Newberry Library - Transcript of a 1768 petition to prohibit sale of alcohol to Indians in Illinois country, ca. 1876

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Open book Transcript of a 1768 petition to prohibit sale of alcohol to Indians in Illinois country, ca. 1876

Title Transcript of a 1768 petition to prohibit sale of alcohol to Indians in Illinois country, ca. 1876

Date 1876

Place Illinois, Illinois--Kaskaskia, Indiana--Vincennes, Northwest, Old

Language French

Subjects Indians of North America

Description Handwritten transcript in pencil of an original document, copied by David J. Doherty from records of the Circuit Court at St. Louis, Mo. around 1876. Cf. added notes on verso of last leaf by Ruth Latham Butler, curator of the Ayer Collection at the Newberry Library.
Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)

Summary Transcript of a petition to ban the sale of alcohol to Indians, dated in St. Louis, Mo. on May 8, 1768, and addressed to Louis Saint-Ange de Bellerive, French commander of Illinois country, and M. La Buxière, possibly Louis-Jean Pellerin de La Buxière, judge and attorney general, by residents at Poste Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and surrounding areas. The petition presents four reasons for enforcing the ban on selling alcohol to Indians: disruption of trade and commerce at the post; breakdown of public order and tranquility; threats to the safety of all citizens of the area, especially children; and jeopardizing religious practices, and constituting an affront to morality and decency. A prompt response by the authorities is needed to avoid a full catastrophe, and since there are not enough soldiers to enforce the ordinance, the citizens themselves offer to patrol and apprehend violators so that they may be punished according to law. There follow the signatures and marks of 88 residents, and the subsequent order, signed by Saint-Ange and La Buxière, expressly forbidding any person from engaging in the sale of alcohol to any Indian, upon penalty of a fine of 500 lives fine, and confiscation of all liquors, with a more severe penalty for repeat offenders. The order is to be read aloud following Mass this Sunday, in a public place.

Extent [8] leaves ; 31 cm

Format Petitions, Transcripts

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 714

BibID 174106

Size 2664px × 3522px 26.87 MB

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Filename 991741068805867_Ayer_MS_714_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11ID6O