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Show amiable and well-informed young gentleman, and a graduate of Prince-ton College, was instructed February 17,1792, as follows: The President of the United States-is desirous thst you shouldacoompmy the Cherokee chiefs who are at present in this city to their own nlltion, for the objects hereinafter particularly stated, as well as for the general purpose of attaching the said Indians, and all the Southern Jndiass whom yon may ocoasionally see, to the interests of the Unrted States. Mr. Shaw was designated temporary agent to the Cherokee Nation." April 23, 1792, the Secretary of War advised Gen. Israel Chapin of his appointment by the President as "deputy temporary agent" for the five Nations, and on April 28, following, he was furnished with general LLrules and orders" for his government as such deputy temporary agent. Gen. Chapin's instructions were similar to those given Mr. Shaw, and both were to represent the Government among me nations to whom they had been respectively assigned, and to be the channels of communication between those Indians and the United states. April 18,1796, Congress adopted a law (1 Stats., 452) authorizing the establishment of trading houses on the clwestern and southern fron-tiers or in the Indian country," for the pnrpose of carrying ona L1liberal trade* with the Indians; also the appointment of agents to manage them under the direction of the President. These agents, who occu. pied the relation to the Government of factors or commercial a,gents, were the first agents for Indim affairs that Congress authorized. The establishment of the system of trading houses nuder control of Govern-ment agents was evidently an experiment, for the operation of the act authorizing them was limitad to '1 two yews, and to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer." The primary object, however, was the protection of the frontiers, as it was hoped that by a LLliberal trade with the several Indian nations" a 'l good correspond-ence" between them and the citizens of the United States would be maintained. The act was from time to time extended until 1822, when it was permitted to expire, and the system of Government trading houses .- was abolished. During this period the system was variously modified by Congress. The House of Representatives of the Sixth Congress appointed a committee to "inquire into the operation of the acts mak-ing provision for the establishment of trading houses with the Indian tribes, and into the expediency of reviving and continuing said acts in force." This committee reported April 22, 1800, recommending that the capital already engaged in the business be continued therein, 'Lbut that it should not be enlarged by further drafts from the Treasq until the establishment is better understood in its several relations." The act of May 7,1800 (2 Stats., 58), provided for the division of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio into two separate gover&ents; also that the LL duties and emoluments of superintendent of Indian affairs " should be united with those of governors of the Temi- |