Page:Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison Vol. 1.djvu/139

Rh as their respective cases require. It may not be improper to procure from the Sacs, such cessions on both sides of the Illinois, as may entitle them to an annual compensation of five or six hundred dollars; they ought to relinquish all pretensions to any land on the southern side of the Illinois, and a considerable tract on the other side; and if any of the principal chiefs of the other nations shall discover an indication to follow the example of the old Kaskaskias' chiefs they ought to be encouraged more especially the Piankeshaws, whose lands divide the Vincennes territory, on the Wabash, from the cessions of the Kaskaskias. It would also be desirable to obtain the tract between the southern line of the Vincennes territory and the Ohio. You will, of course, embrace every favorable opportunity for obtaining cessions of such parts of the above mentioned tract as may occur by a fair and satisfactory bargain. It is suggested by the President of the United States, for your consideration and opinion, whether it would not be expedient to give certain annuities, to each actual family, during the existence of said family, even if the aggregate to a nation, should be increased 15 or 20 per cent. For instance, we give the Piankeshaws five hundred dollars per annum; suppose they have fifty families, we agree to give the nation twelve dollars for each family annually and when a family becomes extinct, the annuity to cease, or if, when its members decrease, the annuity to decrease in proportion.

G. W. H. H

T D, July 10th, 1804

"Vincennes Gazette, Aug. 21, 1804"

S:

I had the honor to receive your letter of the 4th ultimo, and feel much obliged for the interesting information it contains. I have no doubt that Congress will agree that the parties whose lands have been surveyed under your direction shall not be charged with additional expense for that object; and I have accordingly instructed the surveyor-general.