From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 27 June 1804
To Henry Dearborn
June 27. 04.
Th:J. to Genl. Dearborne.
I inclose you a newspaper with a Lexington article respecting the Osage chiefs. Govr. Harrison in a former letter I think proposed the purchasing all the Piankishaw lands on the Ohio. this would be infinitely preferable to nibbling about the Saline. I doubt the expediency of buying the Pioria lands West of the Missisipi, unless a bargain could be made at the same time with some other tribe to give lands East of the Missisipi for them. I wonder whether it would be practicable in our purchases of the Indians to give them an annuity proportioned to the number of families, so that the annuity might extinguish with the numbers. it may be worth thinking of. Affectionate salutations.
RC (PHi); endorsed by Dearborn. PoC (DLC). Notation in SJL: “Osages. Indian purchases.” Enclosure: see below.
lexington article: appearing in at least two newspapers on the previous day, a widely circulated account of the Osage delegation then en route to Washington discussed the Osages’ desire to enter into treaty with the United States, the “gigantic stature” of the individuals making the journey, their “ferocious” relationships with other tribes, and an attack on the party by members of the Sac and Fox nations (Alexandria Advertiser, 26 June; Baltimore Telegraphe and Daily Advertiser, 26 June; William Clark and Meriwether Lewis to TJ, 18 May).