In the following year, he solicited permission to negotiate for a cession of the Indian title to lands in the northern part of Michigan. Clad with his usual ample discretionary powers from the government, he met the Chippewas in council, at Saginaw; and on the twenty-fourth of September concluded a treaty, by which large relinquishments to lands in Michigan were obtained, covering and embracing about six millions of acres. After the treaty was concluded, and he had left Saginaw for Detroit, the Indians deputed Washmenondeguet, their chief and orator, to overtake him, and express to him their entire satisfaction with the arrangement and their thankfulness for his kindness. His intercourse. with these people was always of a character to command respect, and ensure confidence and friendship.

-

Nor was this friendship ephemeral. Several years afterwards, when many and many a sun had risen and set, -the Chippewas, the Ottawas, the Pottawatomies, of Michigan, were again represented in council, at the city of Detroit. It was on the twentyfifth of July, 1855. Mr. George W. Manypenny, United States. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, was present. Upwards of one hundred chiefs were in attendance. They had considered the points relative to the treaty of 1836, under which large amounts of money were claimed as due to their tribes from the general government. As a body, they were grave, sensible, and well behaved, and exhibiting a promptness, intelligence, and advance in civilization, unexpected to every observer. They had entered upon the consideration of the permanent location of their reservations within the State, when General Cass, entirely unexpected to them, entered the council hall. At sight of him, the chiefs forgot their business and all the solemnities of the occasion, in their joy at beholding their old and distinguished friend, and thronged around him, grasping his hands, and testifying their grateful remembrance of their former intercourse with him. After this spontaneous gush of enthusiastic regard had partially subsided, General Cass was formally addressed by the chiefs, and made a reply to them, replete with wise advice.

During the year 1819, the privilege of electing a delegate to Congress was granted to the people of Michigan, and further sales of public lands were ordered and made. These events were great advances in the hopes and prosperity of Michigan. By the first, a new channel of communication was opened,

through which her Chief Magistrate could convey to Congress and the national government, her wants and situation; and, by the latter, settlements would be made further into the interior of the peninsula, and land, now studded, at long intervals, on the banks of her lakes and rivers, by the Frenchman's hut, or the solitary post of the fur-trader, would soon become the sites of towns and villages, teeming with business and civilization. No one exerted himself with more zeal to effect these improvements in her condition than the Governor, convinced as he was that the introduction of the elective franchise among the people would elevate their political character; and that, by the sale of the public lands, the population and prosperity of the country would be more rapidly advanced. These sales, as yet, were confined to the district of Detroit; but by the extinguishment of the Indian titles, new surveys were ordered to be made, and those vast tracts of land, which hitherto had been mere ranges for the wild beasts and savages, were soon to resound with the echo of the woodman's ax, and the log houses of the hardy pioneers would stud the wilderness.

CHAPTER IX.

General Cass Indian Superintendency extended-His Views of Governmental Policy-He recommends Peaceful Expeditions into the Superior Country-His Letter to the Secretary of War-The Secretary's Reply-Expedition-Plaster of Paris discovered-His Letter upon the Subject—Ordered to procure Cessions of Land at Sault Ste. Marie-Departure of the Expedition-Arrival at the Sault-Indian Council-General Cass' Fearlessness-His Success-Journey to the Sources of the Mississippi-Return-Report to the Department.

By additional orders from the government, the superintendency of General Cass over the Indians gradually extended. As the country over which they spread could not be used for the purposes of civilization until savage occupancy was terminated, it had been, and continued to be, his first duty to cultivate amity, and, by treaty, extinguish their rights. He had now negotiated for the Peninsula of Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Indiana. The Fox and Sac Indians annually made their appearance, to receive thousands of dollars of presents from the British agent at Malden. It was no unfrequent occurrence for them, as they passed along, to commit depredations upon the property of the whites; and by this constant tribute, a feeling of attachment was growing up and strengthening towards the British government. It required but little sagacity to foresee the injurious effect of this to the United States, if allowed to continue, even in time of peace; and, in the event of war, apprehensions of still worse consequences were entertained by those conversant with Indian character. General Cass witnessed and dreaded the influence which this practice, now in full operation for a quarter of a century, produced upon their minds. He was too often in contact with them, not to fully appreciate it. He, on several occasions, had endeavored to dissuade them from repeating these annual visits, but to no purpose. To him it was evident that there was but one course for the government to pursue, and that was to go into their country, and employ the same line of policy with them as had already been successfully adopted with their red brethren this side of the Lakes. Besides, the function and characteristics of their country, were in fact but little known, beyond the general

