July 22 1836 to Sep 23 1836 - PTR, Vol 8

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.\lajor General E. P. Gaines,

Com'g R. W.W. cleparlmenl, Camp Sabine, La. A. Friends and Brothers: I have been senl lo see you by your great father, General Gaines, who has been sent there by your great father al Washington, lo do justice lo the red as well as the white man. He has heard that you have done wrong, and wishes you lo do heller. It makes his heart sore lo hear of your bad conduct. He has heard that the most of you are very fond of whiskey, and sell every thing that you can lo obtain it, which makes him very sorry indeed. Would it nol be better if you would sell your horses and cattle for good properly, and necessary articles for your families? Should there be any one present who has sold either his horses or any of his properly for the sake of obtaining whiskey, I would like to know, when he gels sober, if he does not feel as if he had done wrong. I wish to say to you all, if any person comes into your villages or settlements with whiskey, to send them away. Those white men who sell you whiskey are very bad men. They came here lo lake your lives;·not to kill you with knives or guns, but to destroy you with whiskey. I think you would do much better without it. When a man drinks he has no sense; he is a fool; he says and does things which he is sorry for afterwards. This is the case with the white as well as the red man. Your great chief, General Gaines, has sent me here lo give you good advice, and wishes you to follow it. He wishes you, when you sell your furs and peltries, to lay out your money to a good advantage, and not for whiskey: but purchase necessary articles lo cultivate your land, and buy your wives and children clothes. How bad you must feel when you have spent all your money for liquor, lo have your wives and children crying around you for something lo eat, and in a slate of starvation, without your being able lo relieve their wants. Follow my advice, and every one will respect you; and when you die, the Creal Spirit will receive you with pleasure. If any one does you injustice, your great father, General Gaines, wishes you to make your complainls lo him; he will do justice to you, as well as the whit<~man.

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