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OSL BENJAMIN WHITEMAN TO MEIGS

Gov Meigs

Sir/

We the Subscribers are firmly of the Opinion that the Most Effectual Way to secure, those Indians now under the profession of Friendship to the United States, from meeting with, or Doing Harm, Will be to take them not only within our lines of Defence, but in Where our Ovn Inhabitants live in security for there (with many other reasons that might be Assigned for the propriety of the measure* they Mihft in Due time win their Bread, and by their Industry procure Many Articles of Support so as greatly to lessen, and in time perhaps totally Do away the Expence thereof --

On this present Occasion Suppose it was Stated to the Indians that as a Battle had been fought and Many Murders Depredations had been commited, & they having still professed their Disapprobation & Obhorance of those Actions, how are the Whites in their Exertions to repell force by force to Dis --[illeg.] one Man of the whole[/] from another, or in short to avoid the consequences; attending Meeting in doors Men of the Same appearance in Every Respect from Sharing the like fate, --If they have thought of no plan, or at least speak of none, We think it will amount to pretty Suff- icient proof they are regardless of our protection, and have in View one More Suited to their Wishes -- But if on the contrary the[y] Declare their Wish to come under the protn. of the U.S. they themselves have certainly thought of the Measures proper to be Adapted from Which, Within your own Ideas [illeg.] Might be Expected, and if it is such as Included Expence [?] to Genl. Hulls Opinion and authority, in that point -- And in other respects we are ready to give an Opinion if required as to Services that might be rendered, by the Wariors of the tribes Above Spoken of, or harm Done by them under Different Circumstances

Signed Benjn. Whiteman [et. al.]

Gray Morning June ye 5th. 1812