Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-02-15

trade towards the head waters of Mis-.
souri,, and along the Rocky mountains
within our limits, which tract of country
is said to abound more in fur, and of a
better quality, than any other portion of
this continent. The post at the mouth
ofthe st. Peters is at the head ofnavi-
CATION on the Mississippi, and, in addi-
ton to its commanding positions, in re-
lation to the Indians, it possesses great
advantages, either to protect our trade,
or prevent that of foreigners. The post
contemplated at the falls of St. Mary's,
will, it is believed, be of very great i'm
portance. The position, as has been
stated, has been reconnoitred, and it is
found that the communication between
the two lakes can be commanded from
our side, as the channel passes close un-
der the western shore. The post may
be established and maintained at very
little additional expense. When these
posts are all established and occupied,
it is believed, with judicious conduct on
the part of our officers, that our north
western frontier will be rendered much
more secure than heretofore, and that
the most valuable fur trade in the world
will be thrown into our hands.
Trade and presents, accompanied by
talks calculated for the purpose, are
among the most powerful means to con-
troll the action OF savages; and, SO long
as they are welded by foreign hand,
our frontier must ever be exposed to the
calamity OF Indian warfare. BY the
treaty of 1894, Great Britain obtained
the right of trade and intercourse with
the Indians residing on our territory;
which gave her nearly monopoly OF
the trade with the various tribes of the
lakes, the Mississippi, and Missouri,
and decided control over all their mea-
sures. The effects of this ascendancy
over them must be remembered and la.
mented, SO long as the history of the late
war shall beperused. The most distress
sing occurrences, and the greatest dis
asters of that period, may be distinctly
traced to it. This right of intercourse
and trade with the Indians, which has
proved TO US so pernicious, terminated
in the war, and was not reserved by the
treaty at Client; and, in the year 1916,
Congress passed law, which autho-
rized the President 10 prohibit foreign
ers from trading with the Indians resi-
ding within our limits, and instructions
have been given, under the act, to pre-
vent such trade; but it is obvious that
the act and instructions to Indian agents
can have but little efficacy to remedy the
evil. Without a military force, proper
ly distributed, the trade would still be
continued, and, even if it were prevented,
that which is more pernicious would
still remain-Indian talks at the British
posts, accompanied with profuse dis
tribution OF presents.
This intercourse is the great source OF
danger to our peace; and, until it is
stopped, our frontier cannot be safe. 1t
is estimated that upwards of three thou
sand Indians, from our side of the lakes,
visited Maiden and Drummond's Island,
the last year; and, that, at the latter
place alone, presents were distributed to
them to the amount Of ninety-6vc thou
sand dollars. 1t is desirable that this in
tcrcourse should terminate by the act Of
the British government; and it is be-
lieved that it has been continued by its
agents in Canada, rather in consequence
of the practice before the late war, un-
der the treaty of 1894, than by the di-
rect sanction and authority of that gov
eminent Its attention has, however,
been called to it, through the proper de-
partment; and as it is wholly inconsist-
ent with the friendly relations between
the two countries, it is hoped that it will
not be permitted in future. The occu-
patton of the contemplated posts will, in
the mean time, put into our hand the
power 10 correct the evil. The posts
o. the lakes will enable the government,
not only to check effectually all trade
with foreigners in that quarter, but also
to restrain the Indians from passing our
limits. On that side, the remedy will
be complete. On the Mississippi and
the Missouri, the posts at the St. Peters
and Mandan village are we'll selected
for the same purpose. From the Lake
of the Woods, westwardly, the 49th
parallel of latitude is the boundary es-
tablished by the late convention between
the United States and the British pos
sessions. The Hudson Bay and the
orth-West Companies have several
posts and trading establishments, which
are believed to be much to the south of
this line, and, consequently, within our
territory. When the boundary is ascer-
tanned and mark ed. the Dolicv of the act