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Political horizon--Ahmo Society--Incoming of Gen. Jackson's
administration--Amusements of the winter--Peace policy among the
Indians--Revival at Mackinac--Money crisis--Idea of Lake tides--New
Indian code--Anti-masonry--Missions among the Indians--Copper
mines--The policy respecting them settled--Whisky among the
Indians--Fur trade--Legislative council--Mackinac mission---Officers
of Wayne's war--Historical Society of Michigan--Improved diurnal
press.
1829. Jan. 1st. The administration of John Quincy Adams
now draws to a close, and that of Gen. Jackson is anticipated to
commence. Political things shape themselves for these events. The
close of the old year and the opening of the new one have been
remarkable for heralding many rumors of change which precede the
incoming of the new administration. Many of these relate to the
probable composition of Gen. Jackson's cabinet. Among the persons
named in my letters is Gov. Cass, who has attracted a good deal of
exterior notoriety during the last year. Within the territory, his
superiority of talents and energy have never been questioned.
Michigan would have much to lament by such a transference, for it is
to be feared that party rancor, which he has admirably kept down,
would break forth in all its accustomed violence.
17th. AHMO SOCIETY.--Under this aboriginal term, which
signifies a bee, the ladies of the fort and village have organized
themselves into a sewing society for benevolent purposes. I find
myself honored with a letter of thanks from them by their secretary,
Mrs. E.S. Russell. Truly, the example of Dorcas was not mentioned in
vain in the Scriptures, for its effect is to excite the benevolent
and charitable everywhere to do likewise. Every such little
influence helps to make society better, and aids its sources of
pleasing and self-sustaining reflection.
February 12th. A letter from the editor of the North
American Review acknowledges the receipt of a paper to appear in
its columns.
March 4th, The administration of the government this day
passes into the hands of a man of extraordinary individuality of
character, indomitable will, high purpose, and decided moral
courage. He was fighting the Creeks and Seminoles when I first went
to the West, and they told the most striking anecdotes of him,
illustrating each of these traits of character. Ten or eleven years
have carried him into the presidential chair. Such is the popular
feeling with respect to military achievements and strong
individuality of character. Men like to follow one who shows a
capacity to lead.
31st. The winter has passed with less effect from the
intensity of its cold and external dreariness, from the fact of my
being ensconsed in a new house, with double window-sashes, fine
storm-houses, plenty of maple fuel, books, and studies. Besides the
fruitful theme of the Indian language, I amused myself, in the early
part of the season, by writing a review for one of the periodicals,
and with keeping up, throughout the season, an extensive
correspondence with friends and men of letters in various parts of
the Union. I revised and refreshed myself in some of my early
studies, I continued to read whatever I could lay my hands on
respecting the philosophy of language. Appearances of spring--the
more deepened sound of the falls, the floating of large cakes of ice
from the great northern depository, Lake Superior, and the return of
some early species of ducks and other birds--presented themselves as
harbingers of spring almost unawares. It is still wintry cold during
the nights and mornings, but there is a degree of solar heat at noon
which betokens the speedy decline of the reign of frosts and snows.
The Indians, to whom the rising of the sap in its capillary vessels
in the rock-maple is the sign of a sort of carnival, are now in the
midst of their season of sugar-making. It is one of their old
customs to move, men, women, children, and dogs, to their accustomed
sugar-forests about the 20th of March. Besides the quantity of
maple-sugar that all eat, which bears no small proportion to all
that is made, some of them sell a quantity to the merchants. Their
name for this species of tree is In-in-au-tig, which means man-tree.
April 5th. PEACE POLICY.--The agent from La Pointe, in Lake
Superior, writes: "My expressman from the Fond du Lac arrived on the
31st of last month, by whom I learned that the Leech Lake Indians
were unsuccessful in their war excursion last fall, not having met
with their enemies, the Sioux, and I trust my communication with Mr.
Aitkin will be in time to check parties that may be forming in the
spring.
"The state of the Indians throughout the country is generally in a
critical way of starvation, the wild-rice crops and bear-hunts
having completely failed last fall."
21st. REVIVAL OF RELIGION AT MACKINAC.--My brother James, who
crossed the country on snow-shoes, writes: "Mr. Stuart, Satterlee,
Mitchell, Miss N. Dousman, Aitken, and some twenty others, have
joined Ferry's church." This may be considered as the crowning point
of the Reverend Mr. Ferry's labors at that point. This gentleman, if
I mistake not, came up in the same steamer with me seven years ago.
