Page:Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison Vol. 1.djvu/84

46 individuals without the acknowledged boundary of the lands of the LInited States, but those which are made by the Illinois and Wabash companies; these companies are composed nearly of the same persons, and their claims include almost the whole country between the Lakes, the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Indian boundary line, running from the mouth of the Kentucky river to the northern boundary of the United States. A person attended at the treaty of Greenville on behalf of one or both of these companies, and as well as I can recollect (for I was at that time in the family of General Wayne) the subject was not brought before the Indians. It is I believe, acknowledged that these purchases were unauthorized by any government. To remedy this the conveyance is made to the company or to the King of Great Britain.

I can form no idea of the number of Indians that may attend at the proposed meeting; I shall, however, endeavor to make it as small as possible, and dismiss them as soon as the business can be done. I believe that the chiefs will endeavor to bring with them as large a retinue as possible, which some will do from ostentation, and some from apprehension of danger, several of the tribes being much irritated against each other. I think it would be better to have the meeting immediately after the delivery of the annuities at Fort Wayne; no other presents will then be expected, excepting a few special ones for the chiefs. Should the President approve of giving an annuity to the Sacks, they will probable expect to have an advance of one year on their arrival here. One of the chiefs of this tribe attended the trial of the Delaware Indian at Kaskaskia last fall, and complained heavily of the neglect with which his tribe was treated by the United States. I have enclosed a sample of virgin copper, found on the Vermillion river, about eighty miles above this place. This piece has undergone no process excepting that of being heated in a common fire, and then beaten with a hammer to get off some small bits of stone and earth which adhered to it. I have reason to suppose that there is a considerable quantity at the place whence this piece was brought. Recollecting that there was a resolution of congress, passed two years ago, directing a search to be made after copper on Lake Superior, it occurred to me that the President might wish some inquiries to be made after the mine from which this sample was taken.