Page:Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison Vol. 1.djvu/119

Rh Delaware and Piankeshaw Treaties is easily accounted for. Conscious of the superiority of his Talents over the rest of his race and colour he sighs for a more conspicuous theatre to display them. Opportunities for exhibiting his eloquence occur too seldom to satisfy his vanity and the subjects which are generally discussed in the councils of the few chiefs who adhere to him, are too contemptible to gratify his ambition. A chosen connexion among the neighbouring Tribes and a regular convention of their chiefs has long been the ruling wish of his heart and the object of numberless intrigues. An attachment for his person, a submissive defference to his talents, or a supposed coincidence of interests has caused the Agent of the United States to adopt the opinions and promote the views of the Turtle to the utmost extent of his public as well as private influence. The propriety of delivering at Fort Wayne the annuities for the Tribes on the lower part of the Wabash and of obliging them (the Weas particularly) to remove to the neighborhood of that place and the benefits that would result to the United States as well as to the Indians by an annual assemblage of the chiefs of all the Tribes at which all business was to be transacted has been often pressed upon me. The Treaties with the Kaskaskias or the Delaware and Piankeshaw Tribes has given a mortal stab to the favourite scheme and altho I am convinced that very few of the Indians feel any injury from those Treaties it is very easy to persuade them that they have been injured.

Capt. Wells's conduct in this affair certainly deserves severe animadversion. I think it probable however that he did not foresee the consequences of it to the public interests and that some ridiculous spice of jealousy towards myself may have mingled itself with his motives. In order to prevent the like in future and to secure a just and proper dependance upon the Head of the Department I must take the liberty to recommend that he may be informed by you that the approbation of the President of the Continuance of his favour will depend upon the reports which I may make of the zeal and fidelity with which he seconds me in executing the orders of the government. There is perhaps no department which requires greater unanimity amongst the agents than that which has the management of Indian affairs. The jealousy of those