Albert Pietersen Swart,

Daniel Verveelen,

Garret Manate,

Thomas Hall,

Abraham Verplanck,

Peter Laurensen,

John Vigne,

Joost Carelsen,

Harry Bressar,

Dirck Siecken,

Cornelius Aarsen,

John Ariaansen,

Cornelius Jansen Clopper,

Peter Harmsen,

Peter Jansen,

Martin Claassen,

John Jansen Bos,
James Wel,
Augustin Herrman,

OUTSIDE THE LAND GATE.

Garret Jansen Roos,

Jacob Fransman.

Peter Stoutenburgh,

The Indians who occupied the region westward from the Alleghany mountains were, when visited by the earliest white adventurers, in a state. of almost perfect commercial independence. Their knowledge of the useful arts though limited was commensurate with their wants and desires.

That there were inter-tribal relations has been attested by many travelers of the time. These relationships often proved of inestimable value to the early "French voyageurs, who, as early as the year 1634 began to make their circuitous and dangerous ways along the various water routes in the old northwest territory."

There seems to have been no plan pre-determined by the government of France for traffic with the Indians. Inasmuch as the departure of the traders from the early settlements tended to reduce the settlement to want, limitations were placed upon the numbers who were to be allowed to go. Nevertheless a distinct trading class arose called "wood rangers" who gained a great influence over the simple-minded savage.

The Jesuits accompanied these vagrant hunters and trappers, or followed them closely, establishing their missions or making careful exploration. French authorities finding they could not keep the traders from the woods, issued annual licenses for trade. Soon many forts were established along the several streams flowing into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

The victory of the Iroquois over the tribes of the northwest led to the ascendancy of the English power. The methods of the English private traders were not materially different from those pursued by the French.

The British agents gained an ever increasing influence over the western tribes, and through presents and bribes induced them, in the year 1775, to form a league against the United Colonies.

The first phase of that ever recurring question, which has taxed the minds of our greatest statesmen, was then suggested: how shall the Indian be treated, that justice may be done him and his friendship be secured? Congress strove to avert the calamity by convincing the Indians that their wisest plan was to estab

lish perfect neutrality, as the strug gle did not in any way affect them. Nothing illustrates the anxiety of Congress at this time, to effect its views, in a stronger way than does. the plan embodied in the Treaty of Pittsburg, concluded in the year 1778. According to stipulation here made, the Delaware tribes were to be allowed, in conjunction with other tribes, to form a State which was to become a member of the Union. This enviable position seemed to weigh lightly on the minds of the Indians, in comparison with the "presents, arms, equipments and trinkets, so profusely scattered by the British agents of the time."

There was provision made, by an act of the year 1786, that none but citizens of the United States were to reside among the Indian tribes or to be allowed to trade with them. Citizens were not allowed these privileges without a license obtained. for that purpose. Accompanying

the license was a bond for three thousand dollars, which, besides all merchandise held, was to be forfeited if all regulations were not faithfully kept. Not materially different from these were the provisions of the acts of the years 1793 and 1796. Said Calhoun with reference to these acts: "But guarded as was this system, and well adapted as it certainly promised to be to the objects contemplated by it, the cunning of the traders was an overmatch for its provisions, and the Indians thus given into the hands of the un

principled, were subjected to all the sufferings which avarice could inflict, and their peace and welfare involved in the scheme, involved in their turn the shedding of much blood and the waste of many lives." That the system of individual traders, in so far as it dealt justly with the Indians was a failure, is thus attested through the witness of the trials and failures of French, English and Americans.

How to establish a satisfactory system led to the formation of a plan whereby the United States government entered the field as a private trader and carried on commercial intercourse with the Indians. This scheme, in vogue from 1796 to 1822, known as the Factory or Trading House System early met with approval, but also showed its weaknesses.

Public "truck-houses" had been established in some of the colonies. The first mention of public tradinghouses under general governmental control seems to have been made by Benjamin Franklin. In a letter, referring to his plan of union he says: "The friendship of the Indians is by every means to be established. the furtherance of this end, public trading-houses should be established. They would certainly have a good effect towards regulating the private trade and preventing the impositions of the private traders, and therefore such houses should be established in suitable places all along the frontiers."

In the year 1776, Congress accepted.

the report of the committee, of which Franklin was a member, and voted 140,000 pounds to be expended in goods for this trade. The trade was to be under control of congressional commissioners.

Washington favored this plan. In each of his annual addresses he urges upon Congress the necessity for the safe establishment of such a system. The fifth annual address of December 3, 1793, says: "Next to a rigorous execution of justice on the violators of peace, the establishment of commerce with the Indian nations, on behalf of the United States is most likely to conciliate their attachment. But it ought to be conducted without fraud, without extortion, with constant and plentiful supplies; with a ready market for the commodities of the Indians, and a stated price for what they give in payment and receive in exchange. Individuals will not pursue such a traffic unless they be allured by the hope of profit, but it will be enough for the United States to be reimbursed only."

In the year 1795 an act embodying Washington's suggestions was passed. It was to remain in force two years. The President was to have the privilege of establishing trading-houses at such posts and places on the western and southern frontiers as he should deem necessary for carrying on a liberal trade with the

To meet this end $150,000 were appropriated. The friends of this act do not seem to have re

garded it as chiefly a civilizing agent. They wished to accomplish two objects: "To secure the friendship of the Indians by supplying their wants; to supplant the British trader in his influence over the Indians."

We learn from the report of the secretary of war for the year 1795 that two trading-houses were established as an experiment among the southern tribes. The tribes at the North had not yet come into friendly intercourse. One of these houses was located among the Creeks at Colerain on the river St. Mary's. The other supplied the Cherokees and Chickasaws, and was located at Tellico Block House, in Cherokee Territory. The positions were chosen from the Indian possessions, but were not to become the property of the United States. They were to revert to the original owners when no longer used for trading or for military posts.

The Indians were given to understand that the trade now to be carried on among them was entirely different from that conducted by individuals, solely for their own profit. Trade was to be regulated by the President. Every article should have its stipulated value. Weights and measures were to be introduced, in order that the hunters might bring their peltries and receive satisfactory exchange. Agents were to be appointed by the President, to obtain goods from the manufacturers at the cheapest rates and to carry them to the