Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to John Henry Eaton
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00791 Author/Creator: Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 February 1831 Pagination: 2 p. ; 32 x 20 cm Order a Copy
Writes to Secretary of War Eaton about arranging the removal of the Brothertown Indians of New York to a reservation in Wisconsin. Comments on a recent meeting he had with the New York Indians. Informs him that the Menominee of the Green Bay, Wisconsin area object to Indians from New York being settled on their land and dispute the validity of "any contract made" because it "was without the consent of their council & by men unauthorized by their nation." Asks Eaton to arrange a treaty with the Menominee to facilitate the move. Discusses the land and rights to be given to the Brothertown and other details of the desired treaty. Requests that Eaton "make this arrangement with care & circumspection, so that no charge of unfairness can be justly ascribed to us." With an initialed post script indicating this letter was written in haste. Marked "Private."
private,
Febry 3rd 1831
My Dr Sir
The New York Indians have this morning been with me. I have told them I have called upon you for a report - That the Menominees protest against any just claim they have on their nation for any Land - That any contract made, if made at all, was without the consent of their council, & by men unauthorized by their nation &c &c, that so soon as I had recd your report & could arrange matters with the M'Indians I would send for them.
I wish you therefore to enter into an arrangement with the Menomees by way of Treaty - and in an article for the purpose, with a protest order by the Menominees, "of no obligation on their part to the new york Indians by virtue of any sale of land to them, but at the request of their great father, that they may live in peace with their red brethren, the new york
Indians &c &c do [strikeout] [inserted: reserve out of the land added in this treaty to] the United States, for the use of the New York Indians such right as they possess the following boundary to wit, consent the boundary, [struck: this] being a part of the lands hereby ceded to the United States in the first article of this Treaty, & in full of all demands against any of our people with whom the New york Indians claim to have purchased lands [inserted: which if made was without authority] - Let the full cession made by the Menominees to the United States be first defined, and then the Reservation be made to the New york Indians as above stated, and [2] all the reservation for the Brother Towns Indians & New york, be located on the west or north side of the river, reserving the other for the United States - The improvements of the Brother Towns to be paid for as an act of justice to them - I pray you my Dr Sir to have this attended to forthwith - you and Mr Stambaugh can arrange this to day, so that on Saturday we can have it fully executed & shewn to the New York indians - Have some persons present to Testify to the protestation of the M. chiefs, that the New York Indians have no rightful claim under a purchase from a council of their nation or any person [inserted: duly] authorized by it. I wish you to make this arrangement with care & circumspection, so that no charge of unfairness can be justly ascribed to us - & in the reservation for the New York Indians give them the [inserted: amount within the] boundary on the Map, [inserted: but all] on the north side of the river paying no respect to any claims of white men on that side of the river.
Yours respectfully
Andrew Jackson
P.S. I write in great
haste with many
interruptions
A.J.
Major J.H. Eaton}
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