It is seed--seed literally sown in the wilderness, and reaped in the
wilderness.
29th. MONEY CRISIS.--"The fact is," says a person high in
power, "the fiscal concerns of the department have come to a dead
stand, and nothing remains but to ascertain the arrearages, and pay
them up. You well know how all this has happened (by diversions and
misappropriations of the funds at Washington). Such management you
can form no conception of. There will be, during the year, a
thorough change.
"I was glad to see your article. It is an able, and temperate, and
practical view of the subject (N.A.R., Ap. 1829), grossly
exaggerated, and grossly misunderstood."
May 19th. IDEA OF LAKE TIDES.--Maj. W. writes: "If you see
Silliman's Journal, you will observe an article on the subject
of the Lake Tides, as Gen. Dearborn calls them, in which he
has inserted some hasty letters I wrote to him on this subject,
without, however, ever expecting to see them in such a respectable
guise. The Governor made some more extended observations at Green
Bay. If you can give anything more definite in relation to the
changes of Lake Superior, pray let me have a letter, and we will try
to spread before Mr. Silliman a better view of the case. I have no
idea that anything in the shape, of a tide exists, The Governor is
of the same opinion."
To these opinions I can merely add, Amen. It requires more
exactitude of observation than falls to the lot of casual observers,
to upset the conclusions of known laws and phenomena.
26th. NEW INDIAN CODE.--Mr. Wing, the delegate in Congress,
forwards to me a printed copy of the report of laws proposed for the
Indian department. It denotes much labor on the part of the two
gentlemen who have had it in hand, and will be productive of
improvement. I should have liked a bolder course, and not so careful
a respect all along, for what has previously been done. Congress
requires, sometimes, to be instructed, or informed, and not to be
copied in its attempts to manage Indian, affairs.
Every paper brings accounts of removals and appointments under the
new administration; but nothing, so far as I can judge, that
promises much, in this way, of material benefit to Indian affairs.
The department at head-quarters has been, so far as respects fiscal
questions, wretchedly managed, and is over head and ears in debt,
and the result of all this mal-administration is visited on the
frontiers, in the bitter want of means for the agents, sub-agents,
and mechanics, and interpreters, who are obliged to be either
suspended, or put on short allowance. Doubtless, Gen. Jackson, who
is a man of high purpose, would remedy this thing, if the facts were
laid before him.
30th. MASONRY.--It has recently been discovered, that there
is a hidden danger in this ancient fraternity, and that society has
been all the while sitting, as it were, on the top of a volcano,
liable, at any moment, to burst. Such, at least, appear to be the
views of some politicians, who have seized upon the foolish and
apparently criminal acts of some lack-wits in western New
York, to make it a new political element for demagogues to ride.
Already it has reached these hitherto quiet regions, and zealots are
now busy by conventions, and anxious in hurrying candidates up to
the point. "Anti-masonic" is the word, a kind of "shibboleth" for
those who are to cross the political "fords" of the new Jordan.
June 1st. MISSIONARY LABORS AMONG THE INDIANS.--There are
evidently some defects in the system. There is too much expended for
costly buildings, and the formation of a kind of literary institutes
of much too high a grade, where some few of the Indians are
withdrawn and very expensively supported, and undergo a sort of
incarceration for a time, and are then sent back to the bosom of the
tribes, with the elements of the knowledge of letters and history,
which their parents and friends are utterly unable to appreciate,
and which they, in fact, ridicule. The instructed youth is soon
discouraged, and they most commonly fall back into habits worse than
before, and end their course by inebriety, while the body of the
tribe is nowise bettered. Whatever the defects are, there are
certainly some things to amend in our measures and general policy.
Mr. Stevens and Mr. Coe, both missionaries, have recently been
appointed to visit the Indian country, with the object of observing
whether some less expensive and more general effort to instruct and
benefit the body of the tribes, cannot be made. The latter has a
commentatory letter to this end, from Gen. Jackson, dated the 19th
of March, which denotes an interest on this topic that argues
favorably of his views of moral things.
"The true system of converting the Indians was, it is apprehended,
adopted by David Brainerd in 1744. He took the Bible, and declared
its truths with simplicity and earnestness in the Indian villages.
There was no preparation of buildings or outlays. In one year he had
gathered a church of pure believers. Their manners immediately
reformed; they became industrious and cleanly, and built houses, and
schools, and tilled the land. All this was a consequence, and
not a cause of Christianity1."
