Page:Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison Vol. 1.djvu/117

Rh The Kaskaskia Tribe never lifted the Tomahawk against the United States. The Miamis during the whole war with the Northwestern Indians were amongst the most active of their enemies and the most difficult to bring to a final accommodation.

The Piankeshaws altho they gave assistance to the other Tribes in the commencement of the war seceded from the Confederacy and made peace with us three years before the Miamis.

If then the Piankeshaws and Kaskaskias were competent to the important concerns of making peace and war without the consent of the Miamis, they must be equally so to sell land. Which is acknowledged by them and which is no longer useful to them. The Treaty of Greeneville contains nothing to authorize the belief that those two Tribes were considered at that time dependent upon the Miamis. None of their chiefs were present. They did not think it necessary to go as one of them had never been at war with the United States and the other had made peace three years before. But it was considered just that they would participate in the bounty of the United States for that purpose their names were introduced into the Treaty and the Weas (not the Miamis) their nearest neighbours were requested to sign for them. Inclosed is an address of the Turtle's to Wells which he desired might be sent to me for the purpose of convincing me that the Piankeshaws had no right to sell their lands. I can see nothing in it however to weaken what I have advanced above. It is my decided opinion that the U. S. have the right to treat with either of the Tribes who were parties to the Treaty of Greeneville. Motives of humanity will always prevent them from purchasing lands which cannot be conveniently spared and the interest of those who without having any just claim to the land but who may desire their support from it will be attended to. These principles are exemplified by the Treaties made with two Tribes for one tract of land when a complete and legal title might perhaps have been obtained by the extinction of the claims of one.

The Tract purchased of the Delawares and Piankeshaws [1802] is not nor never has been since my arrival in this country frequented as a hunting ground by either the Miamis or Potawatomies. None of the Indians go there to hunt buffaloes (as Mr. Wells has asserted) not an animal of that