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But we have half a million of Indians to be provided for, & allowing the present policy of the Govt. in forming them into Indian Territories, of say 100,000, it will require an end equil to 5 states for them to occupy. This will reduce the Territory to be settled by the whites, to equil about 23 states, which, of course, according to the past ratio of increase will fill up in less than 20 years. And when thus filled or settled by the whites, we shall have the Indians in close juxtaposition, throughout the entire west. And if they are unimproved, or remain in a savage state, or follow the chase for a living, they must in the nature of things be troublesome, because the Districts allowed them cannot be sufficient to furnish them game, & they must of consequence depredate upon the whites, or starve. If they steal, it will lead to war, which may end in their extermination, but if we press them into so narrow limits as to cause them to steal for a subsistance & then exterminate them for doing it, as a Nation, we incur fearful responsibilities, & the judgements of God will, no doubt, redress the grievances of the oppressed. But I have not the most distant idea, that either the Gov't or people of the U.S. desire or design any such measures. But possibly the rapid settlement of the west, is hastening the period at which the benevolent & guardian designs of the Gov't. to provide for their permanent settlement & civilisation will need to have been accomplished faster than is generally thought of, & hence the propriety of more extensive & efficient efforts in this great & noble scheme. What I would suggest on this subject, is, the propriety of selecting those points at which Indian Territories are to be formed, & District off the whole country to the Pacific by Act of Congress, into future states, and then as fast as may be, collect the Indians within the Dists assigned to them, & let a great portion of the price of the lands bought of them, be applied to the benevolent purpose of teaching them the civilised arts, and at the same time allow & encourage the religious community to supply them with missionaries. Indeed, the efforts of Govt. have in no case succeeded so well in civilising the Indians, as when done thro' those men who go among them - not for the emoluments of office, as some do, who care not a