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Def. Ex. 96, Part 8.
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to page 161.
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American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
164 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1792. |
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BUFFALO CREEK, May 5, 1791. |
SIR:
Although I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance, I am, notwithstanding, emboldened to address you, by letter, and through the same to inform you, that I am the person charged with certain messages from his Excellency the Secretary of war, for the United States, to the Six Nations, and other tribes of Indians, residing near Lake Erie, &c. One of those messages are particularly sent to the tribes now unhappily at war with the American, and with whom, it is the ardent desire of General Washington, the President, that peace should be established, on the most lasting terms of equity and justice to them. My mission is, therefore, to invite them to a treaty with Governor St. Clair, on the Ohio, not far from the country they inhabit.
The better to effect so desirable an object, proposals were made to the President, in January last, by certain chiefs, who came on business of the Six Nations to Philadelphia, viz: That they would appoint in their councils, certain of their head-men, to accompany such gentlemen as might be sent into the country of those misguided people, to bring them to terms of amity with the thirteen States. This, sir, you will discover, on reading the Secretary of War's letters to the Six Nations, and committed to my care. It will be handed to you by the Young King, with other public papers, which were delivered Captain O'Beel, for the better information of the nations concerned.
I have, therefore, to entreat you, to conceive the most favorable sentiments on the meaning and intent of those public instruments of writings, as they are founded on the principles of humanity, and a regard for the well-doing of our fellow men; and I cannot doubt, but the same motives will invite you to assist in so laudable an undertaking: the effects of which, will establish happiness to the British subjects of Canada, &c. as well as to the United States.
The favor that I here request at your hand, is to permit me to charter one of your vessels, in the lake, for such number of Indians, &c. who may accompany me to Sandusky, on Lake Erie. So far as my request meets your approbation, I shall receive much pleasure, by your signifying the same by a few lines to,
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Sir, your most humble servant,
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Col. A. GORDON, Commandant of Fort Niagara.
May, 14th, 1791. The Speech of the Farmer Brother, or the King.
BROTHER:
The last summer was the time we had our last talk with the Shawanese, and then we tried to make peace in their minds, but they would not listen to us. They named to us their great chief of the Shawanese, called the Little Hoope, who told them, that all the nations beyond them to the setting sun, being in number forty-eight large towns, were all under arms, and that Little Hoope said they would be at peace with the Long Knife. So that when peace was put in their head, and that we had returned home, then the great fight was had between them and the Virginians, the Long Knife, and that made their determinations stronger for war than ever, because they had killed many of their people, and hurt their nations. And after this, we tried and told the Americans to be at peace and quietness. So we concluded to send some body again, to know what they were doing among the bad Indians, so that we might judge, and we consented to send a chief to them, with whom they were acquainted. And upon that determination, as we told you before, we sent Capt. Brandt, so that he might know how many people were bent for war, or how many nations were not so hard for war, so that we might judge whether it was worth while to try again to make peace. That is the reason why we asked you, the other day, to attend our council fire, until you should see his mouth yourself, when he should tell us all that was doing in that country. And that is the reason why we are afraid of our brother, for we know that they wont receive you in peace, for it is their determination as we hear. We tell you again, that one of the same mind with us is gone to speak to those people, and we want to hear him as much as General Washington does, and we pay all attention to what he has laid before us; and now our opinion is, we must go alone and try to make peace ourselves; and that is the reason we dont want you to go with us; for this is the outermost edge of the bad people's settlement; and were we to take you by the hand, and go together, we must instantly meet with a great loss, which would make war on both sides, and we should be killed. Now we will tell you the reason why they refuse to make peace, is, that General St. Clair struck the bad Indians, while they were thinking of making peace with the Americans; and this is the reason to try ourselves, to make them hear by our chief, that is gone before us; and that will be the time for General Washington to light his fires, when he knows they are determined for peace, and we, the Six Nations, are strong for it. Therefore, tell General Washington to hold back his warriors a little, and let his intention be strong for peace, and God will assist the Americans to make it up.
Now the Six Nations give great thanks to General Washington, that his mind is so strong for peace, and the Six Nations look to him for peace. Therefore, the sachems and head-men of our nations have come to you this evening, to tell you that you shall not go with them into the towns of the enemy Indians.
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BUFFALO CREEK, May 15, 1791. |
SIR:
The 5th instant I had the pleasure of addressing my first letter to you, and delivered the same to the care of Capt. W. Print, an Indian, to be presented by him, but having received no answer since, I presume it has miscarried through some neglect. The purport of it was, to be permitted a passage in one of the vessels on Lake Erie, for such number of Indians and white men, destined to accompany me to some convenient port on the west end of the lake. The mission I am charged with, is directed to the Indians, now unhappily at war with the United States, with desires to reclaim them to a peaceable demeanor, before certain destruction overtakes, which is now pending over them.
