Jefferson's Secret Message to Congress Regarding the Lewis & Clark Expedition (1803)
Citation: President Thomas Jefferson Confidential Message to Congress Concerning Relations with the Indians; 1/18/1803; President's Messages from the 7th Congress; (HR 7A-D1); Presidential Messages, 1791 - 1861; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.
引文：托马斯·杰斐逊总统向国会提交的关于与印第安人关系的机密信息； 1803 年 1 月 18 日；第七届代表大会主席致辞； (HR 7A-D1)；总统致辞，1791 - 1861；美国众议院记录，记录组 233；国家档案馆，华盛顿特区。
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In this secret message of January 18, 1803, President Jefferson asked Congress for $2,500 to explore the West – all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
在 1803 年 1 月 18 日的秘密信息中，杰斐逊总统要求国会提供 2,500 美元用于探索西部地区——一直到太平洋。
At the time, the territory did not belong to the United States.
当时，该领土不属于美国。
Congress agreed to fund the expedition that would be led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
国会同意资助由梅里韦瑟·刘易斯和威廉·克拉克领导的探险队。
The modesty of the small request, explained principally in terms of promoting commerce, concealed the greater intentions of Jefferson's expansionist goals.
这个小请求的谦虚，主要是为了促进商业，掩盖了杰斐逊扩张主义目标的更大意图。
Jefferson had long been interested in exploration of the North American frontier, and believed that the United States should stretch across the entire continent.
杰斐逊长期以来一直对探索北美边境感兴趣，并认为美国应该横跨整个大陆。
Meriwether Lewis commanded the expedition jointly with William Clark.
梅里韦瑟·刘易斯与威廉·克拉克共同指挥了这次探险。
Jefferson instructed them to seek new trade routes, to establish relations with the western tribes of American Indians, and to report on the geography, geology, astronomy, zoology, botany, and climate of the West.
杰斐逊指示他们寻找新的贸易路线，与美洲印第安人的西部部落建立关系，并报告西部的地理、地质、天文学、动物学、植物学和气候。
The 8,000-mile expedition provided the U.S. Government with its first glimpse of the vast lands that lay west of the Mississippi River, much of which it would acquire from France with the Louisiana Purchase .
这次 8,000 英里的探险让美国政府第一次看到密西西比河以西的广阔土地，其中大部分土地是美国通过购买路易斯安那从法国手中获得的。
President Jefferson worked closely with Meriwether Lewis to ensure that he was well prepared – anticipating what the party would need in the way of arms, food, medicines, camping gear, scientific instruments, and gifts for Indian tribes.
杰斐逊总统与梅里韦瑟·刘易斯密切合作，确保他做好充分准备——预测党需要的武器、食品、药品、露营装备、科学仪器和送给印第安部落的礼物。
They planned well.
他们计划得很好。
While the expedition ran out of such luxuries as whiskey, tobacco, and salt, they never ran out of rifles and powder, needed both for self-defense and food supply — and they never ran out of ink and paper, needed to record their findings.
虽然探险队用完了威士忌、烟草和盐等奢侈品，但他们从来没有用完自卫和食物供应所需的步枪和火药——而且他们从来没有用完记录他们的发现所需的墨水和纸张。
This document is available on DocsTeach , the online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives.
该文档可在 DocsTeach 上找到，这是一个使用国家档案馆文档进行教学的在线工具。
Find teaching activities that incorporate this document, or create your own online activity .
查找包含本文档的教学活动，或创建您自己的在线活动。
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
参议院和众议院的先生们：
As the continuance of the act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes will be under the consideration of the Legislature at its present session, I think it my duty to communicate the views which have guided me in the execution of that act, in order that you may decide on the policy of continuing it, in the present or any other form, or discontinue it altogether, if that shall, on the whole, seem most for the public good.
由于立法机关本届会议将审议继续与印第安部落建立贸易公司的法案，我认为我有责任传达指导我执行该法案的观点，以便您可以决定以目前或任何其他形式继续该法案的政策，或完全停止该法案，如果这总体上看起来最有利于公共利益。
The Indian tribes residing within the limits of the United States, have, for a considerable time, been growing more and more uneasy at the constant diminution of the territory they occupy, although effected by their own voluntary sales: and the policy has long been gaining strength with them, of refusing absolutely all further sale, on any conditions; insomuch that, at this time, it hazards their friendship, and excites dangerous jealousies and perturbations in their minds to make any overture for the purchase of the smallest portions of their land.
居住在美国境内的印第安部落，在相当长的一段时间里，对他们所占据的领土不断缩小感到越来越不安，尽管这是他们自己自愿出售的结果：而且长期以来，他们的政策一直在增强力量，即在任何条件下绝对拒绝所有进一步的出售；因为此时，任何购买他们土地的最小部分的提议都会危及他们的友谊，并在他们的心中激起危险的嫉妒和不安。
A very few tribes only are not yet obstinately in these dispositions.
