Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-29
NO. '.
lENCLOS
AAnrRsTspRno, Oct. 2lst, 1915.


Yesterday in council, the prophet requested
that you should be informed, that the Americans
had stolen eight horses and colt, off Stonev Is
land, belonging TO the Kickapoos, to which place
they had crossed them before the Indian was xii.
led, preparatory to their going to their own coun
try. he said if the Americans were disposed IN
De peaceabie, they would make no difficulty in
having those horses restored and requested YOU
VIII have the goodness to make the demand from
them; that last SUMNER when some of their
young men stole anumbers OF horses from the O.
Their side, you requested them to be restored al
that time they listened to your words, and inn
mediately gave them up. Those horses were
stolen few nights after the Kckapoo was xii
led.
Ihave the honor to be, sir, your most obeden,
humble servant.
Lieut. Col. JANIS. &. &c.
No. vi.
Detroit 26fi October 1915.
sIR--T have the honor to acknowledge the re.
cePt OF your letter of the 2lst instant, enclosing
onefrcm Mr. Caldwell.
The terms ofhis letter. prevent me from taking
any notice off Upon the general relation o.
Ge Irdisn tribes to our respective Governments
and flIe right ofmutual interference smuch mis-
understanding has prevailed, and | am so anxious
10 remove all collision as well Of sentiment as of
2etion, that will take the liberty of stating nv
l. A a n
United States and OF Great Britain within their
territorial limits is exclusive If the Indians re-
siding under the protection Of either are injured
they must apply for redress to the government Of
thecountry within which they live, and can OBJ.
tan only that redress which its laws prescribe
lfan Indian injured in his person or his proper.
~ within tins territory, our laws have Amply
provided for the punishment ofthe offender. and
the redress of the party injured We do not
acknowledge in principle nor shall we ever admit
IN practice, the right any foreign authorities to
interfere in any arrangement or discussion he
tween us and The Indians living within our terri
tory. Any other principle would render the so.
vereignty ofthe United States merely nominal /:
and by giving to the agents ofanother government
for continued disputes
btiie Indians were in the habit ofstealine bor.
ses from your SIDE Of tiieryer, and bringing them.
here, should consider il my duty TO put a atom
totie practice and to restore the property. ibis
was the case fthe Indians who stole horses from
the Miami last summer, and tookithom 20 NAL
den vow directed their restoration and in any
pie.
But. If the injury is done in Upper Canada
there exists no right IN the United states 10 In
tertere, and If done here there is no right Of in
reference in the British authorities there. Were
an Indian injured at Maiden, you would think the
tOtIseoi precedence ndecorOus, and the demand
inadmissible, should an indian agent here hold a
council upon the subject, and demand of YOU
that ihe injury sbouilbe redressed and in SUR.
stance tell you that the alternative Of peace or
war depended on vour decision am inclined
70 think you would form The same opinion ofhim
thai dooi this Mr. Caldwell, and inpuis his con
duct to profound ignorance ofthe relative rights
OF nations, or TO more artiul though less par,
donabe motive, that Of preserving an influence
over the Indians 70 be used as subsequent events
may render eXpedent
In the application of these principles, 7 have
only 70 observe, that stoney Island, whence these
horses were stated tollave been taken. is in this
territory that the horses were not taken from
there to Canada, and that British officer has
consequently no right to make any claim In be.
haifo the indians upon the subject But SIT.
70 yorrselS personally, freely say that did not
Aehtste q moment 10 inquire into the Transaction
ionpd t'st these horses were taken from stonev
Island to Gross iSle, under the impression that
they belonged to people Of this territory, and for
'neParPose Of seciaimpg tem aud that four