In view of the counteracting influence of the American Fur Company on this frontier, it would be better for the credit of morals, properly so considered, if the chief agent of that concern at Michilimackinac were not a professor of religion, or otherwise, if he were in a position to act out its precepts boldly and frankly on this subject.  For, as it now is, his position is perpetually mistaken.  A temperance man, he is yet a member of a local temperance society, which only operates against the retailers, but leaves members free to sell by the barrel.  Bound, by the principles of law, not to introduce whisky into the interior, he yet sells it to others, knowing their intention to be to run it over the lines, in spite of the agents.  This is done by white and red men.  And he obtains “permits” besides, as head of the company, at head-quarters at Washington, to take in, openly, a certain quantity of high wines every year.  Talk to that gentleman on the subject, and he is eloquent in defence of temperance.  Thus the obligation is kept to the ear, but broken in the practice.  A business that thus compels a man to hamper his conscience, and cause scandal to the church, should be abandoned at once.

Aug. 29th.  FUR TRADE.—­Mr. Sparks, Ed. N.A.  Rev., reminds me of an intimation mentioned to Mr. Palfrey, to write an article on this subject, “From observation,” he remarks, “and inquiry you have enjoyed peculiar advantages for gaining a knowledge of the Indians, their history, character and habits, and the world will be greatly indebted to you for continuing to diffuse this knowledge, as your opportunities may allow.”

The fur trade has certainly been productive of a market to Indians for the result of their forest labors, without which they would want many necessaries.  But while it has stimulated hunting, and so far as this goes, industry, in the Indian race, it has tended directly to diminish the animals upon which they subsist, and thus hastened the period of the Indian supremacy, while it has introduced the evil of intoxication by ardent spirits.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.—­I left St. Mary’s the latter part of August, to attend the second session of the third legislative council at Detroit.  The same tendency was manifested as in the first session, to lean favorably to the old pioneers and early settlers of an exposed frontier, which has suffered severely from Indian wars, and other causes of depression.  With the exception of divorce cases, there were really no bad laws passed; and no disposition manifested to excessive legislation, or to encumber the statute book with new schemes.  Local and specific acts absorbed the chief attention during the session.

Deeming it ever better to keep good old laws than to try ill-digested and doubtful new ones, I used my influence to repress the spirit of legislating for the sake of legislation, wherever I saw appearances of it.  As Chairman of the Committee on Finances, I managed that branch with every possible care.  I busied myself with the plan of trying to introduce terse and tasty names for the new townships, taken from the Indian vocabulary—­to suppress the sale of ardent spirits to the Indian race, and to secure something like protection for that part of the population which had amalgamated with the European blood.