June 9, 1815 Extract from a letter of instructions from Alexander J. Dallas, acting Secretary of War, to major general William H. Harrison, brigadier genl. [general] Duncan McArthur, and John Graham, Esqr: [Esquire] Commissioners of the United States for negotiating a treaty with the North-west Indians, dated
June 9th 1815.

The representations which the President has received from the state of Ohio, and the territories of Michigan and Indiana, have rendered it expedient, in his judgment, to take immediate measures for removing the hostile excitement which has appeared; and he has been pleased to appoint you to be the commissioners of the United States for holding a treaty with such of the Indian tribes, as it shall be deemed necessary to conciliate upon the occasion. You will, therefore, give the chiefs notice of your appointment, and that a meeting will be held at fort Wayne, or at any other place that may be more convenient, and at such time as may be fixed upon by the Commissioners.
The objects of the proposed treaty are, to remind the tribes of their existing relations with the United States; to explain to them the nature of the reciprocal stipulations in the treaty of peace and amity lately concluded between the United States and Great Britain, so far as they concern the Indians; to inform them of the measures that have been taken to carry the treaty of peace into effect, by a mutual surrender of the military posts which the American and the British forces had taken from each other, during the war; to warn them against any improper practices that might involve them in hostilities with the United States; to promise a punctual performance of all our engagements with them; and to insist upon the observance of good faith, on their part.
When the treaty with Great Britain was ratified at Washington, the United States were at war with some of the Indian tribes, and at peace with others. By the ninth article of the treaty, the parties reciprocally engaged to put an end to hostilities with all the tribes, or nations with whom they were, respectively, at war; and in fulfilment [fulfillment] of this engagement, the United States appointed commissioners for the single purpose of offering a treaty of peace to all the Indian tribes on the Mississippi, and its waters, with whom they were at war, at the time of the ratification of the treaty. But the United States were, at that time, in a state of peace and friendship with the tribes inhabiting the state of Ohio, and the territories of Michigan and Indiana; and had, in particular, concluded a treaty at Grenville, on the
22d. [22nd] of July, 1814, with the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese, Senecas, and Miamies. The ninth article of the treaty with Great Britain did not, therefore, apply to those tribes; and the fact that peace was re-established between the United States and Great Britain, being generally communicated and known throughout the Indian country, no act, connected with the British treaty, appeared to be necessary upon the part of the American government, to preserve peace, where peace already existed. It was, also, presumed, that the British officers and agents would, themselves, communicate the return of peace to all the Indians in arms against them. There is reason to believe, however, that these grounds of distinction have not been understood by the Indians; and you will be pleased to take particular pains in explaining the conduct of the government, so as to satisfy them, that it has not neglected them, or their interest.
It will be proper that you should distinctly represent to the Indians, that on the present occasion, the United States do not wish to obtain from them any new [deleted text: grant ] cession, grant, or privilege, whatsoever; but merely to manifest their disposition to cultivate peace and good-will; and to secure to themselves the advantages of the treaties which already exist. Where the United States have already purchased and paid for cessions of land, or privileges of roads, the tribes from which they were purchased must, of course, comply with their contracts; and particularly, they must not, on any pretence, attempt to prevent, or obstruct, the necessary surveys for ascertaining the boundaries of the ceded tracts, and laying out the stipulated roads. -- The President will, in all things, set them an example of good faith; and you may assure them, that he will take every occasion to promote their happiness and prosperity, as long as they shall shew [show] a just confidence in his word, and a friendly disposition towards the children of the American family who are placed under his care and protection, in their neighbourhood [neighborhood] .
The President entertains a strong hope, that the government of Great Britain will evince the sincerity with which it ratified the treaty of Ghent, by restraining all its subjects from lawless attempts to alienate the Indians from the nation whose territory they inhabit. But every precaution ought still to be taken to detect and defeat such attempts. The right of British traders to enter the territory of the United States, for the purpose of trading with the Indians, is a proper subject for the consideration of the American government; but the government has not yet prohibited a fair and friendly intercourse of that nature; and the President is only desirous at present, to impress upon the Indians, that the intercourse is entirely a matter of indulgence which may be denied whenever it is found prejudicial to the peace, or the interests of the United States. The Indians should be warned against any misrepresentations of the late treaty with Great Britain, which there is some reason to think, has already been misrepresented. The stipulations respecting the Indians are reciprocal, and amount, in fact, to nothing more than would have been the case, if the treaty had not contained them. They merely provide, that the parties, as a consequence of the peace between themselves, shall, severally, offer peace to the Indians with whom they were actually at war when the treaty was ratified; each party agreeing with the other, to place the Indians inhabiting their respective territories, on the footing upon which they stood before the war. In doing this, the United States acted voluntarily; and it must not be credited for a moment, that Great Britain has had any peculiar agency in obtaining a benefit for the Indian tribes, whether they were at war, or at peace with us. It will be of some importance, also, to explain the reason which has prevented the immediate surrender of Michillimackinac. The British troops have evacuated Castine, fort Niagara, and fort Bowyer, and they are preparing to evacuate Michillimackinac; but as their buildings on the shore of lake Huron, were burnt during the war, the British [: chargè des affaires ] has requested that the troops might be permitted to remain where they are, until a shelter can be provided for them within their own territory. The President, in a spirit of friendly accommodation, has acquiesced in the request, upon an assurance, that the postponement of the surrender would not be unreasonably protracted. In the mean time, orders have issued for the surrender of Malden, provided it can be done without danger from Indian hostilities, before the surrender of Michillimackinac is effected. The object of these explanations will be, to counteract any supposition, that the treaty of peace has placed Great Britain in a new and more advantageous relation to the North-West Indians; to supersede the idea that the Indians have acquired by the treaty, a more independent political character than they possessed before; and to beget a just confidence in the power, as well as the resolution of our government, to maintain its rights against every opposition.
The policy of introducing military stations and factories, generally, into the Indian country, becomes every day more and more apparent, as well for the sake of the Indians, as for our own sake. An opportunity should be taken, therefore, to apprise the Indians, that in order to aid and protect them, and also, to guard against encroachments upon the property and people of the United States, the President contemplates ordering a chain of establishments to be gradually extended from Chicago, along the Illinois, to St. Louis. This will secure for them supplies; will afford them an occasional asylum; and will present constant opportunities either to claim redress for any grievances that they may suffer, or to communicate intelligence of any dangers that they may apprehend at home, or abroad. It is, indeed particularly important, that they should be taught a habit of giving to the public agents, constant information of any occurrences that concern the peace and the safety of the country.