Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-02-01

iished and maintained at very little &C
ditional expense. When these posts ar
all established and occupied, it is belle
we'd, with judicious conduct Oh the part
our officers, that our northwestern trontie
will be rendered much more secure thai
heretofore, aud that the most valuable fu
trade IN the world will be thrown into on
hands.
Trade and presents, accompanied by
talks calculated for the purpose, are
mong the most powerful means TO contro
the actions of sayages; aud, SO long as they
are welded by a foreign hand, our iron
tier must ever be exposed to the calamity
of Indian warfare. By the treaty OF 1874
Great Britain obtained the right OF inter,
course with the Indians residing in our ter
ri.ory., which gave her nearly monoPo
ly of the trade with the various tribes oil
the lakes, the Mississippi, and Missouri,
and decided control over all their mea
sures. The effects Of this asceudency o.
yer them must be remembered and lament
ed, SO long as the history OF the late war
shall be perused. The most distressing
occurrences, and the greatest disasters OF
that period, may be distinctly traced to IL.
This right of intercourse and trade with
the Indians, which has proved tous so per-
uicious, terminated 10 the war, and was not
reserved by the treaty at Client; and, in
the year 1915, Congress passed law,
which authorized the President to prohi-
bit foreigners from trading with the In
dams residing within our limits, and iu-
structions have been given, under the act,
to prevent such trade; but it is obvious
that the act and instructions to Indian
gents can have but little efficacy to RENE
dy the evil Without a military force,
properly distributed, the trade would still
be continued, and, even if it we're prevent
ed, that which is more pernicious would
still remain-Indian talks at British posts,
accompanied with profuse distribution
of presents.
This intercourse is the great source OF
danger to our peace: and until it is stop
ped, our frontier cannot be safe. Ii is es-
timated that upwards of three thousand In
dians, from our side of the lakes, visited
Maiden and Drummond's Island, the last
year; aud that, at the latter place alone,
presents were distributed to the amount OF
niGety Eve thousand dollars. ii is desi-
rable that this intercourse should termi-
nate by the act OF the British government;
and it is believed that it has been contin-
ued by lis agents in Canada, rather in
consequence of the practice before the late
war. under the treaty Of l794, than 10y the
direct sanction and authority Of that 60
vernment. Its attention has, however,
been called to it, through the proper de-
psrtment; and as it is wholly inconsistent
with the friendly relations between the two
countries, it is hoped that it will not be
permitted in future. The occupation Of
the contemplated posts will, in the mean
time, put into our hands the power TO cor
rect the evil The posts on the lakes will
enable the government, not only to check
effectually all trade with foreigners iu that
quarter, but also to restrain the Indians
from passing our limits. On that side, the
remedy will be complete. On the Missis-
sippi and the Missouri, the posts at ST.
Peters and Mandan village are well Sc
leoted for the same purpose. From the
Lake Of the woods westwardly, the 49th
parallel of latitude is the boundary estab-
lished by the late convention between the
United States and the British possessions
The Hudson, Bay and the North West
companies have several posts and trading
establishments, which are believed to be
much to the south of this line, and, con-
sequently within our territory. When the
boundary is ascertained and marked, the
policy of the act of the Goth April, 1916,
already referred to, may by means of these
posts, be effectually enforced and in that
quarter, as we'll as on the side of the lakes,
we shall have the power to exclude for
eigners from trade and intercourse with
the Indians residing within our limits
The facility Of communication, by the
Mississippi and Missouri with our posts
on those rivers, is so much greater than
that between Hudson Bay or Montreal
(particularly without passing through our
territory, and the British posts north Of
ours, that our ascendency over the Indians
OF those rivers, both as TO trade and pow
er. ought with iudicious measures on our
part, to be complete.
deem it my duty respectfully to sug
gest TO the committee, as it is intimately
connected with the subject of the present
inquiry, that the present system Of Indian
trade is defective; aud that, Besides en-
dangering the peace of our country, it
cannot meet on equal terms, the well or
ganized trading associations of our north
ern neighbors. will, however, forbear
from presenting any NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
on this point, as the report which | had
the honor TO make TO the Honse Of Rep
resentatives on the 5th December, 1918.