Delaware Gazette And American Watchman

From the United States Telegraph

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

At Camp, north of Kansas river, N. W. Territory, Oct. 4, 1830.

DEAR SIR—I have often grieved to hear those who are opposed to the plan of giving to the Indians a permanent residence in this North Western Territory, represent it as a poor region, in which mothers and children perish on account of its poorness. No subject seems to speak for itself more distinctly, than that which relates to the character of our new country. Its good and bad features are prominent, and are alike exhibited to all who choose to look upon them. And yet there is no common topic upon which men, of the most rigid integrity, more widely differ in their opinions and representations.

Of the suitableness of this country for the residence, culture, and its kindred pursuits, I have spoken, and shall speak with great confidence, notwithstanding I am aware that my partialities and prejudices, may lead me into mistakes, as I suppose others have been led by theirs. This country will remain to be seen, and to testify in favor of, or against my opinions, centuries after the place of my sleeping dust shall be erased from the memory of man.

I am now performing my fourth tour through this country, (I mean the country west of the State of Missouri, and the Territory of Arkansas,) I have been more than 4 weeks on the north side of the Kansas river, a region which I had seen before. Here I have been agreeably disappointed, as I had been in my three former tours south of this. The country is better than I had expected to find it. The soil, as it is southward, is almost universally rich. By richness I mean the fertility of the bottom lands of Potomac, the valley of Hagerstown, and the richest regions of the Western States.

When I say wood is too scarce, I hope I shall not be misunderstood. I cannot, perhaps give you a better conception of my views on this point, than by stating my decided opinion that, making all reasonable calculation for the improvements of the condition, and the increase of population of the Delawares, whose boundaries I am making, they have at least four times as much country as their numbers require. Wood, water, soil, and stone, are such that any one fourth part of the country assigned them, would, I say, be sufficient for their use, in view of their most hopeful prosperity in future.

We have no time to spare in search of minerals, yet we have found excellent iron ore, and I am now writing in the vicinity of two mines of mineral coal, that we have discovered.

An aged Delaware chief, chosen by the tribe for this special purpose, accompanied us about four weeks. I have shown him the boundaries of their land, and have led him across their country, from south to north, and east and west, and he has returned to his tribe well pleased with their country, as some others of the tribe had been a year ago, on seeing a smaller portion of it.

The matter of satisfaction of the Delawares does not rest upon bare assertions; matters of fact speak for themselves. The Delaware tribe, even before our government authorities could have time to adjust the necessary preliminaries, have commenced preparations to remove into their new country, & have called home the chief who was with me, to aid them in removal immediately.

We have not reached the western extremity of our survey. From what I have seen, I doubt not that I shall be able to make a more favourable report of the country nearer to the regions which we have always allowed to be uninhabitable, than I had anticipated.

With great respect, sir,

Your obedient servant,

ISAAC McCOY.

* Pronounced by the natives of the same name; Kau-zau.