ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS



"in an invention that will give a new turn to the face
of things throughout the Western country." His
application for governmental protection, in which he
included a rough description of the mechanical process
for navigating a boat, was sent to John Brown. "Not
being able," he wrote, "to discover any defect, and
further to satisfy myself, I had the machine actually
made on a small scale and proved every conjecture
beyond a doubt.", For what reason Clark did not
complete his application for a patent right as provided
in the act of Congress forwarded to him cannot be
determined.2
  It is not surprising that the Indian problem of the
period appealed to him and his vigorous nature stood
out in the policy which he advocated. There was in
his plan the same elements of thoroughness that always
characterized his actions in the Indian councils. To
him, the policy of the general government, which con-
sisted in inviting the Indians to make treaties, in
giving them presents and courting their friendship,
was in a large measure a failure. "Excell them,"
he said, "if possible, in their own policy, treat them
with indifference, make war on them, prosecute it with
all the vigor and devastation possible, mention nothing
of peace to them, and you would soon have them suing
for mercy. Turn the scale upon them and oblige them
to give up a part of their country to pay for the expense
of the war, c. All other policy in the Indian depart-
ment, except something similar to this, is the result of
the want of judgment or information."3
' Draper MSS., 27CC29.
'This was sent by Brown, April 27, 1790. Ibid., 53J88.
3August 20, 1789. Ibid., 27CC29.



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