Page:Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison Vol. 1.djvu/129

Rh to the villages Commons, which is now become destitute of Wood.

It would be unnecessary to contest the validity of this Indian grant and confirmation, since the inhabitants have repeatedly and formally renounced all the right they possessed to the tract in question, particularly in their address to Congress of the 26 July 1787 in which they use the following words: "Reposing the most unbounded confidence in the justice, humanity and benevolence of the honorable Congress we solemnly surrender our charter whatever it is, and throw ourselves upon your mercy". An extract from this source documents and others from Mr. Tardiveau's address to Congress in their behalf dated 7th August 1787, and 28th Feb. 1788, and also the powers given to him by the inhabitants of St. Vincennes as their agent are annexed. This renunciation as far as it might be supposed by the inhabitants to relate to a valid title in themselves was doubtless one of the motives to the grant and confirmations made to them by Congress in their acts of 20th June and 29th August 1788, and 3d March 1791, the latter of which ought to be considered as closing the claims of the settlers of St. Vincennes.

For these reasons the Secretary of State is of opinion that the petition ought not to be granted, which is respectfully submitted.

Department of State.

 February 17, 1804 Am. Sta. Pa. Misc. I, 387 Annals, 8th Cong. 1 sess. 1023-4

Mr. [Caesar] Rodney, from the committee to whom were referred a letter from William Henry Harrison, President of the general convention of the representatives of the people of