The Enquirer

Extract of a letter from Stanley Griswold, Esq. Secretary of the Michigan Territory, to Mr. Almon Ruggles of Danbury, (Conn.) dated,

Detroit, 10th Nov.

"Strange things have appeared in the newspapers respecting our situation in this country. No family has been massacred, nor any person molested by the Indians, within my knowledge, in this vicinity—What the real temper and designs of the Indians are, I will not take upon myself to say; but I have seen an account published in the National Intelligencer of the 9th of October, by Messrs. Worthington and M'Arthur, who were sent to investigate the intentions of the Indians collected at Greenville, which agrees well with my ideas, and I think can be relied on. I am well acquainted with Blue Jacket, and although I have not the greatest confidence in his integrity, yet the leading ideas communicated by him to those gentlemen, were precisely the same which I often heard from his lips, in the fall, winter and spring of 1805-6, and in which I believe him sincere.

"I am clearly of opinion, the Indians in this vicinity, and as far west as lake Michigan, and north nearly to Michilimackinac, and southwardly from Lake Michigan to the Ohio, would never move against the Americans, unless compelled to do so: And the compulsion must proceed, not from any civilized power immediately on them, but from Indians, further distant, who are subject to foreign influence, particularly British, and might be raised perhaps to come forward in case of a war between the U. States and England. We all know the British have unrivalled sway by means of their traders and factories, through all the north and north-west. There are no Americans beyond Michilimackinac. But it is a question, whether the Indians, over whom the British possess this exclusive sway, are not too far removed to come actually forward in case of a war between the two countries. It is my opinion they are; but I may be deceived.—Should they come down, they will force those in this vicinity to join them, however unwilling or reluctant.

"In short, there is no danger from the Indians, unless war should break out with Great Britain; and even in that case it is not great. This however, must, be understood with the exception of imprudent and unadvised conduct on the part of Americans towards the Indians; such as wanton murders, too great avidity for their lands, &c. &c. Provocations of this kind might rouse them to hostilities—at least to make incursions upon exposed settlements. With these exceptions, I am bold to say, no hostilities will ever be entered into voluntarily by the Indians in this region with the Americans; and I should consider myself as safe in their neighbourhood as in that of any people on earth.

"It remains, then that those who wish to emigrate into these parts, should look chiefly at the state of our public relations with G. Britain. If war be certain, I should consider the risk something, but not great. if our differences with that nation are likely to be accommodated there is not any danger. Of this you have better means to judge than myself."