Letter-1844, January 25

Transcribed letter from E.R. Ames, Corresponding Secretary, Methodist Missionary Society to T. Hartley Crawford, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C. dated Jan 25, 1844

.

Greencastle Indiana
January 25– 1844

Sir

    According to an agreement entered into at Washington City June 20th 1838, between C.A. Harris Esqr. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. in behalf of the Gov, and Revd Thomas Johnson and Rev [?L. Lucky?] D.D. in behalf of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church; relative to the establishment of a Manual Labor School, in the Indian Territory, South of the Missouri River, for the benefit of the Tribes residing there; the following Sums are now due Said Society, The payment of which, I beg have respectfully, to urge upon Your attention.

The United States
To
The M.S. of the M.E. Church     Dt

    Allow me, Sir, in connection with the forgoing accounts, to call Your attention to Some Documents, connected with the subject, which, I presume, You will find on file in Your office.

    1st A letter from C.A. Harris Esqr. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. dated. “War Department, Office Indian Affairs June 20th 1838. In which he says, addressing Revd Thomas Johnson. ”I have the honore by direction of the Secretary of War, to communicate to You the views of the Dept respecting the propositions, Submitted by the Revd. Mr Lucky & Yourself on the 8th & 12th inst for the establishment of a Manual Labor School, for the benefit of the Indians, by the Methodist Episcopal Church.” Mr. Harris goes on to Say, “The Dept. is willing to promise that “it will further pay 2500 a Year, or one half the expense of any number, not exceeding fifty pupils estimated at one hundred dollars for each and so far as it may be proper, it will induce the Tribes living in the vicinity, to apply the funds secured to them by Treaty for education, to the Support and tuition of their children at Your Institution.”  In an other place he says “it” i.e. the Dept. “may withhold the allowance of 2500$ wherein there is cause of dissatisfaction or distrust.”

    2nd A letter from C.A. Harris, dated June 20 1838, To Genl. William Clark, directing him “by giving the Indians favorable impressions,” to prepare them to expend their Treaty funds for Educational purposes at the Indian Manual Labor School.”

    3rd. A letter dated Jan 24 1840 From Maj R.W. Cummins, to the Dept. Saying, “The Delaware Chiefs in Council requested the percentage arising from their School funds to be applied to the Support of their children at the Indian Manual Labor School.” (The Chiefs indeed requested that a portion of their school fund should be applied to the purchase of agricultural implements. But the Dept has decided that such an application of the fund would be inconsistent with the provisions of the Treaty. Thus having the whole fund to be expended at the I. M. School.)

    4th A letter from Maj R.W. Cummins to the Dept. date May 22- 1841 In which he says, ”The Kansas Tribe of Indians. in Council, in Feby. last, requested me to inform the Govt., that they wished to apply the interest arising from their school funds to the Education of as many of their children as they may think proper to send, to the Indian Manual Labor School established among the Shawnees.” From these Documents, it must be evident, I think, to any one that the compensation, charged in the accounts herewith submitted, for the suport & instruction of the Delaware & Kansas children, as well as the 2500$ charged against the civilization fund; is justly due the Society. I did not understand from the conversation which I had with You on the subject in Feby last; that there was any difficulty in the way of paying the amount due from the Delaware School fund; except the the want of a disposition to pay it on the part of the Govt. I know that the Dept. in numerous documents, annually laid before Congress, has expressed not only a willingness, but an anxiety, as far as possible, to consult the wishes of the Indians, in the disposition of their School funds. This You will find, is done in Your Report of last Year, in reference to the proposed Educational arrangements, among the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, And this is certainly, a most wise and judicious course of policy towards the Indian on the part of the Govt. You will pardon me, therefore, if I Say, to use the mildest phrase, it appears verry singular, that, after the Dept. has entered into a written contract to pay over the funds of a Tribe to a certain School, and the Chiefs of the Tribe, Cordially entering into the views of the Dept. have requested that their funds should be thus applied; and after Congress, from Year, to Year, has made more appropriations to meet this expenditure, until the money has accumulated in the Treasury to the amount of Some 10,000$ while the Church in the mean time, in full reliance on the good faith of the Govt. by whose promise She was induced to undertake the enterprise, goes on to perform the work; if after all this compensation is longer delayed or refused, it will indeed be singular. I hope, Sir, for many & mighty reasons, which I will not state, but which, will no doubt readily occur to Your mind, that this subject will receive Your early and favorable attention, and that the money due from the Delaware School fund, to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, will not any longer be withheld.

    In my conversation with You, in Feby last, respecting the money due from the Kansas School fund, You urged the words of the Treaty, as a bar to its payment; Since the Treaty says the fund shall be expended within the nation. Allow me to observe that instructions, I think, were issued from Your office in 1837, to the U.S. Agent for the Kansas; directing him to procure Some of the children of that Tribe and send them to Col. Johnsons School in Kentucky.  After making an effort to procure Some of the Children, the Agent reported his failure, to the Dept. because the Indians were unwilling to send their children to that school.

