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CHAPTER IV.

PLOT FOR OBTAINING THE LOWER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN FROM THE UNITED STATES IN 1795.

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T is not generally known that Michigan was at a very early day the theater of some of the most extensive land speculations ever known in this country. One which was brought to the attention of Congress in 1795 was so remarkable in some of its features that it is singular that it should be so generally unknown.

When General Wayne brought his Indian campaign to a successful termination he appointed a time for the tribes to meet him at Greenville, to conclude a definitive treaty. This council opened in June, 1795, and continued into August. It is well known that the hostilities were kept alive by the covert interference of the British, and that Detroit was the source whence this influence was exerted most powerfully. In spite of the treaty of peace at the close of the Revolution, the British, on one pretext or another, kept possession of the country, and it was not until Jay's treaty provided definitely for its cession that any steps were taken toward its possession. The British merchants, who were largely interested in the fur business, were very reluctant to see the American dominion established, and there is no doubt that, by this means, disaffection was long kept up among the Indians.

Immediately upon the conclusion of Wayne's treaty (which put an end to all private dealings with the Indians for the purchase of lands), an agreement was made between several prominent inhabitants of Detroit and several persons from Vermont and Pennsyl. vania, which, if it had proved successful, would have made an entire change in the destiny of this region.

Ebenezer Allen and Charles Whitney of Vermont, and Robert Randall of Philadelphia, who were professedly American citizens, entered into a contract with John Askin, Jonathan Schifflin, William Robertson, John Askin, jr., David Robertson, Robert Jones and Richard Patterson, all of Detroit, and all at

tached to Great Britain, the terms of which were in effect as follows: They proposed to obtain from the United States the title to all the land within the limits of the present poninsula of Michigan, then estimated at from eighteen to twenty millions of acres (excepting such parts as were appropriated along the settlements), upon the understanding that they would themselves extinguish the Indian title. They meant to secure the purchase from Congress at half a million dollars (or a million at the outside), by inducing that body to believe that the Indians had not really been pacified by Wayne, and that nothing but the influence of the Canadian merchants could bring them to terms or render the important interests of the fur-trade safe under the American rule.

But they relied upon a more potent method of persuasion in secret. Their enterprise was to take the form of a joint stock' company, divided into forty-one shares. Five shares were allotted to the Detroit partners, twelve to the others, and the remaining twenty-four were to be divided among members of Congress to secure their votes. The connection of the Canadian proprietors with the scheme does not appear to have been made public, and it is probable they were not intended to appear until the scheme was consummated.

Immediately after the plan was concocted, the three American partners set about operating upon the members of the next Congress. They associated with them Colonel Pepune and others; also Jones of Massachusetts, who aided them in the dishonorable work. Whitney first applied to Daniel Buck, a member from Vermont, and was indiscreet enough not only to inform him pretty plainly of the plan proposed, but also to show him the articles of agreement. He also applied to Theodore Sedgwick more cautiously, but allowed enough to be drawn from him to expose the true character of the plot. Mr. Sedgwick quietly put himself

in communication with the Vermont members to promote its progress.

In the meantime Randall approached the Southern members and laid open his views to William Smith of South Carolina, William B. Giles of Virginia and Mr. Murray of Maryland. These gentlemen, after consulting with the President and many other persons of character and standing, determined to throw no obstacle in the way of a presentation of a memorial to Congress, desiring to fix the parties where they would be sure of exposure.

The confederation, blindly imagining that they were on the highway to success, put into the hands of the members whom they approached the fullest information concerning all but the names of their Detroit associates, and assured Mr. Giles that they had secured a majority of the votes in the Senate and lacked only three of a majority in the House.

On the 28th of December, 1795, Messrs. Smith, Murray and Giles announced to the House of Representatives that Randall had made proposals to them to obtain their support to his memorial, for which support they were to receive a consideration in lands or money. Mr. Buck also stated that Whitney had made similar proposals to him, and he supposed him to be an associate of Randall. Randall and Whitney were at once taken into custody and an investigation had, in the course of which several other members came forward and testified to similar facts. Whitney made a full disclosure and produced the written agreement. Randall made no confession, but contented himself with questioning the witnesses. He was detained in arrest, but Whitney, who appears to have been less guilty, was discharged very soon after the investigation closed. The memorial never made its appearance.

The partners at Detroit had not been inactive. They, or most of them, had already, from time to time, obtained from the Indians large grants of land, in the hope, doubtless, that the purchase might be ratified by the authorities. Schifflin in particular had acquired enormous grants in this way. There is, however, much reason to believe these grants were not all obtained from the recognized Indian rulers.

An examination of the records shows that one of the largest was made under very peculiar circumstances. We have seen that the

council in Greenville was in session from June till sometime in August. While this treaty of Greenville was in progress, and the tribes were represented there by their chiefs and head men, a private council was held at Detroit on the first day of July, 1795, by the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawatomies, as high contracting parties on the one side, there being present, as witnesses, the Askins, Governor Hay, his oldest son, Henry, a British officer, and some others of the principal British residents.

