Newspaper Page Text
StntrUijcnce.
ON INDIAN TRADE.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
Office Indian Trade.
28 th December, 1118.
Sir — l have hail the honor of receiving your
letter of the 23(1 inst. in which you request to be
“furnished w ith all the information in my posses
sion, respecting the loss or gain arising from our
trading establishments amongst the Indian tribes,
for one or two years past:” in compliance with
which, 1 have the honor to enclose an abstract,
containing an estimate made up from the first
day of April, 1815,t0 the 30th June, 1818, a pe
riod of three years and three months. I have
selected this period, because it takes in the busi
ness from the last estimate, down to the quarter
ly returns which have been received at this office
from all the factories.
It will be seen, on reference to this abstract,
on the first day of April, 1815, the funds were
worth 8273,989 3; and on the 30th June, 8308,
536 37, from which it appears a gain has been
realized, in that period, of 834,547 31.
The capital on which this office lias been doing
business since the war, is less by 843,369 61, than
it was before that period, this amount having been
lost by its ravages. And when the 810,000 which
yet remain in the treasury, or which have been
absorbed by the sinking fund, and which is a part
of tne appropriation which went to make the ca
pital 8 ; >0o,000 (no more than 8290,000 of which
having been drawn,) is added to the aforesaid
loss; and Sio,ooo for debts due the factory for
merly at Fort Wilkinson, which amount was se
emed to the government by the treaty of Fort
Wilkinson, but which has never been paid over
to this office, it will appear tnat, instead of the
capital being, as it has been usually estimated, viz.
8300,000, it is only 8236,630 39, so that the ur
tual gain is the difference between 8236,630 and
8308,535 57; in other words 871,905 98.
There are several views of the subject which
may go to shew why this gain has not been great
er. *1 gain, it will be borne in mind, which has
but a partial reference to the profits on the sup
plied with which the Indians are furnished , but
an almost exclusive application to the profits
made on the sales of furs and peltries taken in ex
change for these supplies. It is to this source
the trade fund is indebted for its increase; and it
is at this end of the intercourse only, that profits
can be expected, as the law regulating the trade
requires that the advance on the supplies furnish
ed die Indians, snail have reference only to a
maintenance of the capital But to proceed. One
of the reasons why the profits are not greater than
they are, may be found in the necessarily tardy
movements which attended the re-organization
of some of the factories that had suspended their
operations during the war, and in the breaking up
and removal of others. The business of a principal
factory,that at Fort Clark, on the Missouri, which
had ceased to operate during the war, was not re
sumed until late in the spring of 1815; neither
did another principal factory, that at Praric du
Chien, get fully under way rill the spring of 1816.
When the loss of time, and the slow progress of
re-organizing distant posts, and the difficulty of
gathering together the materials for trade, are
considered, and added to the loss of time, and the
consequences attendant upon such a state of things
as is implied in a removal of the factory from fort
Hawkins to fort Mitchell, in Georgia; of the fac
toiy formerly at Natchitoches, to Sulphur Fork,
•wir.cn is not at this time in full operation; of that for
me i iy at fort Si. Stephens, to fort Confederation;
and of that formerly at tne Chickisaw Bluffs, to
Bede Point, on the Arkansas —I say, when these
removals, and the consequent suspension of trade
and profits, (all of which has happened subse
quent to April, 1815,) are taken into view, it will
be no difficult matter to estimate what the result
of the table of toss and gain would have been,
under other circumstances.
But when, to this state of things, is supcradded
the unifoinily opposing influence of private ad
. venturers, whose indefatigable efforts no dangers
can appal, and no difficulties tire; and who, whilst
they oppress the Indians by exorbitant charges,
demoralize and excite them by their modes of
intercourse, and by their own contending interests;
I say, when these are superadded, it may rather
be cause of surprize that the profits have been as
great as they are, than that they are not greater.
I cannot allow this occasion to pass, without
glancing at the nature of the existing government
policy, so far as it relates to commercial inter
com se with our Indians. It appears to me, from
all the views I am able to take of it, and from a
superintendence of its concerns for nearly four
years, that for otrr home Indians, (by winch I
mean the Indians within our military posts,) no
better system than the /iresent can be devised.
This will appear at once, if an enquiry be made
into the object of the government in its commer
cial interference, and by a contrast of that object
w ith that of private and avaricious adventurers.