observations of indifferent explorers and casual travelers. Impressed with the profound importance of these views, he took the liberty, in the fall of 1819, of presenting them, in form and at length, to the War Department, in the following communication, dated Detroit, November 18th, and addressed to John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War:

"SIR:-The country upon the southern shore of Lake Superior, and upon the water communication between that lake and the Mississippi, has been but little explored, and its natural features are imperfectly known. We have no correct topographical delineation of it, and the little information we possess relating to it, has been derived from the reports of the Indian traders.

"It has occurred to me, that a tour through that country, with a view to examine the productions of its animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, to explore its facilities for water communication, to delineate its natural objects, and to ascertain its present and future probable value, would not be uninteresting in itself, nor useless to the government. Such an expedition would not be wholly unimportant in the public opinion, and would well accord with that zeal for inquiries of this nature which has recently so marked the administration of the War Department.

"But, however interesting such a tour might be in itself, or however important in its result, either in a political or geographical point of view, I should not have ventured to suggest the subject, nor to solicit your permission to carry it into effect, were it not, in other respects, intimately connected with the discharge of my official duties.

"Mr. Woodbridge, the delegate from this Territory, at my request, takes charge of this letter; and he is so intimately acquainted with the subject, and every way so competent to enter into any explanations you may require, that I shall not be compelled to go as much into detail as, under other circumstances, might be necessary.

"The route which I propose to take, is from here to Michilimackinac, and from thence, by the Straits of St. Mary's, to the river which contains the body of copper ore, (specimens of which have been transmitted to the government,) and to the extremity of Lake Superior.

"From that point, up the river which forms the water communication between that lake and the Mississippi, to the latter river, ind, by way of Prairie du Chien and Green Bay, to Lake Michigan.

"The political objects, which require attention upon this route,

are:

"1. A personal examination of the different Indian tribes who occupy the country; of their moral and social condition; of their feelings towards the United States; of their numerical strength; and of the various objects connected with them, of which humanity and sound policy require that the government should possess an intimate knowledge. We are very little acquainted with these Indians, and I indulge the expectation that such a visit would be productive of beneficial effects.

"The extract from the letter of Colonel Leavenworth, herewith enclosed, and the speech of the Winnebago Indians, transmitted to the War Department by Mr. Graham, from Rock Island, February 24th, 1819, will show how much we have yet to learn respecting these tribes, which are comparatively near to us.

"2. Another important object is, to procure the extinction of Indian titles to the land in the vicinity of the Straits of St. Mary's, Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, and upon the communication between the two latter places.

"I will not trouble you with any observations respecting the necessity of procuring these cessions. They are the prominent points of the country-the avenues of communication by which alone it can be approached.

"Two of them, Prairie du Chien and Green Bay, are occupied by a considerable population, and the Straits of St. Mary's by a few families. The undefined nature of their rights and duties, and the uncertain tenure by which they hold their lands, render it important that some step should be taken by the government to relieve them. I think, too, that a cession of territory, with a view to immediate sale and settlement, would be highly important in the event of any difficulties with the Indians.

"My experience at Indian treaties convinces me that reasonable cessions, upon proper terms, may, at any time, be procured. At the treaty recently concluded at Saginaw, the Indians were willing to cede the country in the vicinity of Michilimackinac, but I did not feel authorized to treat with them for it.