    Now, if the Dept. could in 1837, without any impropriety send the Kansas children to Kentucky, or make an effort to do so. If in 1838 it was proper for it, to give a pledge to the Church, that it would, through its agents exert its influence to have them sent to the school among the Shawnees; and if it did actually instruct its agents to labor the the accomplishment of this very thing; How could it enter into the calculations of the Church, that after She had expended more than 20,000$ in the erection of buildings, and the improvement of a farm, in order that She might he prepared to educate the Kansas children, in common with others. –That, after the Kansas Tribe of Indians in Council, had, through their agent, requested that their funds should be applied to the Support of their children at the I.M.L. School. That after all this the Dept Should Say “The Treaty will not allow us to expend the money at Your School. The Treaty with the Chickasaws, as You are aware, provides that their annuity of 3000$ Shall be expended for the Education of their Children within the United States, Yet notwithstanding the Treaty was this case, You have expressed Your entire willingness that the money Should be expended in the Indian Country, in Supporting a School at Fort Coffee, or among the chickasaws on Red River. Now if it be lawful to expend money in the Indian Country which the Treaty Says Shall he expended within the United States, I confess it Seems difficult to discover by what process of interpretation it is found unlawful to expend the funds of one Tribe, for the Support of their children who are at school in an adjoining Tribe, Simply because the Treaty says the money shall be expended within the bounds of the tribe to which it is due, especially after the Tribe have requested that their funds Should be thus applied –and the Dept. has promised thus to apply them. I hope, the unwelcome conviction will not be forced upon the Church that this difference in the law arises simply, out of a differnce of feeling toward the parties who are to receive the money. If the Dept. is willing to redeem its pledge, and to make compensation for the labor and expense which under its direction have been incurred, in the education of the Kansas children at the I.M.L. School, there is certainly no legal barrier to prevent its being done.

    There is one other point to which I beg leave to call Your attention Viz. The promise of the Dept. to pay 3500$ per annum from the Civilization fund. You were pleased to inform me, verbally, in Feby last, that the Dept would pay nothing more from this fund til Jany 1844 and but 1500$ annually thereafter. I am aware that the Dept. reserved to its self the right of withholding this fund at any time if there should be “cause of distrust or dissatisfaction. Before this money is withheld, may I not hope, that, if the Church has, in the application of this fund shown such corruption or incompetency, as to give the Govt. cause of distrust, or dissatisfaction, — That the Dept. will Specify the acts of which She has been guilty, and which have led to so unhapy a result as the loss of the confidence of the Govt. Justice, I think, rerequires that this should be done, and it is the custom of the Dept. I believe, to pursue this course, where it is dissatisfied with its agents. If Causes of distrust, or dissatisfaction exist; and if, when made Known they are not promptly removed, then, I admit we have no right to expect the aid of the Govt. I confess, I am utterly at a loss, to divine what the causes are which have led to the determination to withhold the promised aid from the Civilization fund, especially, as I supposed that the Dept. in a case of this Kind, would be governed by the testimony of its own agents, and both Maj Mitchell (at that time Sup.) and who visited the Institution last Spring in company with me, and Maj Cummins, the Agent, who is constantly in the immediate vicinity of the Institution, expressed themselves as being highly pleased with its management & Prosperity.

    I can hardly suppose that the Dept. is dissatisfied with the price, as one, Indian Child is, Boarded, Clothed, Lodged and Taught one Year for each 50¢ which the M. E. Church receives from this fund. It certainly appears that a degree of economy marks the disbursement of this fund in this particular case, which does not characterize its expenditure any where else — I state this Simply as a fact, not by any means as cause of complaint. But while the Dept is paying from this fund “For two Seneca Youths 325$ For a chippeway Youth 150$ & for two Young ladies of the Cherokees 300$ annually, it can hardly be supposed, that there is any dissatisfaction at paying 2500$ for the education of 50 Indian Youth at the I.M.L. School.

    And if the “Baptist General Convention”, the American Board of Commissioners for “Foreign Missions”, & “The Catholic Bishop of Boston”, who receive so large a portion of this fund, are allowed to expend it; when, how, & where, they consider most expedient in the prosecution of their benevolent labors serving the Indians, while the Methodist Episcopal Church, is bound to expend dollar for dollar for all She receives of this fund, –and furthermore to expend it at a certain place, and for a Specific object; –and then to make assurance doubly sure, the Dept, Still retains the right, through its agents, of exercising an especial supervision over the expenditure of this fund at the I.M.L. School. If after all this, the Dept. still feels, that there is “Cause for distrust & dissatisfaction”, it is certainly much to be regretted.

    But “I hope better things though I thus write” and I cannot but believe that on further consideration the Dept will continue the payment of the 2500$ from the Civilization fund as heretofore.

    I regret very much, to discover from an examination of your recent Report, that the Report of the Supt. of the I.M.L. School is not inserted in it: as it is, by far, the most important & successful institution ever established on this continent, for the benefit of the Indians. I can-not imagine why all notice of it is omitted.