只有极少数部落还没有顽固地采取这些态度。
In order peaceably to counteract this policy of theirs, and to provide an extension of territory which the rapid increase of our numbers will call for, two measures are deemed expedient.
为了和平地抵制他们的这一政策，并根据我们人数的迅速增加而扩大领土范围，有两项措施被认为是权宜之计。
First: to encourage them to abandon hunting, to apply to the raising stock, to agriculture and domestic manufacture, and thereby prove to themselves that less land and labor will maintain them in this, better than in their former mode of living.
第一：鼓励他们放弃狩猎，转而从事畜牧业、农业和家庭制造业，从而向自己证明，更少的土地和劳动力将使他们能够比以前的生活方式更好地维持下去。
The extensive forests necessary in the hunting life, will then become useless, and they will see advantage in exchanging them for the means of improving their farms, and of increasing their domestic comforts.
狩猎生活所必需的大片森林将变得毫无用处，他们会看到用它们来交换改善农场和增加家庭舒适度的手段是有利的。
Secondly: to multiply trading houses among them, and place within their reach those things which will contribute more to their domestic comfort, than the possession of extensive, but uncultivated wilds.
第二：在他们中间增加贸易商行，并把那些比拥有广阔但未开垦的荒野更有助于他们家庭舒适的东西放在他们能够接触到的地方。
Experience and reflection will develop to them the wisdom of exchanging what they can spare and we want, for what we can spare and they want.
经验和反思将培养他们的智慧，用他们能够腾出的和我们想要的东西来交换我们能够腾出的和他们想要的东西。
In leading them to agriculture, to manufactures, and civilization; in bringing together their and our settlements, and in preparing them ultimately to participate in the benefits of our governments, I trust and believe we are acting for their greatest good.
引导他们走向农业、制造业和文明；在将他们和我们的定居点结合在一起，并让他们最终参与我们政府的福利的过程中，我相信并相信我们正在为他们的最大利益而行动。
At these trading houses we have pursued the principles of the act of Congress, which directs that the commerce shall be carried on liberally, and requires only that the capital stock shall not be diminished.
在这些贸易公司中，我们奉行国会法案的原则，该法案指示商业应自由地进行，并且只要求资本存量不得减少。
We consequently undersell private traders, foreign and domestic, drive them from the competition; and thus, with the good will of the Indians, rid ourselves of a description of men who are constantly endeavoring to excite in the Indian mind suspicions, fears, and irritations towards us.
因此，我们对国内外的私人贸易商进行低价销售，将他们赶出竞争；因此，怀着印度人的善意，我们应该摆脱那些不断试图在印度人心中激起对我们的怀疑、恐惧和恼怒的人的描述。
A letter now enclosed, shows the effect of our competition on the operations of the traders, while the Indians, perceiving the advantage of purchasing from us, are soliciting generally, our establishment of trading houses among them.
现在附上的一封信显示了我们的竞争对贸易商经营的影响，而印度人看到了从我们这里购买的优势，普遍请求我们在他们中间建立贸易公司。
In one quarter this is particularly interesting.
在四分之一中，这尤其有趣。
The Legislature, reflecting on the late occurrences on the Mississippi, must be sensible how desirable it is to possess a respectable breadth of country on that river, from our Southern limit to the Illinois at least; so that we may present as firm a front on that as on our Eastern border.
立法机关在反思了密西西比河上最近发生的事件后，必须意识到，在这条河上拥有相当大的土地（至少从我们的南部边界到伊利诺伊州）是多么可取；这样我们就可以像在东部边境一样在该地区建立坚固的战线。
We possess what is below the Yazoo, and can probably acquire a certain breadth from the Illinois and Wabash to the Ohio; but between the Ohio and Yazoo, the country all belongs to the Chickasaws, the most friendly tribe within our limits, but the most decided against the alienation of lands.
我们拥有亚祖河以下的地区，并且可能获得从伊利诺伊州和沃巴什河到俄亥俄州的一定宽度；但在俄亥俄州和亚祖州之间，这个国家都属于契卡索人，他们是我们境内最友好的部落，但也是最坚决反对土地转让的人。
The portion of their country most important for us is exactly that which they do not inhabit.
他们国家对我们来说最重要的部分正是他们不居住的部分。
Their settlements are not on the Mississippi, but in the interior country.
他们的定居点不在密西西比河，而是在内陆地区。
They have lately shown a desire to become agricultural; and this leads to the desire of buying implements and comforts.
他们最近表现出了从事农业的愿望；这导致了购买工具和舒适的欲望。
In the strengthening and gratifying of these wants, I see the only prospect of planting on the Mississippi itself, the means of its own safety.
在这些需求的加强和满足中，我看到了在密西西比河本身上种植其自身安全手段的唯一前景。
Duty has required me to submit these views to the judgment of the Legislature; but as their disclosure might embarrass and defeat their effect, they are committed to the special confidence of the two Houses.
