Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-18

I,I
the next summer. The position Al the falls of
> MaTy's has been recOnnoitted and IL il
offended TO make preparation the next AuImmer
to occupy IL. The occupation OF these roSls
with on adequate force, will, il IL believed
by establishing over the arious iribes in that
quarter the iunGgnce of our government. and
preventing or diminishing that ct others have
the most beueiciai effects. The position al
TIE Conncu Bluff rs a very Important one, and
he post will consequently be render ii strong.
ahd WI be occupied by a sufficient garrison.
II Is about halt way bCtween 81 Louis and the
aiaudan village, and ~ at that point on the
missouri, which approaches tie nearest 10 the
rosi at the mouth OF the ST. Peters with
"hlch, IN The event of hostilities, it may CO.
operate. Ii is besides not more tLau $50 miles
~ ADVANCE ot our settlements on The Missouri,
anu Is an The centre of the most powerful
tlibes. aud the most numer ous Indian popula-
non, west OF the Mississippi. Ii is believed TO
he The best position on the Missouri, 10 cover
our hourisbing settlements in that quarter
ahioueht, II il were wholly unconnected with
other objects, TO be established for that pMr.
pose alone
The position at the Mandap village has been
SeIected tora military post, on account OF the
many advantages which il is supposed to pos
seSS. Al that point, the Missouri approaches
nearest To the establishment ofthe Hudson
Day company, on the Red river of the Lakes,
near the mouth of the AssinAboin, aud, al the
same point, il takes u direction to the south,
winch, III The event Of hoStilities would rem
oer IT more difficult, for any force wlicl, might
oe brought against II from the possessions of
our horihern Deighb0rs, to interrupt its COM
mnnications with the posts below. II is be-
SIDES well situated Ia protect out traders, aud
10 prevent those of the Hudson Bay Company
from extending their trade towards the head
waters OF Missouri and along The Rocky
mountains, within our limits. which tract OF
country Is said TO abound more in fur, and of
netter quality, than any other portion of this
ronllnent. The postal the mouth dthe St
IePf u at the head of the navigation on the
hississlppI, and. in addition TO its commanding
positions. in featiOm 10 the Indians il possess
ses great advantages. either TO protect our
traue, or prevent that Of foreigners. The post
contemplated at the falls OF ST Mary's, will
IL Is believed, be of very great importance
he POSITION, as has been stated, has been re-
cohn"iti' d, and il is found that the commu
hicatlon between the two lakes can be COM
manded from our side, as the channel passes
GU Sc umaer the western shore. The post may
De established aud maintained at very little
additional expense When these posts are alt
established aud occupied, IL is believed, with
Jnuici1ns conduct on the part of our officers,
tndt our northwestern frontier will be render.
ed much more secure than heretofore and
mat the most valuable fur trade in the world
VIII be thrown into our hands
ir|"e ahd presents accompanied by talks
Calculated tor the purpose, are among the no Il
powerful means to control the action OF saya-
EeN-anu, SO long AS They welded by a
Foreign hand. our frontier must ever be expo
seq 10 the calamity OF Indian warfare By
the treaty ct lI9l, Great Britain obtained the
right OF trade and Intercourse with the In
uidhs residing on our territory which gave
her nearly a monopoly or the trade with the
various tribes OF the lakes, the Mississippi and
MISSOURI, and d decided control over ali their
measures The effects of this asCendaucy o.
yer them must be remembered and lament Id
so iong as the history of the late war shall he
peIused.-Ihe most distressing occurrences
anu Tue greatest disaster of that period NAV be
disilActIy traced 10 il This right of inter
con'Se and trade with the Indians which has
proved 10 us so pern,ciOus, terminated in the
war ana was not reserved by the treaty at
Oheht ana an TIE year 1916, Cong ress passed
law, winch authorized the President to pro-
Iloli foreigners from trading with the Indians
Iesiuing within our limits. aud instructions
nave been given, under the act 10 prevent
Such Trade but II is obvious that tue ACT and
INSTRUCTIONS 10 Indian agents can have but liz
lie eihcacy To remedy the evil Without a
h'hlaTS force, properly distributed, the trade
would stili be continued. and, even il it were
| prevented, that which is more peuiCicus would
| StIil ienain-Indidn talks at the British POSTS
accompanied with profuse distribution OF
presents.
This intercourse il the great source of dam
ger TO our peace; and, until il is stopped, our
frontier caunOt be safe. Ii is estimated that
upwards OF three thousand indians from our
sde OF The lakes, visited Maiden and Drum-
moan . Island, the last year {; aud that at the
lalter place alone, prese%;s were distributed TO
them TO The amount of ninetS five thousand
dollars. 1t is desirable that Ihis Intercourse
should terminate by the act of the British 60
Vernment and IL Is believed that il has bepu
continued by ITS agents in Canada, rather in
consequence OF the practice before the late
war, under the treaty of 1894, than BY the
direct sanction and authority of that govern
meut.
through the proper department and as il is
wholly inconsistent with the friendly relations
between the two countries, il is hoped thai il
VIII not be permitted IN iutnre. The ocCupa-
tiOn nf the contemplated posts will, ia the
mean time, put into ouT hand the pOwertO cor.
rect The evil The posts OH the lakes will ena-
DIE lie government, not only TO check etfeclu-
ai!y alliTdde with foreigners in that quarter
O"t also 10 restrain The Indians from passing
oar limits. On that side. the remedy will be
complete On lie Mississippi and the Nilsson.
RI, Tue posts at the ST. Peters and Mandan viii
llS' are wei SelPci ell for the same purpese.- -
from the Lake OF the Woods, NeStwaTdly, The
I0th parallel OF latitude is~the boundary esta.
pushed by the late convention between the L.
nlied States aud the British possessions The
i1n"SOn Bay and the North West companies
nave several posts and trading establishments
Mhich are believed 10 be much 10 the south of
'hlS lIne, and consequently within our terrific.
~. When the boundary is asceTtained and
marked, Tie policy of the act Of the goth A.
pm, lSlG, already referred to. may, by means
OF these posts, be etfectnaily enforced and in
"' b""'' d. wen ds OH tIie StueOf the lakes,
we shall have the power to exclude foreign
eTs from trade and intercourse with the In
uians resIdIHg within our limits. The facility
OF communication, 10y the Mississippi aud sis.
soni. wilI our posts on these rivers. is so ,nmch
greater than tHat between Hudson Bay or
HOnirrall paItculaily without passing through
our ttTtrItOry,) aad the British posts north OF
ours, That orr accGUdaDcy over the Indians Og
those rivers, both a. TO trade aud power ought
"'th yudIcIous measures on our part, to be
complete.
deem Il my dnty respectfully TO suggest
TO lie committee, as il is intimately connected
with the subject of the present enquiry, that
the present system of Indian trade is defective
and that besides eudangeriUg the peace of
our County, II cannot meet, Oh equal terms