Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-27

on our territory. and foreign traders or
posts; and 10 garrison them with iorce
sufficiently strong to overawe the neigh-
boring tribes. With this view, measures
have been taken to establish strong posts
al the Council Bluff and the Mandan WI
lage, on the Missouri; at the mouth oil
the ST. Peters, on the Mississippi; and
at the Falls OF ST, Mary's, between lakes
Superior and Huron. The posts a, Green
Bsy, Chicago, Rock Island, and Prairie
du Chen, will still be continued. The
posts al the mouth of the ST. Peters, and
at the Counci Bluff, have already been
occupied and that at Mandan Village
will probably be the next summer. The
position at the Falls OF ST. Mary's has
been reconnoilered, and it is intended to
make preparation the next summer TO
occupy 1t. The occupationof these posts,
with an adequate force, will, ii is be-
lieved, by establishing over The various
tribes IN that quarter the Influence OF
our Government, and preventing or d.
minishing that of others, have the most
beneficial effects. The position al the
Council Bluff is very important one :;
and the post will consequently be render
ed strong, and will be occupied by a
sufficienl garrison. 1t is about hall way
| between ST Louis and the Mandan Vii
| age, and is at that point on the Mlssou-
ri, which approaches the nearest TO the
post at the Mouth ofthe ST. Peters, with
which, in the event of hostlities, II may
co operate Il is besides not more than
one hundred and eighty miles in advance
OF our settlements on the Missouri, ana
is 10 the centre of the most powerful
tribes, and the most numerous Indian
popu la,ion, west Of the Mississippi. II
IS believed TO be the best position on the
Missouri to cover our flourishing settle
nents in that quarter, and ought, II II
we're wholly unconnected with other OBJ
lects, to be established for that purpose
alone.
The position at the Msndan Village has
been selected for military post, on sc-
count of the many advantages which
it Supposed TO possess. AT that POM
the Missouri approaches nearest TO the
establishment OF the Hudson Bay Com
pany, on the Red River OF the Lakes,
near the mouth OF The Assnaboin and
at the same point it takes direction to
the south, which, 10 the event at hnstlii-
ties, would render it more difficult tor
any force, which might be brought
against it from the possessions OF our
northern neisbbors, to interrupt lis com
munication wi b the posts below. 1t IS
besides we'll situated to protect our
traders, and TO prevent those OF the II i'd
sen Bay Company from extending their
trade towards the head waters of the
Missouri, and along the Rocky Noun
tains, within our limls-which tract o
country is said TO abound more IN fur, |
and OF better quality, than any other
portion of this continent. The post a
the mouth of the ST. Peters is at The
head of navigation on the Mississippt;
and, III addition to its commanding posi-
ton, in relation to the Indians, !. pos
sesses grea, advantages, either 20 protect
Dur trade, or prevent that OF foreigners.
The post contemplated at the Fails OF
81. Mary's will, i, is believed, be ofvery
greal importance. The position, il has
been stated, has been reconnoitered, and
it's found that the communication be-
weeu the two lakes can be commanded !
rom our side, as the channel passes
close under the western shore. The
post may be established and maintained |
at very little additional expense.
When these posts are established ana
il is believed, with ludlcious
conduct on the part Of our officers, that
our northwestern frontier will be rem
derxd much more secure than hereto
fore; 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 sayages: and so long
as they are welded by foreign hand, our
frontier must ever be exposed TO the ca
lami,y 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 |
pi and Missouri, and decided control
over all their measures. The effects of
this ascendency over them must be re-
membered and lamented, 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 it. Tbs right OF
intercourse and trade with the Indians,