我的职责要求我将这些观点提交给立法机关作出裁决；但由于披露这些信息可能会令其尴尬并削弱其效果，因此他们致力于获得两院的特殊信任。
While the extension of the public commerce among the Indian tribes, may deprive of that source of profit such of our citizens as are engaged in it, it might be worthy the attention of Congress, in their care of individual as well as of the general interest, to point, in another direction, the enterprise of these citizens, as profitably for themselves, and more usefully for the public.
虽然公共商业在印第安部落中的扩展可能会剥夺我们公民参与其中的利润来源，但出于对个人利益和公共利益的考虑，国会应该注意将这些公民的事业引向另一个方向，因为这对他们自己有利，对公众更有利。
The river Missouri, and the Indians inhabiting it, are not as well known as is rendered desirable by their connexion with the Mississippi, and consequently with us.
密苏里河以及居住在其中的印第安人并不像他们与密西西比河以及因此与我们的联系所带来的那样广为人知。
It is, however, understood, that the country on that river is inhabited by numerous tribes, who furnish great supplies of furs and peltry to the trade of another nation, carried on in a high latitude, through an infinite number of portages and lakes, shut up by ice through a long season.
然而，据了解，这条河沿岸的国家居住着许多部落，他们为另一个国家的贸易提供大量的毛皮和毛皮，这些贸易在高纬度地区进行，通过无数的港口和湖泊，在漫长的季节里被冰封住。
The commerce on that line could bear no competition with that of the Missouri, traversing a moderate climate, offering according to the best accounts, a continued navigation from its source, and possibly with a single portage, from the Western Ocean, and finding to the Atlantic a choice of channels through the Illinois or Wabash, the lakes and Hudson, through the Ohio and Susquehanna, or Potomac or James rivers, and through the Tennessee and Savannah, rivers.
该航线的商业无法与密苏里河的商业竞争，它穿越气候温和，根据最好的记录，可以从其源头继续航行，并且可能只需要一次从西大洋的运输，并通过伊利诺伊州或瓦巴什河、湖泊和哈德逊河，通过俄亥俄河和萨斯奎哈纳河，或波托马克河或詹姆斯河，以及通过田纳西河和萨凡纳河到达大西洋。
An intelligent officer, with ten or twelve chosen men, fit for the enterprise, and willing to undertake it, taken from our posts, where they may be spared without inconvenience, might explore the whole line, even to the Western Ocean, have conferences with the natives on the subject of commercial intercourse, get admission among them for our traders, as others are admitted, agree on convenient deposits for an interchange of articles, and return with the information acquired, in the course of two summers.
一位聪明的官员，挑选了十到十二名适合这项事业并愿意承担这项任务的人，从我们的岗位上撤下来，在那里他们可以免受不便，可以探索整个路线，甚至到西海，与当地人就商业交往问题进行会议，像其他人一样被接纳为我们的贸易商，同意方便的存款以交换物品，并在两个夏天的时间内带着所获得的信息返回。
Their arms and accoutrements, some instruments of observation, and light and cheap presents for the Indians, would be all the apparatus they could carry, and with an expectation of a soldier's portion of land on their return, would constitute the whole expense.
他们的武器和装备，一些观察仪器，以及给印第安人的轻便和便宜的礼物，将是他们可以携带的所有装备，并且预计返回时士兵的一部分土地将构成全部费用。
Their pay would be going on, whether here or there.
无论在这里还是那里，他们的工资都会持续下去。
While other civilized nations have encountered great expense to enlarge the boundaries of knowledge by undertaking voyages of discovery, and for other literary purposes, in various parts and directions, our nation seems to owe to the same object, as well as to its own interests, to explore this, the only line of easy communication across the continent, and so directly traversing our own part of it.
当其他文明国家通过在各个地区和方向进行发现航行和其他文学目的来扩大知识边界时，付出了巨大的代价，而我们的国家似乎出于同一个目标，也为了它自己的利益，去探索这条横跨非洲大陆的唯一便捷交通线，并因此直接穿越我们自己的部分。
The interests of commerce place the principal object within the constitutional powers and care of Congress, and that it should incidentally advance the geographical knowledge of our own continent, cannot be but an additional gratification.
商业利益将主要目标置于国会的宪法权力和照顾范围内，并且它应该顺便提高我们自己大陆的地理知识，这只能是一种额外的满足。
The nation claiming the territory, regarding this as a literary pursuit, which is in the habit of permitting within its dominions, would not be disposed to view it with jealousy, even if the expiring state of its interests there did not render it a matter of indifference.
声称拥有该领土的国家将其视为一种文学追求，习惯于允许在其领土范围内进行，因此不会以嫉妒的态度看待它，即使其在那里的利益到期状态并没有使其成为一个冷漠的问题。
The appropriation of two thousand five hundred dollars, "for the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States," while understood and considered by the Executive as giving the legislative sanction, would cover the undertaking from notice, and prevent the obstructions which interested individuals might otherwise previously prepare in its way.
拨款两千五百美元，“为了扩大美国的对外贸易”，虽然被行政部门理解并认为是给予立法制裁，但将涵盖这项事业而不需通知，并防止利益相关者先前可能对其进行的阻碍。