The government has no object, jior can it have
anv, except that which relates to the welfare of
this people. Its motive for prosecuting the trade
is not a motive of pecuniary interest —therefore
■ttify;
oun
sign.
nent
don?
tUI'C
‘hen
ing? l
lers, \
.ions
1 tlie
Inge ;
and
the Indian country, with whiskey in one hand,
and gewgaws in the other, arc more hostile to
Indian improvement, than at first sight they would
appear to be? Who can doubt hut that private
enterprize would give liberal rewards even to
the more improved parts of our Indian neigh
bors, to burn their ploughs, and destroy their im
plements of husbandry, and again enter upon
the hunter state? Are these suitable advisers,
therefore, for men whose state it is so desirable
to change, and for whose civilization the govern
ment lias been so solicitous for so many years;
and whose unfortunate destiny has at last awaken
ed the regards and the anxiety of thousands of
our humane fellow citizens? It appears to me
that they are not. And that this is the correct
view of the subject, seems reasonable, unless, in
deed, it be admitted that the hunter state is more
conducive to civilization than the agricultural;
or unless it be deemed best for the Indians to
remain savages.
I cannot, therefore, forego the obligation I
feel, to urge the necessity of giving to the exist
ing government intercourse that support and pro
tection, which the generosity of its design, and
the nobleness of its object, appear to me to merit;
and this implies a better regulated, licensed sys-:
tern, so as to restrict such individuals as may
hereafter go amongst our home Indians—to can
cel the licenses of such as are now acting under
such authority, and this may be done by a law
forbidding their renewal, except through partic
ular channels, and under other restrictions, and
an augmentation of the trade fund—a close in
vestigation of the state of which, warrants me in
saying that, rid of the private traders, except
such as would be really useful , the race could
be made to embrace our home Indians, if, to its
present capital, which is shewn to be only 8236,
630 39, were added as much as would bring it
up to the 8300,000.
These two things being done, results alike fa
vorable to the Indians, and to the peace and se
curity of our borders, would no douljt be realized;
and these would be no less gratifying to the go
vernment, than to those humane and benevolent
men, who arc coming in with so much ardor, in
aid of the government design. But, unless these
two things can be realized, I feel it to be no less
my duty to assure you that, in my opinion, no fu
ture period could so well answer to wind up the
business of the government trade, as the present.
I am, See. Bcc.
Tno. L. M‘Kenney, s. i. A.
Statement exhibiting the amount of property on hand, be
longing to the United Stated Indian trading house es
tablishment, on the Ist of . ipnl , 1815; and on the 30th
June, 1818.
April 1,1815. June 30, 1818.
Amount of property, of va
rious kinds, on hand at
the several trading hous
es. 8104,871 55 8221,535 72
Amount of merchandise,
cash, anand
on the books of the su- / <.
perintendant. 103,?45> , 35,188 19
Amount of furs, * 1;’
&c. iu the stores of th£ \ A
superintendant. / 14*416 46 ■ 34,947 61
Amount of property iufthe *
hands of agents inSßew-
Orleans, St. Louis, Pitts-
burg, and Ncw-York. 50,985 86 16,304 85
8273,989 03 305,5..6 37
Gain, arising from the pro
secution of the trade with
the Indians, from Ist Ap
ril, 1815, to the 30th of
June, 1818. 834,547 34
MR. COBB.
From the Nashville Clarion.
To the editor of the Clarion — The remarks of
your coriespondent, (or rather attempt at wit,)
ridiculing the speech of Mr. Colima member of
congress from the state of Georgia, is, 1 think,
unjust and illiberal in the ex treme.
His attempt at ridicule, Jias induced me to read
the speech with attention, knowing
Mr. Cobb, or any tiling abpur more than
that he is a member of the housycoi representa
tives in the congress of the UnitAwStates, from
the state of Georgia, 1 am compelled to believe
he possesses Jhe first order of talents, and speaks
with the independence that belongs to every citi
zen of our’ country, regardless of consequences,
behind oi b'fore.
Many of nis sentiments are in perfect coinci
dence with the opinions of the people here, dis
posed to guard ttie constitution of our country.
Indeed, his speech is, and will be applauded by
many, vet y many, oi the most enlightened and in
dependent people of this country, notwithstand
ing the censure it contains against some of the
conduct of an individual high in office, in spite of
all the cob guns your correspondent can use a
gainst it—it will be considered as a calm and in
dependent expression of iiis opinions, on the sub
ject then under discussion; which carries with it
conviction to an unprejudiced mind, ol nis talents,
moderation, and independence.
But is it right and proper that this subject
should occupy so much of the time of oui nation
al legislature? \\ ould not the conduct of an of
ficer of the regular army, more properly be in
vestigated or enquired into by a court martial,
ordered for that purpose by tne president of the
United States.
Another Correspondent.
The senate, in committee, have made a report
directly the reverse of the decision of the house
of in the case of the Seminolie
war. It decidedly and severely reprehends the
conduct of general Jackson. It is said that ai
great part of the force of argument in his favor,
in the house of representatives, is done away by
a discovery, tkfit he had ordered general Gaines
mtak< St. Augustine, from doing which he was
of provisions.— Alcjc-
BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. |
The yeas and nays, on the proposition in the
house of representatives of the United States,
for a repeal of the charter, gave the follow ing
results:
Fourteen states, having eighty-nine members
present, voted unanimously against the repeal.
