of the Indians in violation of law and our Treaty with that people. This practice has grown into a monstrous abuse. Thousands of the wild animals from which the Indians derive their subsistance have been distroyed by the white people. They complain in their speeches to me that many parts of their Country which abounded with game when the general peace was made in 1795 now scarcely contains a sufficiency to give food to the fiew Indians who pass through there. The people of Kentucky living on the Ohio from the mouth of the Kentucky river down the Mississippi make a constant practice of crossing over on the Indian lands opposite to them every fall to kill deer, bear, and buffaloe-the latter from being a great abundance a few years ago is now scarcely to be met with, in that whole extent. One white hunter will distroy more game than five of the common Indians-the latter generally contenting himself with a sufficiency for present subsistance-while the other eager after game hunt for the skin of the animal alone. All these Injuries the Indians have hitherto borne with astonishing patience but altho they discover no disposition to make war upon the United States at present I am confident that most of the tribes would eagerly seize any favorable opportunity for that purpose & should the United States be at war with any of the European nations who are known to the Indians there would probably be a combination of nine tenths of the Northern Tribes against us-Unless some means are made use of to conciliate them. The British have been unremitted in their exertions to preserve their influence over the Indians resident within our Territory ever since the surrender of the Forts upon the Lake—— & those exertions are still continued-last year they delivered a greater quantity of goods to their Indians than they have been ever known to do-and I have been lately informed that talks are now circulating amongst them, which are intended to lesten the small influence we have over the Indians-I cannot vouch for the truth of this report-but I think it very probable that the British will redouble their efforts to keep the Indians in their Interest as a mean of assisting them in any designs they may form against Louisiana which it is said will be shortly delivered up to the French.

I have had much difficulty with the small tribes in this immediate Neighbourhood-viz.-the Peankashaws, Weas & Eel river Indians, these three tribes form a body of the

greatest Scoundrels in the world-they are dayly in this town in considerable numbers and are frequently intoxicated to the number of thirty or forty at once-they then commit the greatest disorders-drawing their knives and stabing every one they meet with-breaking open the Houses of the Citizens killing their Hogs and cattle and breaking down their fences. But in all their frolicks they generally suffer most severely themselves they kill each other without mercy, some years ago as many as four were found dead in the morning— & altho these murders are actually committed in the streets of the town, yet no attempt to punish them has ever been. made. This forbearance has made them astonishingly insolent & on a late occasion (within 8 weeks) when one of these rascals had killed without provocation two of the Citizens in one of the Traders Houses in this place, & it was found impossible to apprehend him alive, he was put to death. This peice of Justice so exasperated those of his tribe in the neighbourhood that they actually assembled in the borders of the town with a design to seize some favourable opportunity of doing mischief-the Militia were ordered out and their resentment has subsided.

Should you think proper to garrison Fort Knox with a small body of troops it will be the means of keeping the Indians under much better controle when they come here to trade-& would enable the civil Magistrates to punish those who violate the laws. Inded I do not think that a military force is so necessary on any part of the fronteers as at this place--the inhabitants tho fully able to repulse them when aware of their designs are constantly in danger from their treachery. Five Hundred Warriers might introduce themselves into the settlement undiscovered by the White people-& after doing all the mischief in their power might make-their escape with as much facility. I do not indeed apprehend in the least that the neighbouring tribes have any inclination to make open war upon us-I fear only the effect of some sudden resentment arrising from their constant intercourse with the people. of this town. In this intercourse causes of irritation are constantly produced twice within a few weeks an appeal was made to arms by both parties—one occasioned by some drunken Indians attempting to force a House in which one was killed and an other wounded. The other at the time when the two

white men were killed as above mentioned. Luckily however no other mischief was done in either instance.

The Indian Chiefs complain heavily of the mischiefs produced by the enormous quantity of Whiskey which the Traders introduce into their Country. I do not believe there are more than six Hundred Warriers upon this River (the Wabash) and yet the quantity of whiskey brought here annually for their use is said to amount to at least six thousand Gallons. This poisonous liquor not only incapasitates them from obtaining a living by Hunting but it leads to the most attrocious. crimes-killing each other has become so customary amongst them that it is no longer a crime to murder those whom they have been most accustomed to estem and regard. Their Chiefs and their nearest relations fall under the strokes of their Tomhawks & Knives. This has been so much the case with the three Tribes nearest us-the Peankashaws, Weas, & Eel River Miamis that there is scarcely a Chief to be found amongst them.

