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OSM BENJAMIN WHITEMAN ET. AL. TO MEIGS

His Excellency
Gr. Meigs

Sir

In consequence of your Excellence requesting Our Opinion as it Res- pects the Indians now residing at Mr. Zanes -- and in consequence of the applications - Made by the Inhabitan ts of Sundry parts of the country Some being for removeing them further into the interier of the Settlements, others for Disarming them Whilst all Declare that if Something is not Done to prevent their Communication with the Hostile Indians Or Even the Opper- tunity of it, that they Will be removed With a Strong hand -- We are of opinion that they had better be removed Considerably further from the frontier, that their Arms at least in part Shall be Deposited in safe keeping from them, that a Discreet man Shall Superintend their Vitualing, that an Examination Shall [page torn] Made as to their connections and out of the Speittyes[?] of them that has Wives, fathers, or Mothers, Sisters or Brothers, or others near connections, there Shall be Selected any fit proportion of the Whole, -- and put into Service, under some persons the Most Discreets and --Without any of that Rancour of Disposition, which very Generally at this time prevades the publick mind In the Mean time let the person that has charge of -- those in the Settlement Keep them Employ'd in the Most Eligable Way for their good, with Equally as strict an Eye to their attendance at their place of Residence As an officer Would over his Soldiers - We are Well A Ware that the Mode recommended Will be attended With Very consederable Expence, but the Question is Whether We had better incur the Expence, or have that many More Aded to the Number of Our Enemies

Yours Respectfully

Benjn. Whiteman
Wm. Ward --

Sept. 22d. 1812