The purpose of the council was private in its nature, and under the treaties then existing the British authorities could not have well acted as principals on such an occasion. Certain chiefs, purporting to act for their tribes there named, granted to Jonathan Schifflin, Jacobus Vizgar, Richard Patterson and Robert Jones, a large tract of land embracing thirteen or fourteen of the oldest and best counties in the present State, for the expressed consideration of twentyfive pounds sterling.

We can readily imagine that if their plan had succeeded in Congress they would have had little difficulty in buying up the Indian claim to the whole peninsula.

It may not be out of place to state that in spite of their ill success, the four gentlemen named sold their Indian title just mentioned in 1797 for two hundred thousand pounds of York currency, amounting to half a million dollars. Whether the purchaser expected to claim against the treaty of Greenville, we are not informed.

This formidable title has never turned up since. Whether disgusted with the experience of republics, or from some other cause, the Detroit partners in the joint stock company all elected, under Jay's treaty, to become British subjects. The annals of our country have never shown a more extensive or audacious plan of bribery, and the public suffered no great detriment by their defection.

Had the plan of these confederates received the aid of Congress, it is difficult to imagine the importance of such an event or its bearing on the future of the peninsula. The circumstances render it highly probable that it was intended to retain a footing for the advancement of the British interests in the Northwest. Be this as it may, the evil effect of having so large a proprietary monopoly, covering the whole country, cannot well be estimated. Neither the

United States nor the future State would have owned any lands in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, while we should have been subjected to all the evils which abound when the tillers of the soil are mere tenants and not freeholders. Such a domain would have been a power. ful barrier against the increase of the Union in this direction, and would have kept up a border population of a character by no means to be admired.

The important and singular facts referred to should not be lost sight of by the historian who may narrate the annals of our State.

Under Jay's treaty British subjects were at liberty to reside within the American borders if they saw fit, but if they did this, unless they declared their intention to retain their nationality within a year from the rendition of the posts, they were regarded as having chosen to become citizens of the United States. A large number of persons removed to Canada within the year, while many more remained in Detroit and vicinity, of whom a large number signified their desire to remain British subjects by notification addressed to Peter Audrian, Esq., at Detroit. Upon examining the list it appears that the feeling was very strong in favor of Great Britain, and any step tending to carry out the interests of that Kingdom would have met with favor from many if not from a majority of the men of substance. The neighborhood in Canada had been settled to a considerable extent by a population to whom the American name was an abomination. At the close of the Revolution the refugee tories were cast upon the care of the British, and lands were set apart in that portion of Canada lying along Lake Erie, Detroit River and Lake St. Clair for the benefit of these people, and their descendants of the Mohawk loyalists are still to be found in strength upon the lake shore in the districts east of Malden. They are in peculiarly bad odor among shipwrecked mariners.

The following names appear in the records as electing to retain their British character. Many of the number removed to Canada, and many who removed within the year now made a written election: Augustin Amelle. Lauret Maure. James McIntosh. Robert Innis.

John Little.
Ch. Poupard.
In. Robital.
Nicholas Boyer.

Richard Patterson.
Robert Grant.
Jonathan Schifflin.
John Martin.
D. McRae.
William Forsyth.
Francis Bertrand.
Pre. Gabarne.
Hugh Heward.
William Fleming.
Charles Chovin.
James Donaldson.
Louis Moore.
James Condon.
Pre. Dolorme.
Alexander Harson.
Thomas Smith.
John Askin, Sr.
Pierre Vallee.
John McKirgan.
James Smith.
Joseph Mason.
John Anderson.
Agnes Mackintosh.
Conrad Showler.
Charles Roque.
William Thorn.
Jonathan Nelson.
George Meldrum.
A. Iredell.
J. Bte. Barthe.

J. Bte. Barthe, Jr.
Robert Nichol.

John McGregor.
Joseph Borrelle, pere.
Robert Goine.
James Fraser.
William Hands.
Simon Druillar.
Pierre Rell.
Alexis Crait.
Alexis Borrell, fils.
Neel Delisle.
William Baker.
R. McDonell.
John McDonnell.
Amable Latour.
James Anderson.
Isaac Ganize, pere.
Bt. Telemaindit St.
Richard Donovan.
Isaac Gragnier, fils.
Dominique Druillard.

John Fearson.
Benoit Chapaton.
James Cartwright.
Gabriel Hewes.
Robert Forsyth.
Antoine Chanvin.
Jean Bt. Petre.
Jean Bt. Montroi.
Thomas Green.
Francis Primo.

