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Show Remarks on a Plan [A: P.T.] for regulating Indian Afiézz'rr. 22 3 fide among them; but in fcattered families, here Remarks on a PLAN for the future Management of Indian Affairs 1. HE regulations in this plan feem to me to . be in general very good: but fome few appear to want explanation or farther-confideration. Clrzzfc 3. Is it intended by this claufe to prevent the trade that Indians, living near the fron- tiers, may choofe to carry on with the inhabitants, by bringing their {kins into the [Englifh]_fettle.‘4‘._"" ‘3 up. "but WWII???" 4; : , a 1 ‘H ‘ ments ?--This prevention is hardly practicable; as fuch trade may be carried on in many places out of the obfervation of government; the fron- tier being of great extent, and the inhabitants thinly fettled in the woods, remote from each other. The Indians too do not every Where live in towns fufliciently numerous to encourage traders to re1 [The plan remarked upon, was under the confiderationof m1nifi before the clofe of the year 1766, and (231 am inclined to thin ) after the commencement of 1765. I can go no nearer as to its date. It is needlefs to enter into the particulars of it, as the remarks ex- plain themfelves; except perhaps as to the followrng pomts. . The trade wasto be open; there were to be two fuperintendants to it; in the northern difirift the trade was to be carried on at fixed polls, in the fouthern within the Indian towns ; the military were to have no power over the fuperintendants or the Indian trade, even 1n war time, unlefs with the fuperintendants afl‘ent, or in great cxrgencies; the fuperintendants, by themfelves or deputies,~ were to make annual vifitations among the Indians, to fee to juflice, lice. and their pro- and there; often {hifting their [ituation for the fake of better hunting;---and if they are near the Engliih fettlements, it would feem to them very hard to be obliged to carry their [kins for {ale to remote towns or pofis; when they could difpofe of them to their neighbours, with lefs trouble, and to greater advantage ; as the goods they want for them, are and mutt be dearer at fuch remote pof'ts. 4.. The colony " laws for regulating Indian " affairs or commerce," are the refult of long experience, made by people on the (pot, interefled to make them good; and it would be well to confider the matter thoroughly, before they are repealed, to make way for new untried fchemes. By whom are they to be repealed? By the colony atTemblies ? or by parliament ?-Some difliculty will arife here. I 3. The diftriéts feem too large for this. The Indians under the care of the northern fu- perintendant, by this plan, border on the colonies of Nova Scotia, @ebee, New Hampfhire, Mafi'achufetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jerfey, Penfylvania, Maryland, Virginia: The fuperintendant's fituation, remote from many of thefe, may occafion great inconvenience; if his confent is always to be necefI-ary in fuch cafes. 14.. This feems too much to be done, when the vafl‘nefs ofthe diftrié'c is confidered. If there ceedings were to be very fummary; and no credit was to be given to the Indians beyond so (billings, for no higher debt was to be made recoverable. E.] were more diflriéts and fmaller, it might be more praéticable. fide 15 and |