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of Michigan, in a letter, of which I have the honour herewith to 

 furnish a copy. The proposition of running out and marking their 



territorial lines, as ■ means of preserving peace, was approved; 

 die recent meetings on the St. Croix, for the porpooa of renewing 

 plccL eclared to be sincere on the part of the Chip- 



nd sentiments of friendship to the government, and wel- 

 ooaaa lo nrjreeUi 1 1 h of the councils which I held 



with them. 



In Mihmittiiiii to the Department this summary of farts, result- 

 ing from my visit to the source of the Mississippi, 1 take the 

 ision to remark, that whatever may he the present state of 

 : the trihes out hat stream, above Prairie du ( nien, re- 

 ling the governmeol of the United States, causes are in 

 silent, but active operation, which will hereafter bring them into 

 contact with our frontier settlements, and renew, at two or three 

 separate periods in their history, the necessity of resorting to 

 arms to quell or pacify them. The grounds of this opinion I 

 need not now specify, further than to indicate that they exist in 

 the condition and character of opposite lines of an extensive fron- 

 tier population, which will inevitably impel the one to press, and 

 the other to recede or n sist This process of repulsion and re- 

 sistance will continue, if I have not much mis-taken the character 

 of that stream, until the frontier shall have become stationary about 

 five hundred miles above the point 1 have indicated. I advert to 

 this topic, not in the spirit of exciting immediate alarm, for there 

 are no reasons for it, hut for the purpose of calling the attention 

 of t: S -ry of War, through you, sir, to the importance of 



keeping up, and not withdrawing or reducing, the north western 

 posts and agencies. And to express the opinion, that the advice 

 and influence of the government upon these tribes would fall 

 nearly powerless, without ready and visible means upon the fron- 



1 .ri.Viianity.se!: 

 and agriculture will do much to meliorate their condition and sub- 

 due their an. Dl it i> of influence which 

 not yet been felt in any general effects m this quarter. Among 

 the means of securing their friendship, and preserving peaei . I 

 have the honour to suggest, that beneficial effects would result 

 from following Ml .oratory visits, by extending 



