roll should be duly certified by the Agent, Mr. Duval, or his Sub.Agent.

In making the daily issues, the same forms in issuing and certifying should be observed by the Agent as are used in the army. The amount daily issued will be certified by the Agent or Sub-Agent, and approved of by you in consolidated quarterly returns. To children half rations will be issued.

The following is intended as the outline of an advertisement, leaving the component parts of the ration, and periods for delivery, &c. in blank, to be filled by you.

"PROPOSALS

will be received until the 1st day of next to furnish the Quapaw Indians with provisions for six months, commencing on the day of next ensuing.

The supplies required are

The ration to consist of —

The amount will be from [so many to so many] rations per day, varying from the largest to the smallest amount at the option of the Agent upon a notice of thirty days, to be delivered at The first delivery will be on the day of the [month] thereafter, and so on, the day of each alternate month thereafter, till the last month is included.

The articles will be required to be of good merchantable quality, to be approved by the Agent; and in case of the opinion of the Agent being contested, it will be decided by [some fit person to be specifiedCommissary if there is one at hand] to be called upon by the Agent

to decide.

Provisions to be delivered, in the bulk, at the periods designated, and payment made on delivery and on being approved by the Agent. No advances will be made."

You will notify the Department at what time you will require the thousand dollars, to furnish the facilities for the transportation of the Indians. You are authorized to appoint a Sub-Agent, or Interpreter, to accompany those Indians; an Interpreter, if a judicious man can be had, to unite the additional qualifications for sub-agent, would, it is presumed, be best. You will confer, if you can find such a person, the appointment upon him, and report his name to the Depart

ment. He will accompany the Quapaws, and reside among them. He will be allowed a sufficient sum, in your discretion, to build him a house. Three or four hundred dollars, it is presumed, will be suffi

cient.

I have, &c. &c.

JAMES BARBOUR."

No. 3.

Extract of a letter from Thomas L. M'Kenney to Capt. George Gray, Indian Agent on Red River, dated 9th July, 1825.

"It becomes specially important at this time to disencumber the Caddo lands from squatters, as the Quapaws are next Winter to unite with the Caddoes, and occupy part of their territory."

No. 4.

Extract of a letter from T. L. M'Kenney to Governor Izard, dated August 5th, 1825.

"Your letter to the Secretary of War, of the 1st ultimo, is received. I have the honor, by the direction of the Secretary, to state, that he approves of your reply to Hecketon, the hereditary chief of the Quapaws, to his proposition to have the execution of the treaty deferred to a period beyond that which is limited by its provisions. The President, as the Father of this People, would be very happy to extend to them any indulgence in his power, and so you will say to them; but the treaty having been duly ratified, he has no power to vary its provisions, and therefore expects its stipulations to be duly observed The permission granted them to visit the country of the Caddoes, and the appointment of Mr. Barraqué as acting SubAgent, are approved.'

No. 5.

Extract of a letter from Governor Izard to the Secretary of War, of September 3d, 1825.

"I informed you on the 2d of July, that a small party of Quapaw (more properly Gappa) Chiefs were to visit the country of the Caddoes, to examine the lands on which they are to settle themselves next Winter. They returned ten days ago, and I was gratified to hear