Three states, having thirty-six members pre
sent, gave each a majority against the repeal.
Two states, having ten members present, were
equally divided.
Two states, having two members, (Indiana
and Illinois) voted for the repeal.
The fourteen states which were unanimous’
hold 688,112 tons of shipping.
The three states which gave, each, a majority,
hold 103,789. - Y\
The two states, which were equally* ok ided,
hold 175. ‘ . \
The two states, which voted for the
hold none. —Baltimore Federal Gazette, 27 tfP il%.
We have heard this morning, from an authen
tic source, that by the opinion recently given in
the supreme court of the United States, it is de
cided, that no law of any of the individual states,
! passed since the adoption of the constitution, can
impair the obligation of a contract; whether
such contract was made before or subsequent to
the passage of the law.— ib.
This opinion lias given much alarm to many
persons—it is highly interesting to every one, and
we shall publish it at length as soon as we receive
it: it appears that all the judges concurred in it.
It will probably, make some great revolutions in
property, and raise up many from penury, whose
“eyes have been blinded by the dust of the coach
wheels of those that ruined them;” and cause
others to descend to the condition that becomes
honest men, by compelling a payment of their
debts—as every man ought to be compelled to
do, if ever able, unless his creditors by a bank
rupt law, or an operation of the principles of such
a law, have coerced him to give up his means,
and start in business de novo. It ought not to
be at any one’s discretion to say when, or under
what convenient circumstances, he will wipe off
his debts, by the benefit of an insolvent law—as
some do every two or three years, or, just as of
ten as they can get credit enough to make any
thing by it.
The decision powerfully shews the necessity
of a general bankrupt law, and, if it had taken
place at an earlier period of the session of con
gress, might have led to the passage of a bill on
the subject—for it is exceedingly important whilst
the present system of credits exists, that either
party to it may know what may be depended on.
The debtor shouid be protected so far as to let
him have a chance of retrieving his fortunes; but
we much question the policy of discharging him
from a future liability to pay his debts, unless it
be by some act of his creditors. Many honest,
prudent and worthy men have failed, and with a
serious determination to pay their debts there
after, if legally released from the obligation to do
so—but, alasl poor human nature, though we
are not without examples of the kind, they are so
rare as to be considered extraordinaries! The
temptation is too great; even the well-disposed
cannot resist it: to part with 10, !5 or 20,000
dollars that a man has earned, and which he may
keep—why, it is hardly to be expected, “as the
world goes!”
The decision will afford a golden harvest to
lawyers and sheriffs—we have heard that one
gentleman hasorderecl writs for the recovery of
eighty thousand ydollars, due to him
that failed, but wltq are now able toiu*y.
Regarding this decision in we have no
manner of doubt but that every person,
being a stockholder of a haukfmcorporated by the
authority of a state, made iiablafor any
debts contracted bank, during
of his in the institution* as ftliflll ap
pear upon of its bills, as to the time at
which theufm-e issued, See. The editor Mot a
this seems to be a natural and right
ful construction of the facts of the cas—and, as
to the propriety of the. thing itself, he hever has
hesitated a moment. Each partner should be
bound to the extent of his fortune, for the debts
of the association to which he belongs. If the
editor were able to bear the of time and mo
ney, attending upon a suit instituted on these prin
ciples, he would try the force of them against
some of our swindling, bankrupt and bankrupt
making banks. The stockholders must be liable
us individuals; and, when this is established,
there will be an end of rag-money-making.—
Niles’ Register.
A'egro man Mingo. —This famous runaway
and robber, it will be recollected, was, not long
since captured by the militia of Princess Anne,
and committed to jail.—He was subsequently
tried ami condemned to be hung, this day: A
petition, however, was sent up to the executive,
to change his punishment to transportation, which
was granted; and a person was dispatched from
Richmond with a commission to remove the pri
soner to the penitentiary, previous to his final
transportation. This lenient proceeding created
much exasperation among a number of the in
habitants of Princess Anne, and a counter peti
tion, we understand, was sent up to the governor,
praying that the negro might be hanged. Last
night, as Mr. James W. Lord, the person charg
ed with conveying the prisoner to Richmond, was
proceeding with him from Kempsville, he was
waylaid, about two miles from that place, by
some unknown person, who discharged a musket
at the prisoner, and shot him through the head
with a ball, at the same time wounding the guard,
who received two buck shot in the hip. Mingo
survived only two minutes, but Mr. Lord’s wound
is but slight.— A'orfolk Herald , 29 th inst.
Codjish oJJT Cahc Henry. —We are requested j
to -SHU:. for ut
friends, that ten or a dozen fine codfish, weighing
more than twenty pounds each, were caught at a
spot beating VV. by S. per compass, 10 leagues
from Cape Henry, by the crew of brig June
Courts, while on a voyage from South Carolina
to Norfolk— Boston Patriot.