Mr. Horatio Jones will deliver you my letter, and wait your answer, which I hope will be to the granting of my request. And whatsoever expense may accrue upon this occasion, I shall most cheerfully satisfy the same with the commander; and subscribe myself,
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Sir, your most obedient, and most humble
servant,
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Col. A. GORDON, Commandant of Fort Niagara, &c.
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NIAGARA, May 18, 1791. |
SIR:
A few days ago I had your letter of the 5th instant, to which I should have returned an immediate answer, had I not waited for some public papers, which you wrote were to be handed to me by the Farmer's Brother, and other chiefs, who were to wait upon me, to receive my advice on business of importance. They have, however, as yet, never made their appearance at this post.
I think it but proper to give you this explanation of my not having sooner replied to your letter; but as there is no document which places you in any other light than a private agent, I cannot enter into any discussion of a public nature. Whenever any of the chiefs of the Senecas, or others of the Six Nations, apply to me for counsel, I shall give them such advice as I conceive best suits with the present situation of affairs.
As to that part of your letter which requests to be permitted to freight one of the vessels on Lake Erie, to carry you, and such Indians as may be inclined to accompany you, to Sandusky, on the west side of the lake, I beg leave to inform you, that I am not authorized to comply with your request.
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I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
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Colonel PROCTER.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1792.] |
165 |
The speech of the Young King of the Six Nations, on my leaving of Buffalo Creek, May 21, 1791.
BROTHERS:
We are called together this day by the appointment of yesterday, to hear what answer has been sent to your letter, from the commanding officer of Niagara. And the same having been made known to us, we find that you are disappointed in your expectations of getting a vessel, in which we were to go with you toward the unfriendly Indians; and that, therefore, you would return by the way of Fort Pitt.
You have also said, that you do not blame us, but that you blame the British: and that, therefore, we should be easy in our minds, and be at peace with the United States.
You have also mentioned a letter, which came from General St. Clair to us, and what answer we should give to the same, so that Colonel Butler, at Pittsburg, might be informed by you.
The answer of our fighting, as requested by General St. Clair: On seeing how your troops should act against the enemy Indians, you must listen, and hear what is the full determination of all the sachems and warriors of the Six Nations; what they have determined upon, and that in a few words, for Col. Butler, to be sent to General St. Clair.
Now, the answer is, that we are desirous of complying with the instructions of his first letter, sent to Cuyasatta, our great chief for the Six Nations; namely, that we must sit still, and not to mind any other business but peace; and those were the words of his letter. Moreover, last fall it was told to us by Col. Pickering, that the Six Nations must take no notice of any thing, but what tended to be peaceable; for that would be an advantage to our nations, and nothing else. So that, ever since, we have conformed to these instructions, in not interfering in any matter that has another tendency: for with the British we are at peace, according to their request of us; and we are the same with the Americans. And should the unfriendly Indians come forward to seek peace by us, we will help to do so; and we are desirous ourselves of remaining peaceable.
The reason why we now tell you these things, is, that we are neither on the one side, or on the other; whether of the British, or of the Americans; for we desire to be still, and to be at peace with both.
Here, brother, we speak to you on another matter, that has respect to the Six Nations. General Washington, the great chief, has kindled a fire at the Painted Post; and this, we expect, is done for the sake of peace: for he has called all the nations, from the Grand river to the Oneidas. And it is our desire to attend the same, at the time proposed.
Therefore, tell Colonel Butler, at Pittsburg, that we cannot attend, according to the request of General St. Clair: for we shall attend the treaty at the Painted Post, where the fire is lighted by General Washington, and at that place all matter we here related shall be talked over again. In this, brother, you have heard the sense of the Six Nations, and our sentiments are firm and strong: for, amongst us, there is not one deficient. This is, therefore, the close of this speech, as we want to talk over other matters which concern the errand that you have come to us upon, and which we can't go through with, because we can't speak to the Indians, that reside towards the setting sun. But we have told you, that we have sent Captain Brandt, to know their opinion; and we have always wanted you to stay with us until his return, to know what is the minds of those people towards the Thirteen Fires.
We have also told you, that we shall take the same into consideration, as we want to speak to them once more, on terms of peace: for our mind is the same as when you first came amongst us, and we are desirous of seeing Captain Brandt return; and when we hear that those people will incline to peace, we will help it, and try to bring the same to effect. And should Captain Brandt be here before we go for the Painted Post, whatever their intentions are, we shall make the same known; and if for peace, the one half of our chiefs shall go to the unfriendly Indians, and the other half, with our women and children, shall attend the treaty before named; and the same information shall be sent to fort Pitt, for the information of Col. Butler, as you have requested of us.
