Letter from Joseph Sinclear to William Medill, August 19 1846: Sheet #2

Transcription

Peru, Ind^a 19. Augt 1846

Sir.

I have just closed my council with the Miamies and hasten to communicate to you the results.

The council commenced yesterday and was well attended. I carefully explained to the Indians the decision of the Departments of 1st July last on the interrogations submitted by a delegation from the tribe then in Washington City. And it having been represented to them that the President would reverse that decision. I took especial pains to discourage any such expectations by explaining that the decision referred to, was in fact the decision of the President as will as of the War Department, and that from the positive manner in which each decision was stated, there could be no hopes of their obtaining a reconsideration, that this government acted with prudence and decision, and would not be driven from a position that had been deliberately taken. I then explained to the Indians fully their obligation to remove, and the requirements of the Department in that respect, and called upon them to decide now whether they would submit to the treaty of 1840 and quietly remove without any further delay or not, that in was no longer a question of time, they must now either commence the emigration in good faith, a refuse to keep their faith with the government;