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24 The efficacy of this process does not depend upon any speculative notions, It's advantages have been tested by many years experience. In politicks as in war, our tractics must be regulated in some measure by those of the party, with whom we are to contend. If they distribute largely and we nothing we must expected, that this system combined with other favourable circumstances, which they are provident to foresee and adroit to seize, will give them as heretofore a preponderance in the Indian Councils. The use which they were enabled during the late war, the make of the preponderance I need not consider, and I cannot calculate the expenditure of blood and treasure, which it cost us. A timely and vigilent attention to our Indian relations, with a view to the establishment of a system which shall prevent the recurrence of similar consequences is equally dictated by humanity and policy. 3. The distribution of presents is required in order to secure the attachment of influential chiefs. The Government of the Indians, if it deserve that name, resolve themselves into seperate villages with little dependence upon each other. Some chief who has succeeded in obtaining influence among them is at the head of each village. But his feeble authority is seldom if ever directly