Father Saenderl received a letter from Bishop Rese, brought to him by Saenderl's brother Vibus. In that letter Rese speaks of a settlement of the Potawatomi Indians on the Ottawa Territory. As much as Saenderl wishes that the Potawatomi could find a place where they can practice their religion, he cannot approve of rese's plan, because there are difficulties which frustrate any hopes for such a settlement. All Ottawa chiefs are against it. Mr. Henry Schoolcraft, whom they asked for advice several times, also warned them against it. But even if these chiefs would give their approval, nothing would be gained for the Potawatomi. Saenderl showed the Ottawa Farmer's map of Michigan, to find out the exact situation of their territory. they answered that it reaches up to the Grand River but admitted that those, who live on the other side of the Grand Traverse, do not have any right to that vast territory, but that those Indians of their tribe living scattered around in this territory are the real owners of it and may sell to the government as they wish, and those living this side of Grand Traverse can have no share in it. Saenderl himself had made the proposal to settle the Potawatomi on that Territory, until he heard that the Ottawa had no ownership over it. Should Rese nevertheless desire to settle the Potawatomi there, Rese would have to negotiate with heathens, who will only laugh at him. Almost the whole Territory from Grand Traverse to Grand River is populated by heathens, who become the stubborner the more their number decreases. Therefore the only piece of land that duly belongs to the Ottawa Indians of L'Arbre Croche is that tract of land which lies between Little Traverse, down to Cheboygan, along the Cheboygan river to its mouth then to the left along the lake shore back to Little Traverse. That land is like an island, except for a small tract of land of about 3 English miles near old Mackinac, which is already owned by the government. This sandy and rather barren country is divided into 5 districts, which are as far as ownership is concerned, independent from one-another, namely: L'Arbre Croche, Middle Village, Tchingahen, Cross Village and Cheboygan. Tchingahen is the weakest district, but they are heathens, over which Saenderl has no influence. The two possibilities, whether the Potawatomi should settle in one or in all of these districts were rejected, because fishing is a main branch in their maintenance and none of these districts will or can sacrifice that advantage either altogether or even partly, the less now, as the south of Michigan will soon be closed to them. Why should these poor Indians desire to lose a part of their livelihood, when they have not enough for themselves and are forced to go to distant places for it? These Indians have already chosen the best places on which they plant Indian corn and potatoes. The Potawattomi [Potawatomi] would have to cut down whole forests in order to obtain on a bad and sandy soil what they were unable or unwilling to obtain on the very fine soil on the St. Joseph river. If these people intend to cultivate land in future, and that would be absolutely necessary in the north of Michigan, why have they not reserved for themselves some a000 acres of it, which would be sufficient for their maintenance? Saenderl can easily understand that the government wants to settle the Potawatomi on Ottawa territory, because then it is released from finding new living quarters for them, besides it saves the cost of transportation which would be very great, if the rumor is true that they were to be settled across the Rocky Mountains, near the Pacific coast. What right has the government to ask the Ottawa Indians to give part of their limited land to strangers? For there is no difference between letting strangers live with them and giving them part of their limited land, as the Menominee have experienced in regard to the Indians of New York. The chiefs complain that the Potawatomi have already secretly killed several of their people and that there never was a good relationship between the two tribes. A living together of the two tribes would mean constant disputes and quarrels, especially about the property, as there will soon be intermarriage between them. These and other reasons are brought forward against a settlement of the Potawatomi among the Ottawa. Besides the Potawatomi would never thank Rese for settling them in the North of Michigan, as they would be exposed to hunger and need in a short time, because there is no hunting at all and fishing is very limited, and the soil is bad and sandy. If these Indians of St. Joseph river, Michigan do not get an annual payment under the heading "school" in their treaty, which would make it possible to keep a priest in their new settlement, then there is no hope that these poor people, whom Rese has saved a few years ago with so much trouble, can keep the blessings of the Catholic religion. :: III-2-g A.L.S. German 3pp. 4to.