This, therefore, is all that we have to say to you at this time, and are desirous that you may go whither you intended.
SIR:
Thus far, I have attempted to delineate the several events and progress of my tour, among the Six Nations of Indians, &c. And although the commissions you were pleased to honor me with were not so completely accomplished as wished for, I nevertheless enjoy a conscious evidence, that, in no instance, have I omitted to put in practice such means as I conceived to be the most conducive to that end.
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I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most
humble servant,
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Major General H. KNOX, Secretary of War.
__________________
Instructions to Colonel Timothy Pickering.
SIR:
The Vice President of the United States, and the Heads of the Departments of States, who are empowered thereto by the President of the United States, having determined it to be expedient, at this time, that the Six Nations of Indians, so termed, should be assembled together, for the purpose of cementing the existing friendships, and that this business should be performed by you, I have the honor of giving you the instructions herein contained, which are to serve as the general rules of your conduct.
In order that you may comprehend clearly the present relative situation of the United States with the Six Nations, I herewith deliver you copies of certain written speeches which were delivered by the Cornplanter, a chief of the Senecas, and his companions, who were lately on a visit to this city, to the President of the United States, and the answers thereto. Two of these answers were signed with due form by the President of the United States, and the first engrossed on parchment, and also the instructions to Colonel Thomas Procter, and a letter to Governor Clinton.
It would be proper that you should repeat to the said Six Nations, all that has been stated by the President of the United States, as the foundation of their future expectations.
It being the sincere desire of the General Government that the Indians, on all occasions, should be treated with entire justice and humanity, you may give the strongest assurances on this point.
The great object of the proposed meeting will be, to impress on the minds of the Indians that their interest and happiness depend upon the protection and friendship of the United States, and to conciliate their affections, for which purpose you will use your highest exertion.
That the war in which we are involved with the Western Indians is highly disagreeable to the United States, and would be speedily terminated, were the Indians to manifest pacific dispositions; but, if they persist in hostilities, their destruction must be the consequence, as may be easily proved to them by a comparative view of the respective force.
That, if the Six Nations shall be convinced that the United States are desirous of peace, on terms of moderation and justice, and that any further opposition of the Western Indians, after receiving information of the humane dispositions of the United States, will be entirely unjustifiable; in this case, it is the expectation of the President of the United States that the Six Nations do not only abstain from joining the enemy, but that they manifest their friendship by sending their young warriors to join our army, for which they shall be well paid.
It will be important to dwell much upon this
point. It will be difficult, if not impracticable, for the chiefs to restrain
the young men from indulging their passion for war. They will, therefore,
probably join the Western Indians, unless they join us. If this should be the
case, the United States will consider the Six Nations as responsible for the
conduct of their young men. To avoid, therefore, so dangerous a situation, they
had better join our
22 *
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1792.] |
179 |
|
St. Mary's, October 6, 1818. |
Sir:
We have the honor to forward to you treaties concluded at this place with the Pattawatamies, Delawares, Weas, and Miamies, for the purchase of lands in the State of Indiana. Owing to the peculiar circumstances under which we are placed, a detailed communication is deferred, and which you will receive from Governor Jennings, together with a statement of the disbursements incident to the negotiation.
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We have the honor to be, sir, very
respectfully, |
The Hon. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
234 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1792. |
The Secretary of War to Mr. John Heckenwelder, at Bethlehem.- 21st May, 1792.
SIR:
I was very much satisfied to receive your letter of the 19th. But, by some mistake, General Putnam was not informed of it until to-day. He well set out for Pittsburg to-morrow, and as he will travel slowly, he hopes you will arrive there about the same time with him. But, if not, he will wait for you.
Any sum you may require as an advance, shall be paid to your order.
_______
The Secretary of War to Major Alexander Trueman.- 22d May, 1792.
SIR:
This will be delivered you by Brigadier General Putnam. He has been charged by the President of the United States with a similar commission to the one given to you. This has not been done from any distrust of your zeal or exertion. But the importance of the object, and the contingencies to which the persons employed in the business are subject, have induced the President of the United States to employ General Putnam in addition to you. If you shall have succeeded, it will be a fortunate circumstance for you. If you should have entered upon the business, you will find great satisfaction in assisting General Putnam in its prosecution and termination.
It will ever afford me satisfaction to reflect on the patriotism and cheerfulness with which you undertook the mission, and I hope will redound greatly to your honor.
_________
Instructions to Brigadier General Rufus Putnam.- 22d May, 1792.