2d. A friend writes: "I believe the literary world is rather
lazy just at this time; at least nothing novel, except words, has
reached my eye. Your Literary Voyager has lately been
traveling the rounds amongst your friends."
12th. COPPER MINES.--A private letter, from a high quarter,
says: "Col. Benton's bill, respecting the copper mines, which passed
Congress, only provided for permission being granted to individuals
to work them at their own expense. There is no intention of doing
anything on public account." This, it will be perceived, was the
view presented (ante) by Mr. Dox, in his able letter to me on the
subject, several years ago. Congress will not authorize the working
of the mines. It is a matter for private enterprize.
July 14th. WHISKY AMONG THE INDIANS.--Mr. Robert Stuart,
Agent to the American Fur Company, writes from Mackinac, that some
of the American Fur Company's clerks are not inclined to take
whisky, under the general government permit, provided their
opponents take none. This tampering with the subject and with
me, in the conduct of the agent of that company, whose duty it is
rigidly to exclude the article by every means, would accord better,
it should seem, with the spirit of one who had not recently taken
obligations which are applicable to all times and all space. Little
does the spirit of commerce care how many Indians die inebriates, if
it can be assured of beaver skins. The situation of any of its
agents, who may acknowledge Christian obligations, is doubtless an
embarrassing one; and such persons should seek to get out of such an
employment as soon as possible. The true direction, in all cases of
this kind, is, to take high moral grounds. The department, by
granting such permits, violates a law. The agent of the company who
seeks to exclude "opponents" in the trade, errs by attempting to
throw the responsibility of the minor question upon the local agent,
over whose head he already shakes his permits from a superior power.
Now the "opponents," be it understood, have no such "permits," and
the agent can give them none.
This subject of ardent spirits is a constantly recurring one in
every possible form; and no little time of an agent of Indian
affairs, and no small part of his troubles and vexations, are due to
it. The traders and citizens generally, on the frontiers, are
leagued in their supposed interests to break down, or evade
the laws, Congressional and territorial, which exclude it, or make
it an offence to sell or give it. If an agent aims honestly to put
the law in force, he must expect to encounter obloquy. If he appeals
to the local courts, it is ten to one that nine-tenths of his jury
are offenders in this very thing. So far as the American Fur Company
is concerned, it is seen, I think, by the course of the managers,
that it would conduce to better hunts if the Indians were kept
sober, and liquor were rigidly excluded; but the argument is, that "on
the lines"--that the Hudson's Bay Company use it, and that their
trade would suffer if they had not "some." And they thus
override the agents, by appealing to higher powers, and so get
permits annually, for a limited quantity, of which they and
not the agents are the judges. In this way the independence
of the agents is constantly kept down, and made to bend to a species
of mock popular will.
In view of the counteracting influence of the American Fur Company
on this frontier, it would be better for the credit of morals,
properly so considered, if the chief agent of that concern at
Michilimackinac were not a professor of religion, or otherwise, if
he were in a position to act out its precepts boldly and frankly on
this subject. For, as it now is, his position is perpetually
mistaken. A temperance man, he is yet a member of a local temperance
society, which only operates against the retailers, but leaves
members free to sell by the barrel. Bound, by the principles of law,
not to introduce whisky into the interior, he yet sells it to
others, knowing their intention to be to run it over the lines, in
spite of the agents. This is done by white and red men. And he
obtains "permits" besides, as head of the company, at head-quarters
at Washington, to take in, openly, a certain quantity of high wines
every year. Talk to that gentleman on the subject, and he is
eloquent in defence of temperance. Thus the obligation is kept to
the ear, but broken in the practice. A business that thus compels a
man to hamper his conscience, and cause scandal to the church,
should be abandoned at once.
Aug. 29th. FUR TRADE.--Mr. Sparks, Ed. N.A. Rev.,
reminds me of an intimation mentioned to Mr. Palfrey, to write an
article on this subject, "From observation," he remarks, "and
inquiry you have enjoyed peculiar advantages for gaining a knowledge
of the Indians, their history, character and habits, and the world
will be greatly indebted to you for continuing to diffuse this
knowledge, as your opportunities may allow."
