p40 1817 Journal Thomas Dean

land, say 20,000 acres, could bear but a small balance in discomposing the forces of the State, but would perhaps supply it with as good inhabitants as though it were pur- chased by the United States and sold by the government, or as good inhabitants as were now in possession of the land heretofore purchased, and now settled with those who call themselves white people; which was admitted by the Gov- I ernor. The third objection was that the United States Gov- ernment had granted two miles square to the State of Indi- ana on some of the unpurchased land for a site for the seat of government, and we might choose that place and then Congress would not acknowledge the conveyance. I replied that if we chose a place suitable for the seat of government we would give the State the two miles square out of the land we agreed for. He said that would deprive the United States of the profits of the sale of the quantity of lands we possessed around the seat of government, but if we would take land at the head of the Wabash, he said, he thought . there would be no objection. We replied that we were not partial to the White River or any other place provided the lands were good and well watered. After some further con- versation our conference broke up.

We parted and went to our quarters, and understood that Governor Posey had sent the interpreter, Barron, to our lodgings, wishing us to go to his quarters. We went and met the agent and the two Wea chiefs, with five or six of their men, and presently the interpreter came in, and we com- municated to them through the interpreter ourwishes, that we had come to make them a visit, and run the chain of friendship between us, and that if it were pleasing to them