Endangering our peace and friendship

[This is a letter I wrote to Henry Dearborn, Secretary at War, on August 4, 1808:]

The retirement of White Hairs to St. Louis is strong proof that the case is serious. As they are at war with all nations, and in order to protect them we have been endangering our peace and friendship with the other nation, would not our best course be to inform all those nations that, however desirous we have been of promoting peace among them, and however earnest our endeavors have been to restore friendship between them and the Osages particularly, we have found it impossible to bring that nation to a just and peaceable conduct towards others? That therefore we withdraw ourselves from before them, and leave them to be freely attacked and destroyed by all those who have cause of war against them? Would such a written message from me to the nations at war with them, be advisable? particularly to the Cherokees, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Choctaws, and such northern tribes as are at war with them. I do not recollect those of the latter description. Would it not be advisable to aid their war parties with provisions, and ammunition, and the repairs of their arms at our posts? Will it be necessary to authorize expeditions of militia, or only permit volunteers to join the Indian parties?