The fur trade has certainly been productive of a market to Indians
for the result of their forest labors, without which they would want
many necessaries. But while it has stimulated hunting, and so far as
this goes, industry, in the Indian race, it has tended
directly to diminish the animals upon which they subsist, and thus
hastened the period of the Indian supremacy, while it has introduced
the evil of intoxication by ardent spirits.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.--I left St. Mary's the latter part of August,
to attend the second session of the third legislative council at
Detroit. The same tendency was manifested as in the first session,
to lean favorably to the old pioneers and early settlers of an
exposed frontier, which has suffered severely from Indian wars, and
other causes of depression. With the exception of divorce cases,
there were really no bad laws passed; and no disposition manifested
to excessive legislation, or to encumber the statute book with new
schemes. Local and specific acts absorbed the chief attention during
the session.
Deeming it ever better to keep good old laws than to try
ill-digested and doubtful new ones, I used my influence to repress
the spirit of legislating for the sake of legislation, wherever I
saw appearances of it. As Chairman of the Committee on Finances, I
managed that branch with every possible care. I busied myself with
the plan of trying to introduce terse and tasty names for the new
townships, taken from the Indian vocabulary--to suppress the sale of
ardent spirits to the Indian race, and to secure something like
protection for that part of the population which had amalgamated
with the European blood.
MACKINAC MISSION.--Towards the close of the session, a movement was
made against the Mackinac Mission by an attempt to repeal the law
exempting the persons engaged in it from militia and jury service. A
formal attack was made by one of the members against that
establishment, its mode of management, and character. This I
resisted. Being in my district, and familiar with the facts and
persons implicated, I repelled the charge as being entirely unjust
to the Rev. Mr. Ferry, the gentleman at the head of that
institution. I drew up a report on the subject, vindicating the
institution, which was adopted and printed. This was a triumph
achieved with some exertions.
NAMES OF THE OFFICERS WHO SERVED WITH GEN. WAYNE.--Gen. Brady gave
me, during this session, a list of the names of the officers who had
served reputably in the Indian campaigns conducted by Gen. Wayne in
1791-2-3. I proposed to retain them in naming the townships, the
possession of the territorial area of which we owe to their bravery
and gallantry.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN.--This institution was incorporated
at the first session of the Third Legislative Council, in 1828. The
bill for this purpose was introduced by me, after consultation with
some literary friends. It contained the plan of constituting the
members of the Legislative Council members ex-officio. This, it was
apprehended, and rightly so, would give it an official countenance,
and serve, in some things, as a convenient basis for meetings during
the few years that precede a State government, while our literary
population continues sparse. My experience in the East had shown me
that quorums are not readily attained in literary societies, which
is a sore hindrance to the half dozen efficient laborers out of a
populous city, who generally hold the laboring oar of such
institutions.
The historical incidents of this section of the Union are quite
attractive, and, while general history has cognizance of the leading
events, there is much in the local keeping of old men who are ready
to drop off. There is more in the aboriginal history and languages
that invites attention, while the modern history--the exploration
and settlement of the country, and the leading incidents which are
turning a wilderness into abodes of civilization--is replete with
matter that will be of deep interest to posterity. To glean in this
broad field appears an important literary object.
Gov. Cass gave us this session the first discourse, in a rapid and
general and eloquent review of the French period, including the
transfer of authority to Great Britain, and an account of the bold
and original attempted surprise of the English garrison at Detroit,
by Pontiac. This well-written and eloquently-digested discourse was
listened to with profound interest, and ordered to be printed2.
IMPROVED PRESS.--In a state of society which relies so much on
popular information through the diurnal press, its improvement is of
the highest consequence. Mr. William Ward, of Massachusetts,
performed this office for the city of Detroit and Michigan this
fall, by the establishment of a new paper, which at first bore the
title of North-west Journal, and afterwards of Detroit
Journal. This sheet exhibits a marked advance in editorial
ability, maturity of thought, and critical acumen.
I embarked at Detroit, on my return to St. Mary's, late in October,
leaving the council still in session, and reached that place on one
of the last days of the month.
Dec. 20th. Mr. Ward writes: "We have published The Rise of
the West, and the Ages of Michigan. It is printed well, but
bound, sorry I am to say, carelessly. I suppose the Major will send
you a copy."
Rise of the West, or a Prospect of the Mississippi Valley,
embraces reminiscences of this noble stream, and of its banks being
settled by the Anglo-Saxons.
1: Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 10.
2: Vide Historical and Scientific Sketches of
Michigan, 1 vol. 12mo; Wells and Whitney, 1834.
This site includes some historical
materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language
of a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of the
historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in
any way endorse the stereotypes implied.
Personal Memoirs of a Residence of Thirty Years with the
Indian Tribes on the American Frontiers, 1851
Thirty
Years with the Indians
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