- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1816 Oct. 4, War Department, [Washington, D.C. to] Erastus Granger, Buffalo, New York / W[illia]m H. Crawford
- Creator:
- Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834
- Date of Original:
- 1816-10-04
- Subject:
- Indians of North America--Government relations
Indian agents - Location:
- United States, 39.76, -98.5
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- William H. Crawford, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, writes to Erastus Granger (U.S. Indian Agent to the Six Nations, 1807-1819) on October 4, 1816 in regard to subsistence supplied to "friendly" Indians by the federal government. Crawford explains that Indians given subsistence for field service and those supplied because of the destruction of their villages during the late war have become too dependent on the American government, and it will be impossible to continue supplying them unless Congress approves an increase in the annual appropriation. Crawford requests information about Granger's agency and expenditures.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- krc069
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc069
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc069#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc069/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Keith Read, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 3 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Keith Read, box 06, folder 02, document 01.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Circular)
War Department
4th Octo. [October] 1816.
Sir.
The liberal supplies furnished by the government to the friendly Indians during the war, for the purpose of engaging their services in the field, or for subsisting those who took refuge in our settlements in consequence of the destruction of their villages and provisions by the vicissitudes of the war, have it is apprehended produced too great a degree of dependance upon the agencies for the habitual supply of their ordinary wants since the return of Peace, This together with the extension of our intercourse with them resulting from the increased Number of agencies established since the peace had produced an expenditure in the Indian department during the last, & the present years, greatly beyond the usual annual appropriation for that object. --
The surplus of the liberal appropriations made during the war, has enabled the department to meet those various and multiplied demands, but it will be impossible to continue such large expenditures for the future unless a more ample appropriation can be obtained for that object from the National legislature.
To bring the subject before congress, for the purpose
Page: [2]
of obtaining a more liberal provision, which is believed to be necessary on account of the extension of our intercourse with the Indian tribes, since the present appropriation of $200,000 was made independant [independent] of the increase of expence [expense] which has just been noticed, it is my duty to obtain from the several agencies all the information necessary to form a correct, decision upon the intended Application.-
You will therefore upon the receipt of this letter, transmit to me the names & probable numbers of the tribes under your superintendance [superintendence] - the Amount of the Annuities paid them- the Amount of presents other than provisions which ought to be distributed among them,- the annual expence [expense] of provisions issued to them, at the distribution of their annuities and on every other occasion -- And an estimate of the authorized and contingent expences [expenses] of your Agency, including not only the items just enumerated but also your pay and emoluments and those of the interpreters and other persons in your employment as an agent.
As this estimate is required for the purpose of governing the department in its application to Congress for an increase of the Annual appropreation [appropriation] for the Indian Agencies, as well as for the information of that
Page: [3]
body, the idea that any increase will actually be made, must not be held out to the Indians within your Agency. --
I have the honor to be Your Mo. Ob. Servtt [Most Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Wm [William] H Crawford Sec [Secretary] of Treas [Treasury] & War
Erastus Granger Esqr.. Buffaloe New York