Charles Petre.
Pre. Lanoux.
Redmond Condon.
Joseph Bernard.
John Grant.
George Sharp.
James Vincent.
Louis Barthy.
Alexander Duff.
Batiste Boete.
John Daine.
William Harfy.
Samuel Edge.
John Langloi
James Guthrie.
Jno. Whitehead.
Alex. Maisonville.
Jean Bt. Bernard.
John Reul.
Mathew Dolson.
William Park.
William Smith.
Robert McDougall.
John Askin, Jr.
James McGregor.
John Clark.
J. Portier Benac.
Francis Rassette.
Georgo Jacob Rudhart.
Basile Durocher.
Joseph Borrell, fils.
Richard Money.
William Mickle.
John Cain
John Wheaton.
Lewis Coutre.
William Mills.
Peter Blanch.
John Lagord.

Louis.

Bte. Monmerell.
Franc Lenaire.
Samuel Eddy.

Bapt. Rousseau. Joseph Grenist.

Bapt. Druillard. Phillip Bellanger. These are the names as they appear of record. There are doubtless some inaccuracies.

To understand the important bearing of the conspiracy in a national point of view, it may be well to mention the condition in which its success would have left the frontier. Many of the names appended to the notice of election will be recognized in Detroit as land owners, holding valuable private claims along the river. But with the exception of eight or ten, all these claims had reverted to the government. The lands not embraced in the narrow private claims along the Detroit River, and its tribu

taries, were by various Indian deeds conveyed to some of the persons engaged in the plot, singly or together, from the foot of Lake Huron to the Cuyahoga River, with some inconsiderable exceptions. If those Indian titles could have been made good, those parties would have an almost entire control of the country, and the condition of the private claims would have left the holders of these too at their mercy. With all these circumstances combining, it is not a wild conjecture to suppose that the possibility of getting back into British allegiance a country controlled by British subjects may have been in the thoughts of the conspirators as an incident if not an object of their action.

CHAPTER V.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

THE early adventurers in their advance from

the broad expanse of Lake Erie, up through our beautiful river, saw all around them a glorious scene of waters and forests, as yet untouched by the hand of civilization, and inhabited by savages as strange and wild as their own wilderness. Herds of deer wandered through the forests and drank from the clear waters of the river, whose unruffled surface reflected their graceful forms.. Fish of great value glided through the waters, flocks of waterfowl traversed their course along the shores or dipped in the current, and snow-white gulls skimmed its surface; beautiful woods of lofty trees extended as far as the eye could see, around whose trunks were twined grapevines of the largest size, whose luscious fruit hung in rich clusters gracefully from the boughs above, the vast quantity of which growing along the banks gave to our river its name, originally called by the French River Aux Raisin; and now, over 100 years later, the name is very appropriate, for what we have lost in wild. fruit by the clearing of the forests, we have more than replaced by our extensive vineyards of various varieties of the best of cultivated grapes. The Indians called it the Nummasepee, or River of Sturgeon, from the vast quantities of those fish found in it.

As the travelers advanced into the interior, by Indian trails, a beautiful scene opened before them, the country being covered with groves of forest trees like extended parks. Luxuriant flowers of various and gorgeous colors covered the whole surface of the ground. It seemed as if nature, amid the solitude, fresh in her virgin bloom, had adorned her bosom with the fragrant roses of summer in honor of her Maker; and vain of her charms had set our lake and river upon the landscape as mirrors to reflect her own beauty. Such were the scenes that colored the description of the French travelers of the eighteenth century. through this country.

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Our lake region of country was held by the French Crown until 1763, when it was transferred from France to Great Britain. This was the period when the first beams of civilization had scarcely penetrated its forests, and the paddle of the French fur-traders swept the lakes, and the boat songs of the traders awakened tribes as wild as the wolves which howled around their wigwams.

Two Indian villages formerly occupied the place whereon now stands the city of Monroe, viz.: those of the Ottawas and Pottawatomies, and previous to that time the Erri-er-ro-nous lived upon the confines of the lake, from which tribe, it is supposed, Lake Erie derived its name. It was a peaceably disposed tribe, but was finally exterminated by the fierce Iroquois, who comprised the most powerful Indian league known to have existed on the continent.

The Iroquois league consisted of the Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Senecas, the Oneidas, and the Mohawks, with their headquarters in the western part of New York State. The warriors of these tribes were men of large stature and muscular forms, and a savage determination marked every feature of the face.

Military skill, courage, shrewdness, energy, ambition and eloquence were their prominent traits. In their policy they appear to have had more vigor and system than the other Indian tribes, and cherished a sort of spartan discipline throughout their confederacy. They were also equally crafty and ferocious. They could crawl, unseen, along the track of their enemies, or rush down upon the French in fearless bands of naked and gigantic warriors, and it is well known that their marches against the French colonists and the remote missionary posts were like the rushing of a tornado through the forest.

In 1784 a small body of Canadians settled on the River Raisin and laid the foundation of Frenchtown, built a few log cabins on both

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