28 PRELIMINARY DOCUMENTS. 



mackinac, and from thence, by the Straits of St. Mary's, to 

 the river which contains the body of copper ore (specimens of 

 which have been transmitted to the Government), and to the ex- 

 tremity of Lake Superior. 



From that point, up the river which forms the water communi- 

 cation between that lake and the Mississippi, to the latter river, 

 and, by the way of Prairie du Chien and Green Bay, to Lake 

 Michigan. 



The political objects which require attention upon this route 

 are: — 



1. A personal examination of the different Indian tribes who 

 occupy the country ; of their moral and social condition ; of their 

 feelings towards the United States; of their numerical strength; 

 and of the various objects connected with them, of which hu- 

 manity and sound policy require that the Government should 

 possess an intimate knowledge. We are very little acquainted 

 with these Indians, and I indulge the expectation that such a 

 visit would be productive of beneficial effects. 



The extract from the letter of Colonel Leavenworth, herewith 

 inclosed, and the speech of the Winnebago Indians, transmitted 

 to the War Department by Mr. Graham, from Eock Island, Feb- 

 ruary 24, 1819, will show how much we have yet to learn re- 

 specting these tribes, which are comparatively near to us. 



2. Another important object is, to procure the extinction of 

 Indian titles to the land in the vicinity of the Straits of St. Mary's, 

 Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, and upon the communication be- 

 tween the two latter places. 



I will not trouble you with any observations respecting the 

 necessity of procuring these cessions. They are the prominent 

 points of the country — the avenues of communication by which 

 alone it can be approached. 



Two of them — Prairie du Chien and Green Bay — are occupied 

 by a considerable population, and the Straits of St. Alary's by a 

 few families. The undefined nature of their rights and duties, 

 and the uncertain tenure by which they hold their lands, render 

 it important that some step should be taken by the Government 

 to relieve them. I think, too, that a cession of territory, with a 

 view to immediate sale and settlement, would be highly important 

 in the event of any difficulties with the Indians. 