New fsli bank. —\Ve are informed that ar
immense bank, covered with cod, has been dis
covered, extending from Papa Wcstra, in Ork
ney, along the west coast of the Shetland islands.
Already the fishing lias been great. Next sea
son it is expected that this hitherto hidden trea
sure, will afford lucrative employment to seve
ral hundVed sail of fishing vessels. The fisher
men report, that from 150 to 200 sail of vessels
can fish on it, and not out of sight of each other.
W e expect in a future paper, to communicate
a full account of this important discovery.—Ed
inburgh Magazine.
A “black joke." —The Indus, Willis, of Salem,
which sailed from Newburyport for Calcutta,
discovered, after having been 80 days at sea, that
the ship’s cook was a female.— Boston paper.
We stated a few’ days since, that a court mar
tial was then sitting in Washington, on charges
preferred against capt. Elliot by com. Perry. On
this particular our information was not correct.
It was convened for the trial of another officer,
and capt. E. was president.— Georgetown'( Col.)
Messenger, Feb. 15.
It being understood that Russidla.s relinquish
ed to the United States, all to the coun
tries on the Pacific of the
ofN. lat.; and that relinquishaPMl
her’s to the same (after the ten years
stipulated in the with respect to a ceiv
tain portion oLftfcm') the United States will now
possess a territory embracing fifteen degrees cf
latitude on the Pacific Ocean.
The legislature of Virginia, have rejected a bill
to repeal the laws against usury, by a vote of 11G
to 46.—A similar bill has been rejected in the
legislature of Massachusetts, by a vote of 11}
to 5.
It is announced, in the account of Saturday’s
in the house of representatives, that
the president has officially communicated to
congress the treaty with Spain, which has been
solemnly ratified on our part, and will no doubt
he promptly ratified by the governfnent oSSpain.
With a view to this ("rent, a bill has TTcen imro
duced, and will probablybecpme a law, f6r tu
thorising the in thgft contingency, to
receive the territory from the hands of the Spaii|
ish authorities, and establish a provisional go
vernment therein.
i he treaty was read in the house of represen
tatives with open doors, but is not to be publish
ed in extenso, the usage in such cases requiring
it should not be promulgated until formally rati
fied. We have little doubt, however, that a co
py of it will shortly find its way to the press.—
Meanwhile, it is sufficient to state, that the sum
mary we gave of its contents appears to have
been pretty correct, with the following additions:
All grants made by Spain, in the ceded terri
tory, anterior to the Ist day of January, 1818,
are to be respected.
The islands adjacent to Florida are ceded, with
the territory.
It is stipulated that the territory shall, having
the necessary requisites, be admitted into the
union on an equal footing w ith the original states.
—National Intelligencer, 1 st instant.
DEFENCE of the CHESAPEAKE.
The officers of the corps of engineers, gener
al Swfift and Bernard, and colonels Armistead
and M‘Ree, and those of the navy, captains War
rington and Elliot, who were commissioned by
the president, under a resolution of the last ses
sion of congress, to survey the Chesapeake bay,
for the purpose of ascertaining the most suitable
scite for a naval depot, and to plan a general sys
tem of defence for this American Mediterranean,
as w r ell as the coast generally, have executed the
orders of the president, and on Friday last laid
their report before him. The spot selected by
the commissioners for the depot, is said to be
neither of those w'hich have been most spoken of
as suitable scites, It is probable that the report
will form the subject of a communication to con
gress before their adjournment.— ib.
Captain Reardon, of the brig Spry, arrived
last evening from Rio Janeiro, reports, that ac
counts were received over land from Valparaiso,
that the Spanish expedition some time expected,
on making their appearance, were decoyed into
the port by keeping the royal flag flying on the
fortifications in possession of the patriots; they
consisted of one 50 gun ship, two sloops of war,
and seven transports, w ith a number of troops,
all of whom fell an easy prey to the patriots.—
It w as understood at Rio, that the whole country
surrounding Monte Video, was in possession of
general Artigas.— Balt. Telegraph, Ist inst.
Yadkin Navigation Company .—A subscrip
tion paper for stock in this company, is open at
the book-store, w here subscribers will be receiv
ed until the 10th of April. We cannot better
describe the advantage likely to result to this
place, from the opening of the Yadkin river,
than by saying that it has been ascertained that
produce to the amount of more
of dollars must annually come to
which now finds its way to Fayetteville^'A let
ter received during the present w r eek, frfcrn a
gentleman, in Sneedsborough, says, “I hkpe
some of the subscribers from Georgetown w ill
attend the meeting of the stockholders in May, .
as I flatter myself they wouldobt^^u^ftn^i^^