9125. WHISKY, Sale to Indians.—[further continued].
Perceiving the injurious
effects produced by the Indians' inordinate use
of spirituous liquors, Congress passed laws authorizing
measures against the vending or distributing
such liquors among them. Their introduction
by traders was accordingly prohibited,
and for some time was attended with the
best effects. I am informed, however, that
latterly the Indians have got into the practice
of purchasing such liquors themselves in the
neighboring settlements of whites, and of carrying
them into their towns, and that in this way
our regulations so salutary to them, are now
defeated. I must, therefore, request your Excellency
to submit this matter to the consideration
of your Legislature. I persuade myself
that in addition to the moral inducements which
will readily occur, they will find it not indifferent
to their own interests to give us their aid
in removing, for their neighbors, this great
obstacle to their acquiring industrious habits,
and attaching themselves to the regular and
useful pursuits of life; for this purpose it is
much desired that they should pass effectual
laws to restrain their citizens from vending,
and distributing liquors to the Indians.—
To——. Washington ed. v, 407.
(W.
Dec. 1808)
