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and to their nearest connections. They find that a home will afford a very inadequate compensation for the property, which will be withheld from them. And even if these considerations do not restrain particular Individuals, they are sufficiently powerful to ensure the attention of the collected will of the village. They guarrantee the restoration of the stolen property with promptitude and Certainty. And this too when that object could be effected by us in no other way than the display and perhaps the use of actual force 5. The distribution of presents is necessary to give dignity, influence and importance to the Agent, and attention to his representations. The Agent is the representative of his Government. Through him the demands of the United States are made and to him the Indians look for, a redress of all their injuries. They are little in the habit of abstraction. They is not and cannot withdraw their attention from the visible objects before them, to those which are remote and invisible. They identify the agent with the Government, and as the former is respected, so will the latter be, An Agent without the means of administering to any of their wants is also without the means of procurring their attachment and respect. A moments reflection will convince us how important it is, that the Indians should be accustomed to respect their Agent. His personal influence thus comes in aid of his official