SIR:
As you have, at the request of the President of the United States, agreed to attempt to be present at the general council of the hostile Indians about to be held on the Miami river of lake Erie, in order to convince the said Indians of the humane dispositions of the United States, and thereby to make a truce or peace with them, it is proper that you should receive all due information and instructions relative to your mission.
You have herewith delivered to
you-
First. A copy of the treaty of fort Stanwix, made on
the 22d day of October, 1784.
Secondly. A copy of the treaty of fort McIntosh, made
the 21st January, 1785.
Thirdly. A copy of the treaty with the Shawanese, made
at the Miami, in January, 1786.
Fourthly. And of the treaties with the Six Nations, and
with the Wyandots, &c. concluded at Fort Harmar on the 9th of January,
1789.
These last mentioned treaties confirm nearly the bounds of the treaties made at fort Stanwix, in 1784, and fort McIntosh, in 1785.
And, that there should be no mistake as to the boundaries claimed by the United States, by virtue of the said several treaties, you have herewith delivered to you a map, whereon the boundaries are clearly marked. You will observe that there are several reservations to the United States marked within the Indian lands. Information has been received that the Indians consider these reservations with great uneasiness. If, upon your bringing this subject to view at the council, it should appear to be the case, you may express your opinion, that, upon an ultimate adjustment of differences, the said reservations may be relinquished by the United States, excepting for those parts about the fort at Detroit, which will be necessary for the garrison.
The chiefs of the Five Nations of Indians, who were so long in this city, lately, were astonished at the moderation of our claim of land, it being very different from what they have been taught, by designing people, to believe.
It would seem that the Indians have been misled with respect to our claims, by a certain map, published in Connecticut, wherein are laid out ten new States, agreeably to a report of a committee of Congress.
The United States are desirous, in any treaty which shall be formed in future, to avoid all causes of war, relatively to boundaries, by fixing the same in such a manner as not to be mistaken by the meanest capacity. As the basis, therefore, of your negotiation, you will, in the strongest and most explicit terms, renounce, on the part of the United States, all claim to any Indian land which shall not have been ceded by fair treaties, made with the Indian nations.
That we conceive the treaty of fort Harmar to have been formed by the tribes having a just right to make the same, and that it was done with their full understanding and free consent.
That if, however, the said tribes should judge the compensation to have been inadequate to the object, or that any other tribes have a just claim, in both cases they shall receive a liberal allowance on their finally settling all disputes upon the subject.
That, with respect to the lands ceded or retained by the treaty with the Shawanese of the Miami of the Ohio, doubts are entertained of any rights possessed by the said Shawanese, excepting those of sufferance, by the tribes who justly claim the same. But, if the rights to the Shawanese should be conceded by other neighboring tribes, who should think proper to confirm the boundaries marked for the said Shawanese, the United States will abide thereby.
As the United States have never made any treaties with the Wabash Indians, although the said Indians have been repeatedly invited thereto, their claims to the lands east and south of the said Wabash have not been defined.
This circumstance will be a subject of your inquiry with the assembled Indian tribes; and you may assure the parties concerned, that an equitable boundary shall be arranged with them.
You will make it clearly understood, that we want not a foot of their land, and that it is theirs, and theirs only; that they have the right to sell, and the right to refuse to sell, and that the United States will guaranty to them their said just right.
That all we require of the Indians is a peaceable demeanor; that they neither plunder the frontiers of their horses, or murder the inhabitants; that the United States are bound to protect the inhabitants at the risk of every inconvenience of men and money.
You will represent to them, that a new state of things has taken place in the United States; that, formerly, we were an association of several separate States, like their several separate tribes, and that there was no portion of union and strength sufficient to regulate the several parts, as belonging to the same machine.
But, that now we have a General Government, embracing all parts of the Union, as it respects foreign nations and Indian tribes. That General Washington is placed at the head of this government, and that he, or some person immediately authorized by him, must make all treaties with the Indian tribes.
That, therefore, in future, all the Indian nations may rest with great confidence upon the justice, the humanity, and the liberality of the United States.
That it is not only the sincere desire of the United States to be at peace with all the neighboring Indian tribes, but to protect them in their just rights, against lawless, violent white people. If such should commit any injury on the persons or properties of a peaceable Indian, they will be regarded equally as the enemies of the General Government, as the Indians, and will be punished accordingly.
Let the Indians at the said council know fully, that the United States are friends with the Creeks, to whom we give fifteen hundred dollars annually; with the Cherokees, (excepting a few outcasts, who have ben leagued with the Shawanese) to whom we also give fifteen hundred dollars annually. That we have treaties of peace with the Choctaws and Chickasaws, to whom we shall probably assign an annual allowance, as they have proved themselves our friends.
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