The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-29
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
May 80, 1906.

May so, 1906.
| GENTLEMEN,
~ Under the third article ofthe treaty
OF 1894, as 1t had been expounded, Indian ira
ders on each side have right to resort to and
trade with the tribes within the limits othe other
party with an exception of the country cover
| cd by the charter of the Hudson's Bay Compa-
! ny.
This article is found in its operation to be very
| seriously detrimental to the United States.
list. 1t gives to the British traders dealing with
the Indians on our side of the boundary, oppor
tunities of gaining an influence, which it cannot
be doubted, that they have frequently employ
ed IN stirring up the Indians against the United
States.
| Cd. The mixture of the British traders with
the American traders, produces collisions and
heart-burnings, with mutual efforts to make the
Indians their part zans and sometimes their
gers, against the property and persons Of their
rivals.
Sd. The luminosity ofthe British traders in suci,
cases against their rivals, is easily extended a.
ganst the United States, and the Indian parti-
Fans still more readily pass from vindictive spi-
rit against the American traders, to hostile one
against the nation to which they belong.
| 9TH The intrusion of these foreign traders a
mong the Indians, by disturbing harmony and
good order, and above all by clandestnely intro
ducing ardent spirits, counteract the benevolen,
provisions and steady efforts of the government
ofthe United States, to abolish the savage manners
OF those tribes and to substitute the arts of civil
lied life, not less conducive to their own happi-
ness, than to the peace of our neighbouring set
| Elements.
9Th. These evils are not even attended with any
real reciprocity of advantage to the American
Traders I; 1T being fact that theynever ge among
the Indians on the British side for the purpose OF
traffic; and it being moreover known that such a
traffic is rendered unsafe by the sway possessed
over the Indians by the North West Company of
1 Rt,4,. Oh IL, Al.
employed by their interested jealousies 1t is in
deed Certain that no British trader, not of the
company, can with advantage, is said, even
with safety, participate in the trade with Indians
within the British limits.
| These observations, which are strengthened by
the unlimited duration of the stipulation, suffi-
GENTLY explain the Importance of amending the
article in such a manner will mutually author
Use the parties to confue Indian trade within their
respective limits, to their own traders.
The British government, though vigilant and
habitually rigid in maintaining every CONNER
clal advantage, may perhaps, in a moment of
liberalty and of general adjustment, listen to
such an amendment and it is the wish ofthe pre-
sIdent, that the experiment be made In recon-
mendation of the change, you will be able to re-
mind them, LIST. That it will have the valuable eff
feet OF cutting off forever one source of jealousy
and i'll will. I'd. That as the stipulated privilege
does not extend to Louisiana, but is limited by the
treaty SIHdi 1rIDcS eastward OF the MISSIS-
slppi, and by circumstances still further limited
to those north west of Ohio, the trade is in itself
OF too little weight be put into the scale against
the advancement of friendship and harmony. Sd.
That the value of the privilege to Great Britain is
reduced to almost nothing, by the consideration,
that whether this scanty portion of Indian trade
be carried on by American or British traders, the
goods furnished will be of British manufacture,
and that if furnished by the former, the peltries
and iurs taken i'll return, will be added 10 the sur
plus of those articles now exported free of duty,
from the United States to Great Britain.
have the honor to be, &c.
(Sgned) JAMES MADISON
Mr. Madison, secretary If state, to MesSys dfon-
roe and PiHtneg, nlinisterS extraordinary and 6Le-
niPoteatiary Of the United States, in London.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
1ane II, 1906.
GENTLEMEN,
Since the date Of my last, May 30,)
have obtained from the secretary at war, the
nclosed copies of correspondence between an
officer Of the United States, and an agent of the
British North West Company for the Indian
trade The correspondence may be of use IN ex-
planning the mconveniences resulting from the
constructive permission given by the treaty of
1894, TO British traders, to carry on trade among
Indians within the limits of the United States
and the importance of such an amendment of the
treaty, IS has been suggested to YOU.
lnclOsc also, as connected with the subject
r. 4