282 APPENDIX. 



where there are no trading-posts established. My lowest trad- 

 ing-post on the Mississippi, is the Pierced Prairie, eighteen miles 

 below the mouth of the De Corbeau. It embraces one mile 

 square, upon which traders are required to be located. On the 

 St. Croix, the posts established and confirmed by the Department 

 are Snake River and Yellow River, and embrace each, as the 

 permanent place of location, one mile square. I report these 

 facts for your information, and not to enable you to grant licenses 

 for these posts, as the instructions of the Department give to 

 each agent the exclusive control of the subject of granting 

 licenses for the respective agencies. 



Much solicitude is felt by me to exclude ardent spirits wholly 

 from the Chippewas and Ottowas, the latter of whom have, by a 

 recent order, been placed under my charge. I am fully satisfied 

 that ardent spirits are not necessary to the successful prosecu- 

 tion of the trade, that they are deeply pernicious to the Indians, 

 and that both their use and abuse is derogatory to the character 

 of a wise and sober government. Their exclusion in every 

 shape, and every quantity, is an object of primary moment ; and 

 it is an object which 1 feel it a duty to persevere in the attain- 

 ment of, however traders may bluster. I feel a reasonable con- 

 fidence in stating, that no whiskey has been used in my agency 

 during the last two years, except the limited quantity taken by 

 special permission of the Secretary of War, for the trade of the 

 Hudson's Bay lines ; and saving also the quantity clandestinely 

 introduced from Prairie du Chien and St. Peters. 



I know, sir, that an appeal to you on this subject cannot be 

 lost, and that your feelings and judgment fully approve of tem- 

 perance measures. But it requires active, persevering, unyield- 

 ing efforts. And in all such efforts, judiciously urged, I am sat- 

 isfied that the government will sustain the agents in a dignified 

 discharge of their duties. Let us proceed in the accomplishment 

 of this object with firmness, and with a determination never to 

 relinquish it, until ardent spirits are entirely excluded from the 

 Indian country. 



I am sir, 



Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 



Henry R. Schoolcraft. 



