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generated；but ceases to be infectious。 I cannot decidefrom the
drawing you sent me； whether you havelaid off streets round the
squares thus： （Illustration omitted） or only the diagonal streets
therein marked。 The former was my idea； and is； I imagine； most
convenient。
You will receive herewith an answer to your letter as President
of the Convention； and from the Secretary of War you receive from
time to time information and instructions as to our Indian affairs。
These communications being for the public records； are restrained
always to particular objects and occasions； but this letter being
unofficial and private； I may with safety give you a more extensive
view of our policy respecting the Indians； that you may the better
comprehend the parts dealt out to you in detail through the official
channel； and observing the system of which they make a part； conduct
yourself in unison with it in cases where you are obliged to act
without instruction。 Our system is to live in perpetual peace with
the Indians； to cultivate an affectionate attachment from them； by
everything just and liberal which we can do for them within the
bounds of reason； and by giving them effectual protection against
wrongs from our own people。 The decrease of game rendering their
subsistence by hunting insufficient； we wish to draw them to
agriculture； to spinning and weaving。 The latter branches they take
up with great readiness； because they fall to the women； who gain by
quitting the labors of the field for those which are exercised within
doors。 When they withdraw themselves to the culture of a small piece
of land； they will perceive how useless to them are their extensive
forests； and will be willing to pare them off from time to time in
exchange for necessaries for their farms and families。 To promote
this disposition to ex…change lands； which they have to spare and we
want； for necessaries； which we have to spare and they want； we
shallpush our trading uses； and be glad to see the good and
influential individuals among them run in debt； because we ob…serve
that when these debts get beyond what the individuals can pay； they
become willing to lop them off by a cession of lands。 At our trading
houses； too； we mean to sell so low as merely to repay us cost and
charges； so as neither to lessen or enlarge our capital。 This is
what private traders cannot do； for they must gain； they will
consequently retire from the competition； and we shall thus get clear
of this pest without giving offence or umbrage to the Indians。 In
this way our settlements will gradually circumscribe and approach the
Indians； and they will in time either incorporate with us as citizens
of the United States； or remove beyond the Mississippi。 The former
is certainly the termination of their history most happy for
themselves； but； in the whole course of this； it is essential to
cultivate their love。 As to their fear； we presume that our strength
and their weakness is now so visible that they must see we have only
to shut our hand to crush them； and that all our liberalities to them
proceed from motives of pure humanity only。 Should any tribe be
fool…hardy enough to take up the hatchet at any time； the seizing the
whole country of that tribe； and driving them across the Mississippi；
as the only condition of peace； would be an example to others； and a
furtherance of our final consolidation。
Combined with these views； and to be prepared against the
occupation of Louisiana by a powerful and enterprising people； it is
important that； setting less value on interior extension of purchases
from the Indians； we bend our whole views to the purchase and
settlement of the country on the Mississippi； from its mouth to its
northern regions； that we may be able to present as strong a front on
our western as on our eastern border； and plant on the Mississippi
itself the means of its own defence。 We now own from 31 to the
Yazoo； and hope this summer to purchase what belongs to the Choctaws
from the Yazoo up to their boundary； supposed to be about opposite
the mouth of Acanza。 We wish at the same time to begin in your
quarter； for which there is at present a favorable opening。 The
Cahokias extinct； we are entitled to their country by our paramount
sovereignty。 The Piorias； we understand； have all been driven off
from their country； and we might claim it in the same way； but as we
understand there is one chief remaining； who would； as the survivor
of the tribe； sell the right； it is better to give him such terms as
will make him easy for life； and take a conveyance from him。 The
Kaskaskias being reduced to a few families； I presume we may purchase
their whole country for what would place every individual of them at
his ease； and be a small price to us； say by laying off for each
family； whenever they would choose it； as much rich land as they
could cultivate； adjacent to each other； enclosing the whole in a
single fence； and giving them such an annuity in money or goods
forever as would place them in happiness； and we might take them also
under the protection of the United States。 Thus possessed of the
rights of these tribes； we should proceed to the settling their
boundaries with the Poutewatamies and Kickapoos； claiming all
doubtful territory； but paying them a price for the relinquishment of
their concurrent claim； and even prevailing on them； if possible； to
_cede_； for a price； such of their own unquestioned territory as
would give us a convenient northern boundary。 Before broaching this；
and while we are bargaining with the Kaskaskies； the minds of the
Poutewatamies and Kickapoos should be soothed and conciliated by
liberalities and sincere assurances of friendship。 Perhaps by
sending a well…qualified character to stay some time in Decoigne's
village； as if on other business； and to sound him and introduce the
subject by degrees to his mind and that of the other heads of
families； inculcating in the way of conversation； all those
considerations which prove the advantages they would receive by a
cession on these terms； the object might be more easily and
effectually obtained than by abruptly proposing it to them at a
formal treaty。 Of the means； however； of obtaining what we wish； you
will be the best judge； and I have given you this view of the system
which we suppose will best promote the interests of the Indians and
ourselves； and finally consolidate our whole country to one nation
only； that you may be enabled the better to adapt your means to the
object； for this purpose we have given you a general commission for
treating。 The crisis is pressing： whatever can now be obtained must
be obtained quickly。 The occupation of New Orleans； hourly expected；
by the French； is already felt like a light breeze by the Indians。
You know the sentiments they entertain of that nation； under the hope
of their protection they will immediately stiffen against cessions of
lands to us。 We had better； therefore； do at once what can now be
done。
I must repeat that this letter is to be considered as private
and friendly； and is not to control any particular instructions which
you may receive through official channel。 You will also perceive how
sacredly it must be kept within your own breast； and especially how
improper to be understood by the Indians。 For their interests and
their tranquillity it is best they should see only the present age of
their history。 I pray you to accept assurances of my esteem and high
consideration。
JESUS； SOCRATES； AND OTHERS
_To Dr。 Joseph Priestley_
_Washington； Apr。 9； 1803_
DEAR SIR； While on a short visit lately to Monticello； I
received from you a copy of your comparative view of Socrates &
Jesus； and I avail myself of the first moment of leisure after my
return to acknolege the pleasure I had in the perusal of it； and the
desire it excited to see you take up the subject on a more extensive
scale。 In consequence of some conversation with Dr。 Rush； in the
year 1798…99； I had promised some day to write him a letter giving
him my view of the Christian system。 I have reflected often on it
since； & even sketched the outlines in my own mind。 I should first
take a general view of the moral doctrines of the most remarkable of
the antient philosophers； of whose ethics we have sufficient
information to make an estimate； say of Pythagoras； Epicurus；
Epictetus； Socrates； Cicero； Seneca； Antoninus。 I should do justice
to the branches of morality they have treated well； but point out the
importance of those in which they are deficient。 I should then take
a view of the deism and ethics of the Jews； and show in what a
degraded state they were； and the necessity they presented of a
reformation。 I should proceed to a view of the life； character； &
doctrines of Jesus； who sensible of incor