    Before closing this communication I beg leave to call Your attention, to the claims of the M.S. of the M.E. Church, for improvements made on the Wyandott lands in the State of Ohio, which were by the late Treaty with that Tribe ceded to the United States.

    By a Schedule, forming a part of the Treaty made with the Wyandotts in Sep. 1817 “Those Sections to contain Six Hundred and forty acres each are to be ordered out of the Tract of Twelve miles Square to be granted to the Wyandotts. One of the Said Sections is to be appropriated to the use of a Missionary; one for the Support of Schools, and one for the Support of mechanics, and to be under the direction of the Chiefs.” In August 1821 The following communication was laid before the Ohio Annual Conference of the M. E. Church. “The Chiefs of the Wyandott Nation in Council assembled at Upper Sandusky. To the head ministers & Fathers of the Methodist Episcopal Church: to meet at Lebanon Ohio.

    We, Your Wyandott brethren, acknowledge former favors thankfully, and with peace & health to attend You all. We further inform You, that our Council have resolved to admit a Missionary School; to be established among us, at Upper Sandusky, and have Selected a section of land for that purpose, at a place called Camp Meigs, where there is Spring Water; and all other necessary privileges which may be required for Said School, Shall be fairly contributed So far as our Soul affords.”

    The communication goes on, to request that the Teacher, may be a Preacher &c. &c. and is signed, by Seven Wyandott Chiefs, and witnessed by William Walker. U.S. and Moses Hinkle [?Our?] missionary. In compliance with the request of the Chiefs, the church established a School among them, and Kept it in successful operation for more than 20 Years. I have before me a letter from Revd. James Wheeler, the missionary among the Wyandot ts, in which he says, “It was the understanding between the Commissioner, i.e. who made the Treaty & myself that the [?  ?] of the missionary improvements were to go into the Treasury of the Missionary Society.” I find by examining the Treaties, which the Govt. have made with different Indian Tribes, among whom missions have been established, that indemnity has been made to the different missionary Societies for the money expended on their improvements. I hope, Sir, we shall not be made an exception to the general rule. Indeed so thoughtful have the Govt., Sometimes been on this Subject; that I find in a Treaty made with the Cherokees, provision was made to pay the Am. Board for missionary improvements made among the Osages!!

    I have before me copies of Several letters, relating to the Subject of our improvements on the Wayandott lands which, I presume You have on file, and to which, I beg leave to refer You. One dated “Upper Sandusky Dec 28–1842.” from Rev. James Wheeler, to Yourself, and also Your answer thereto, dated Jany [?16?]–1843 enclosing a copy of Your letter of instructions to Mssrs Kitby and Walker. In which You Say. “It is not necessary for the Dept. to decide at the present time the question of ownership; and You will therefore make the valuation Separate and distinct from the general list of Wyandott improvements, under the name of “Missionary improvements” when received at this office the questions at issue will be decided.”

    As more than a Year has elapsed Since the matter was brought to Your notice, May I beg to Know how, how the Dept. has decided the “questions at issue,” wich I understand to be the question of ownersih [sic] The Church very naturally feels Some anxiety on the Subject; as well as Some curiosity to ascertain whethe[r] the improvements made with her own money belongs to herself, or to Some body else. The improvements I learn were appraised at Four Thousand Six Hundred dollars.

    I beg leave to ask for information on two points which interest us in connection with or missionary work among the Chippeways On Lake Superior. I have before me a letter from Robert Stewart Esqr dated “Detroit June 30th 1843.” In which he Says Speaking of the Treaty of La Pointe Oct 4 1843” Of the 2000$ School fund the Methodist Board is to receive of 50$ The residue to be dived between the Am. Board and the Roman Catholic”. I wish to be advised by the Dept. if this money will be paid? and at what time, and in what manner, it can be drawn from the Treasury. Mr. Stewart further says “The allowance made Rev. B. [?T.?] Kavanaugh is $516,82. The better course for the Board to get the money (2 years hence) is to get from him a Draft on the Secretary of War, Stating therin that it is the allowance made him at the La Pointe Treaty of 4 Oct 1842.” I have procurred from Mr. Kavanaugh a Power of Atorney to draw this money from the Treasury. Will the Dept receive this as Sufficient authority? and will the money be paid?

    I have thus laid before You, So far as I am advised of them, all the accounts, which at the present require Settlement between the M. E. Church & the Department.

    In April next, I expect to be in Wahington City, when I hope to receive from You Such an answer, in the Subjects contained in this communication, as will be entirely Satisfactory. And which, I shall take great pleasure in laying before the General Conference of the Church, at its Session in the City of New York next Spring.

With great respect
Your Obt Servt
E.R. Ames
Western Cor. Sec. M.S. of the M.E. Church

Hon. L. Hartley Crawford
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Washington City D.C.

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[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series MS574, roll 63 frames 306-316 by Debby Williamson August 1991]