VAN WERT COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY: County history, Chapter 1 - FIRST 
LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS ON THE INDIAN QUESTION (part 3)  
***********************************************************************
OHGENWEB NOTICE:  All distribution rights to this electronic data are
reserved by the submitter.  Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted
material will require the permission of the copyright owner.  The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently 
for free access.
***********************************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Submitted by: 
Email: 1whitedove@home.com
Date: August 5, 1999
***********************************************************************


from History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens
Edited and compiled by   Thaddeus S. Gilliland Van Wert, Ohio


 FIRST LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS ON THE INDIAN QUESTION,


    The close of the War of the Revolution in 1783 brought the question of
dealing with the Indians in Ohio before the thoughtful.  It was fraught with
great difficulties.  Washington urged Congress to pass stringent laws
against settling upon or surveying west of a line extending from the mouth
of the Great Miami to the Mad River, from there to Fort Miami on the Maumee,
and thence north to include Detroit.  He pointed out the propriety of
excluding Indian agents from all share in the trade with the Indians and of
prohibiting all purchasing of  land from the Indians except by Congress or
the State.  On the 22nd day of September, Congress in pursuance of the
President's recommendation forbade all purchase of or all settlement on
Indian lands and commissioners were instructed to require the delivery of
all prisoners; to inform the Indians of the boundaries between the British
possessions and the United States; to dwell upon the fact that the Indians
had not been faithful to their agreements; to negotiate all lands east of
the line proposed by Washington; to learn all they could about     the
French at Kaskaskia; to hold one convention with all the tribes; to confirm
no grants made by Indians to individuals; to look after American stragglers
beyond the Ohio; to signify the displeasure of Congress at the invasion of
the Indians' lands; and to prevent further intrusion.
    The following  year the boundary line was made to run due north from the
lowest point of the falls of the Ohio to the northern limit of the United
States.


*************OH-FOOTSEPS Mailing List***************************