Report on Indian Affairs, 1822

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In the last and preceding winters, I had the honor of presenting to the President of the United States, through your hands, a Report, in part, of the results of my several visits among the Indian Tribes of our country, and of my inquiries concerning their past history and present actual state. This Report, in compliance with a Resolution of Congress, has been submitted to that honorable body, and, at my request, returned for the purpose of completing, and publishing it, under my own inspection. After some unexpected, but unavoidable delays, I now, with much diffidence, and under a deep sense of responsibility, present it to the public, as complete in matter and form, as my means, my time, and my health, and the nature of the work itself will admit. If it shall, in any measure, meet the feelings and expectations of those who are interested and engaged in promoting the welfare of Indians, prove instrumental in awakening the attention of other to the state of this neglected and oppressed people, and of laying foundations for their future civil, social, and religious improvement and happiness, I shall not regret my arduous and long continued labors, nor the considerable sacrifices, I have made at my advanced age, of time, of property, and of domestic comforts, in obtaining and preparing for use, the facts and information comprised in this Report. These facts, with the remarks, and plans of improvement, which, on much reflection, they have suggested to my own mind, I now respectfully submit to the candor and consideration of the President and Congress ; to the various benevolent Institutions, engaged in imparting the blessings of civilization and Christianity, to these untutored heathen tribes, and to the people generally, in this favored country.

With high consideration and respect,
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
JEDIDIAH MORSE.
Hon. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War.

• Narrative of Trip

• Tour of Canada

• Preliminary Remarks

• Names, Numbers and places of Residence, of Indian Tribes in the United States.

• Indian Tribes of New England

• Indian Tribes of Pennsylvania, Ohio Michigan and Northwest Territories

• Indian Tribes of Indiana and Illinois

• Southern Indians on the East side of the Mississippi

• Indian Tribes West of the Mississippi and North of Missouri

• Indian Tribes between the Red River and Rio del Norte

• Indian Tribes West of the Rocky Mountains

• Indian Trade

• Drummond's Island

• Remarks and Suggestions

• Increase of Indians within the extended limits of the United States and their Peculiar Condition

• The Nature of the Indian Titles to their Lands

• Persons and Character of Indians

• Polygamy

• The Education of Indian Females and Intermarriage between Indian and White People

• Society for Promoting the General Welfare of Indian Tribes within the United States

• Indian College

• Education Families

• The Claims of the Indians on the Government and People of the United States

Indian Genealogy

Notes About the Book:

Source:  Report on Indians Taxed and Indians not Taxed in the United States, Except Alaska at the Eleventh Census: 1890, Department of the Interior, Government Printing Office, Washington DC., 1894

A Report to the Secretary of War of the United States on Indian Affairs, by Rev. Jedidiah Morse, 1822, Printed by S. Converse

Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual output. Several spellings have been used for the same tribe of Indians.

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