etc.

[75] Astor was accused by a Government agent of betraying the American
cause at the outbreak of this war. In addition to the American Fur
Company, Astor had other fur companies, one of which was the Southwest
Company. Under date of June 18, 1818, Matthew Irwin, U. S. factor or
agent at Green Bay, Wis., wrote to Thomas L. McKenney, U. S.
Superintendent of Indian Affairs: "It appears that the Government has
been under an impression [that] the Southwest Company, of which Mr. John
Jacob Astor is the head, is strictly an American company, and in
consequence, some privileges in relation to trade have been granted to
that company." Irwin went on to tell how Astor had obtained an order
from Gallatin, U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, allowing him, Astor, to
land furs at Mackinac from the British post at St. Joseph's. Astor's
agent in this transaction was a British subject. "On his way to St.
Joseph's," Irwin continued, "he [Astor's British agent] communicated to
the British at Malden that war had been or would be declared. The
British made corresponding arrangements and landed on the Island of
Mackinac with regulars, Canadians and Indians before the commanding
officer there had notice that war would be declared. The same course was
about to be pursued at Detroit, before the arrival of troops with Gen.
Hull, who, having been on the march there, frustrated it." Irwin
declared that Astor's purpose was to save his furs from capture by the
British, and concluded: "Mr. Astor's agent brought the furs to Mackinac
_in company with the British troops_, and the whole transaction is well
known at Mackinac and Detroit."--U. S. Senate Docs., First Session,
Seventeenth Congress, 1821-22, Vol. I, Doc. No. 60:50-51.

[76] Document No. 90, U. S. Senate, First Session, 22nd Congress, ii:30.

[77] Document No. 58, U. S. Senate Docs. First Session, 19th
Congress:7-8.

[78] Ibid. That the debauching of the Indians was long continuing was
fully evidenced by the numerous communications sent in by Government
representatives. The following is an extract from a letter written on
October 6, 1821, by the U. S. Indian Agent at Green Bay to the
Superintendent of Indian Affairs (or Indian Trade): "Mr. Kinzie, son to
the sub Indian Agent at Chicago, _and agent for the American Fur
Company_, has been detected in selling large quantities of whisky to the
Indians at and near Milwaukee of Lake Michigan."--Senate Docs., First
Session, Seventeenth Congress,