34 PKELIMINARY DOCUMENTS. 



Y. 



Extract of a letter from the Secretary of "War to Governor 

 Lewis Cass, dated 



April 5, 1820. 



Sir : I have received your letters of the 10th, 11th, and 17th 

 ultimo. In relation to procuring cessions of land from the 

 Indians, the Government has decided that it would be inexpedient 

 to obtain any farther extinguishment of Indian title, except at the 

 Sault de St. Marie, where it is the wish of the Department, that 

 an inconsiderable cession, not exceeding ten miles square (unless 

 strong reasons for a greater cession should present themselves 

 from an actual inspection of the country), should be acquired 

 upon the most reasonable terms, so as to comprehend the pro- 

 posed military position there. 



Herewith you will receive a plate of the country about the 

 Sault de St. Marie, on which is indicated the military site intended 

 to be occupied for defence. You will also procure the cession of 

 the islands containing plaster, provided these islands are clearly 

 within the boundary of the United States, and can be obtained 

 without any considerable expense. 



A commission, authorizing you to hold these treaties, will be 

 forwarded to you in a few days. 



As it is desirable to know by what title the people at Green 

 Bay and Prairie du Chien hold their lands, and whether or not 

 the Indian titles to those lands were extinguished by the French, 

 at any period subsequent to their possession of the countrj'- 

 (which is the impression of this Department), you will communi- 

 cate such information as you possess, or may obtain, during your 

 tour, on this subject. 



In addition to Mr. Schoolcraft, Captain Douglass, of the en- 

 gineer corps, has been ordered to join you, and Mr. AVhitney (in 

 whose behalf application has been made for that purpose) may 

 accompany you, if you can accommodate him. Should he accom- 

 pany you, he will be allowed the same' compensation made to Mr. 

 Schoolcraft, who will be allowed one dollar and fifty cents a day 

 for the time actually employed. 



