Letter-1838, June 20-A

O. I. A.
June 20, 1838

Johnson, T. Revd.,
Washington.

Sir:

   I have the honor, by direction of the Secretary of War, to communicate to you the views of the Department respecting the propositions, submitted by the Revd. Mr. Luckey and yourself, on the 8th and 12th inst. for the establishment of a Manual Labor School for the benefit of the Indians, by the Methodist Episcopal Church.

   I take pleasure in availing myself of this occasion, to express the gratification with which the Department has read the proceedings of the Missionaries and the Board of Managers of the church you represent, manifesting, as they do, zeal for the improvement of the red race, and a disposition to contribute most liberally of its pecuniary means to effect it.

   The 1st Resolution of the Board of Managers recommends the establishment of the School by the Missouri Annual Conference, upon the plan, it is presumed, indicated in the proceedings of the meeting of the Missionaries and Ministers within its bounds, the 2nd Resolution, adopted at which, contemplates that it shall be “within the white settlements and contiguous to the Indian country.” To this there are many and almost insuperable objections. The infection to be dreaded from association with many border settlers; the necessity of State legislation to give organization and efficiency to the institution, and many other circumstances, that have been freely discussed with you, render a position within the State of Missouri, in the opinion of this Department, undesirable. It is not doubted that the assent of the Shawnees, or some other tribe, may be obtained to the location of the establishment on their lands, and the Superintendent at St. Louis will be directed to instruct the Agent, Major Cumnins to cooperate with and assist you in making an arrangement with one of them for this purpose. The 2nd Resolution of the Board of Managers is understood as an engagement on the part of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to apply annually a sum, not exceeding $10,000 to the support of the proposed institution, in every year that it is in existence and operation. The estimate presented by you, shows the number and description of buildings and improvements your society contemplates erecting. And the system of instruction isto combine the acquisition of a knowledge of letters with an acquaintance with agricultural pursuits and various mechanic arts and housewifery. The Department is willing to promise, that upon the completion of the buildings in a satisfactory manner at a point agreeable and convenient of access to the Indians, it will pay to your Society five thousand dollars, provided they cost twice that sum, or one halt of the cost, should it be less. It will further pay $2,500 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 funs secured to them by treaty for education, to the support and tuition of their children at your institution. It will expect, however, that the site of the building shall not be definitively selected, without its concurrence and sanction; that in the formation of a plan of them it shall have a voice thru’ its agents, and that if not satisfied upon evidence adduced, that they cost the sum charged by the society, it may cause them to be appraised, in such manner as may seem proper, upon which appraisement the payment of one half the cost, according to the above stipulation, shall be made; that it may, at all times, exercise a general supervision at the establishment, especially at the expenditure of its funds; and that it may withhold the allowance of $2,500 whenever there is cause for distrust or dissatisfaction. It will be also a condition of the arrangement, an indispensable one indeed, that the society shall bind itself, in a satisfactory manner, to reimburse the sum of $5,000 herein promised to be paid, it the society shall fail to carry out all its engagements, respecting this matter, in good faith, and to a reasonable extent, and to maintain the institution in constant operation. It is understood however that it at any time it     shall be, in the judgment of the Department and the Society, inexpedient to continue the establishment, that the extent to which the last preceding engagement shall be fulfilled, shall be a subject for amicable adjustment, upon principles of equity,

C.A.H.
(C.A. Harris)
Commissioner of Indian Affairs

See Jan. 25, 1844.

[Photostat copy of letter in MSS. Dept., K.S.H.S.]