The little Beaver a Wea Chief of note well known to me was not long since murdered by his own son. The Little Fox another Chief who was always a friend to the white people was murdered at mid day in the Streets of this by one of his own nation. All these Horrors are produced to these Unhappy people by their too frequent intercourse with the White people. This is so cirtain that I can at once tell by looking at an Indian whom I chance to meet whether he belong to a Neighbouring or a more distant Tribe. The latter is generally well Clothed healthy and vigorous the former half naked, filthy and enfeebled with Intoxication, and many of them without arms except a Knife which they carry for the most vilanous purposes. The Chiefs of the Kickapoos, Sacks, & Patawatimies, who lately visited me are sensible of the progress of these measures, and their Views amongst themselveswhich they are convinced will lead to utter exterpation-and earnestly desire that the introduction of such large quantities of Whiskey amongst them may be prevented.

Whether some thing ought not to be done to prevent the reproach which will attach to the American Character by the exterpation of so many human beings, I beg leave most respectfuly to submit to the Consideration of the PresidentThat this exterpation will happen no one can doubt who knows the astonishing annual decrease of these unhappy beings. The

Delawares are now making an other attempt to become agriculturists-they are forming settlements upon the White river a branch of the Wabash under the conduct of two Missionaries of the Society of "The United Brethren for propogating the gospel amongst the Heathens" otherwise Meravians. To assist them in this plan the Chiefs desire that one half of their next annuity may be laid out in impliments of agriculture, and in the purchase of some domestic animals as Cows and Hogs. The Kaskaskeas & Peankashaws request the same thing and the Patawatimies wish a few corse hoes may be sent with their goods. The sun a great Chief of the last mentioned Nation requests that a Coat and Hat of the Uniform of the United States & to prevent Jealousy a few more may be aded for the other Chiefs, of his nation. Indeed I am convinced that nothing would please the Chiefs of all the Nations so much as a distinction of this kind. It was a method always persued by the British and nothing did more to preserve their Influance. I therefore take the liberty of recommending that about a half dozen Coats made in the uniform of the United States and ordinary Cocked Hats may be sent for each of the nations who have an annuity of one thousand dollars, and Half that number for the Nations who receive 500 dollars-the expence to be taken from the allowance of each nation. The Kickapoos who are a strong and warlike Nation have not a proper proportion of goods allowed them by the United States their annuity is 500 dollars only, which is the sum allowed to the remnant of the Kaskaskias which have only fifteen or twenty warriors. The Kickapoos of the Priaria a large branch of that nation never receive any part of the goods. They frequently steal Horses which are never returned because they do not fear the withholding of their annuity. The Socks a very large nation which Inhabit the Waters of the Illinois River are not bound by any treaty-and will not deliver up horses or prisones in their possession. I have reason to believe that there are several persons still with them which were taken during the late war. They say they are very willing to treat if they are put upon the same footing that the rest of the Indian Nations are. The contractor to the army had untill lately an agent at

1. For description of the old Moravian Mission see J. P. Dunn's article Indiana Magazine of History, Vol. 9, p. 73; and paper by Arthur Brady, Mississippi Valley IIistorical Review, Proceedings, Annual meeting, 1919.

this place from whom I had procured the provisions which were necessary in the Councils I have had with Several nations which have visited me. I have signed an abstract for the quantity furnished. In their issues I have been as economical as possible-perhaps more so than was proper-the whole amount of Issues under my direction until thisamounted only to 13 rations.

PROCLAMATION: FORBIDDING TRADERS FROM SELLING LIQUOR TO INDIANS IN AND AROUND VINCENNES

July 20, 1801 Executive Journal, 4

This day the Governor Issued a proclamation expressly forbidding any Trader from selling or giving any Spirituous Liquors to any Indian or Indians in the Town of Vincennes and ordering that the Traders in future when the sold Liquor to the Indians should deliver it to them at the distance of at least a mile from the village or on the other side of the Wabash River. And Whereas certain evil disposed persons have made a practice of purchasing from the Indians (and giveing them Whiskey in exchange) articles of Cloathing, Cooking, and such other articles as are used in hunting, viz; Guns powder, Ball &c. he has thought proper to publish an Extract from the Laws of the United States, that the persons offending against the Law may know the penalties to which they are subject. he also extorts [exhorts] and requires all Magistrates and other Civil officers vigilantly to discharge their duties, by punishing, as the Law directs, all persons who are found drunk, or rioting in the streets or public houses; and requests and advises, the good Citizens of the Territory to aid and assist the Magistrates, in the execution of the Laws by Lodgeing information against, and by assisting to apprehend the disorderly and rioutuos persons, who constantly infest the streets of Vincennes and to inform against all those who violate the Sabbath by selling or Bartering Spirituous Liquors or who pursue any other unlawful business on the day set apart for the service of God.1 [Abstract]

1. For a description of the lawlessness in Vincennes 1796, see C. F. Volney, View, 393 seq.