Notes for Letter from Joseph Sinclear to William Medill, August 1 1846: Sheet #3

Transcription

ill feeling is manifested by some of the tribe towards the chief and he fears to meet them in council. Pish -e- wah one of the Indians who accompanied the chief to Washington threatens to take his life, but a reconcilliation will I think be brought about to day, or else the chief will resign and then I hope to get the emigration under headway as I have the promise of a council tomorrow let the the results of this days operation be what it may.

All the difficulties I have met with in carrying out the directions of the Department have originated with those who trade with the Indians and live from their means; and if the power of traders to do harm is as great with other tribes, it would in my humble opinion be best for the Government to make arrangements for supplying the actual wants of the Indians, and to prohibit all trade with them. There can be no doubt of the propriety of prohibiting the Chiefs from dealing with their people, for when a Chief becomes interested with those who trade with the nation, it is impossible for an Agent to guard against those swindling operations that are so frequently gone into.

In case Lafountain resigns, when his successor shall be chosen I shall endeavor to prevail on him not to enter into any kind of trade with the nation.

The chief still hopes that Dr. Fitch may succeed in obtaining firm Congress permission