Page:Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison Vol. 1.djvu/81

Rh that the line should run from the mouth of White river up the channel of that river, instead of at right angles to the Wabash, that they would be paid for all the land on the south side of White river which had been included in our settlements and surveys. This explanation seemed satisfactory. It appears that all the Indians have understood that the claim to the land between Point Coupee and White river had been extinguished, and I believe they would readily agree that it should extend in depth on each side the river so far as to make a square of 24 leagues, which is the distance between the above-mentioned points. The remainder of their claim may be relinquished, and this liberality will authorize us to ask for an extension of our territory on the Illinois, if our claim in that country is not sufficiently large to prevent our settlement from being cramped.

My views as to the boundary line in that quarter are, that it should commence at the mouth of the Illinois river, run up that river for 30 or 35 miles, thence by a line parallel to the course of the Mississippi, until it intersects at right angles a line to be drawn from a point opposite Cape St. Combs, which is on the west side of the Mississippi, and about 10 miles below Kaskaskia. This would give a tract of country of 80 miles by 35, over almost the whole of which our settlements are now scattered. There are some other objects of importance which might be settled at the time the Indians meet upon the subject of the boundary line. I have before stated to you that none of the roads passing through one settlement to any other in this Territory were made free by treaty, admitting that free ingress and egress were contemplated at the time that the several tracts were ceded to the French. Yet this can, I should suppose, extend no further than the allowance of one road to the Ohio, and one to the Mississippi, but the extension of the settlements and the constant emigration from the Ohio to this place, and the countries on the Mississippi, make it necessary to have two or three main roads. The settlements which extend from the Great Miami to the Indian boundary, running from the Kentucky river, will shortly be attached to this territory, and will totally be cut off from a communication with the seat of government unless we can have a new road; and the opening of those I presume ought not to be attempted without the consent of the Indians; this 