.ODcz.NTUyODU

From Newberry Transcribe
Jump to navigation Jump to search

of trade. This would bring the two colors into contact, & to the same disadvantage as before mentioned. But from the map, (I use Judsons map of Wis. & Iowa) it appears that 43 1/2 deg N. Lat. would leave all the waters of the St. Peters river within the proposed Ind. Tery. & consequently avoid the difficulties arrising from the conact of the two colors. On the western boundary, I should suppose, the North Red River with its tributaries should come within the Tery. If the map is any way near correct the 20 1/2 deg. W. Long. from Washington will be about the point. Farther west would take in some of the tributaries of the Missouri, & farther east would leave out some of the tributaries of Red River. One object, in the premises, not to be lost sight of, is, the half breeds of the Selkirk Red River Settlement are inclining to migrate to within our country. Many of the whites have done so, & settled on the west side of the St. Croix Lake, & others are expected to follow. The half breeds, it is said, prefer our country, & if settled within our limits and their friendship secured, they would form a barrier to the invation of the British from that quarter in case of war. The great thoroughfare for all this imigration from that region to our limits, is on the Red River, hence the propriety of that River being within the Tery. I am told that the Red River half breed, would prefer to settle on the Red River, while those along Lake Superior would probably prefer to settle west or N. West of the Lake. If it be found impracticable to unite the Sioux & Chippewas in one Tery. & under one Govt. or Superintendency, perhaps the best remedy for the evil would be the establishment of two Tery; one for each, with such other bands as would unite with them. The seat of Govt. for one at St. Peters & the other at Fon du Lac. It will be seen that the proposed western boundary will leave sufficient Tery. for the formation of states, including the Missouri River. And as that River must be the great thoroughfare to the Oregon Tery. a chain of white states should be formed along that water course. I have already extended this letter far beyond my original intention; but there is one point more on which I wish to touch, & which my own observation has proved to be of vital importance to the objects contemplated by the Govt.