On the sixth of October, 1789, President Washington, acting under the new powers conferred upon him, addressed a communication to Governor St. Clair requesting accurate information as to whether or not "the Wabash and Illinois Indians are most inclined for war or peace."[68] If found to favor the former course the governor was empowered "to call on the lieutenants of the nearest counties of Virginia and Pennsylvania, for such detachments of militia as you may judge proper, not exceeding, however, one thousand from Virginia and five hundred from Pennsylvania."[69] With the prophetic foresight which so frequently marked Washington's estimate of the future he added: "As it may be of high importance to obtain a precise and accurate knowledge of the several waters which empty into the Ohio, on the northwest, and of those which discharge themselves in the lakes Erie and Michigan, the length of the portage between, and nature of the ground, an early and pointed attention thereto is earnestly recommended."[70] Anthony Gamelin, a trusty scout, was sent up the Wabash River to test the sentiments of the Wabash and Miami Indians in April 1790; the gist of his report was that the young men of the nations could not be restrained from war, that the majority of the savages had "a bad heart." The influence of McKee and Girty was in absolute authority.[71] "I now enclose the proceedings of Mr. Gamelin," wrote Major Hamtramck to Governor St. Clair from Vincennes, May 22, 1790, "by which your excellency can have no great hopes of bringing the Indians to a peace with the United States."[72] The reasons are thus stated by Governor St. Clair to the Secretary of War: "The confidence these [Indians] have in their situation, the vicinity of many other nations, either much under their influence, or hostilely disposed towards the United States, and pernicious councils of the British traders, joined to the immense booties obtained by their depredations on the Ohio."[73] By July 16 Governor St. Clair was ready to put in motion the campaign which was voted by all concerned to be inevitable. There was a double danger in further delay; the Indians were growing more bold each day, and the people along the western frontier were beginning to distrust the strength of the Government which, while claiming them, failed utterly to protect them. Only a week before (July 7) Judge Innes wrote these startling words to the Secretary of War: "I will, sir, be candid on this subject.... The people say they have long groaned under their misfortunes, they see no prospect of relief.... They begin to want faith in the Government, and appear determined to revenge themselves: for this purpose a meeting was lately held in this place, by a number of respectable characters, to determine on the propriety of carrying on three expeditions this fall."[74]