Tour of The American Lakes, and Among The Indians of The North-West Territory, In 1830 by Calvin Colton

“Why should this book be written? To give information. But was it proper to come through such hands, and to be communicated in such circumstances?
“As to the first of these questions, the Author happened to have in his possession a portfolio of incidents and observations, recorded by his own hand, during a tour through the wild and romantic regions of the American Lakes, and a visit among several tribes of Indians in the North-West Territory, in 1830. It happened also, that this visit in the North-West gave him an opportunity of being present at a great and eventful Council, composed of representatives of the chiefs of several Indian nations and a Commission from the Government of the United States, the developements of which were somewhat extraordinary and extremely interesting.” -Introduction