.ODcz.NTUyODY

that is, the characters of the Gov. Superintendants or other kind of agents, who are to carry out the benevolent views of the Govt. in these matters. I have known men in there offices who are skeptical as to the propriety or even posibility of civilizing the Ind's. They are generally men of immoral habits & care for nothing further than to keep fair accounts with the Dept. Nothing can be more obvious, than that men of benevolent views & feelings, who would enter upon the discharge of such duties under the full conviction of its propriety and importance as well as practicability, would succede to better advantage than those of other views & practices. White men of good character & qualifications for such stations, will nor forego the priviledges of civilized life, for such an office, unless they are actuated by benevolent motives toward, the Indians. Hence the most of Ind. farmers have been of idle & dissolute habits; the Ind's. have become disgusted with them & the project for their improvement has proved a failure. But there has not been an instance of failure, of the kind, however, where the men employed have been of pious as well as moral & industrious habits. To effect, therefore, the noble object of Gov't. in the premises, I respectfully suggest the propriety of selecting the Gov. & all other agents with this view, other things being equil. Very Respectfully Alfred Brunson

Hon. John Bell Secry of War Washington City

          D.C.

O G? A Mitchell? B1315 B431 Oct. 12. 1841 Indian Office

A Brunson Prairie du Chien Sept 17/41 Suggestions for civilizing the Western Indians & for protection of the frontier

Dep. of War And 16 Oct 1841 Recd O G? A 30 Oct 41 File