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American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1795.] |
TREATY OF GREENVILLE. |
581 |
our dependence on so faithless a people. Be you strong, and preserve your word
inviolate; and reward those Frenchmen who have come so great a distance to
assist us.
My friend, I am old, but I shall never die. I shall always live in my children, and children's children. [A string.]
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, chief of the Chippewas, thus spoke:
FATHER: The good work being now completed, we are left without a subject to employ our conversation. You see your children the Ottawas, Chippewas, and Pattawatamies, around you. Those at home will be rejoiced when we inform them that, for the future, they will enjoy the protection of a new father. Our happiness is great in being permitted to address you by that endearing appellation. Father, since we have been here, some mischief has been done. We are entirely ignorant of the perpetrators. It grieves us much, and excites our anger and indignation. Time will discover to you and us those wicked disturbers, who richly merit punishment. I have to request you to license a trader to reside with your children at Ki-ka-na-ma-sung, where we shall pass the ensuing winter. I have never been guilty of stealing horses, nor shall I now commence the practice. But as I am an old man, I would ask you for one to carry me home.
Welle-baw-kee-lund, a Delaware chief, spoke as follows:
FATHER: Listen a few words from the Delawares. This is the speech you gave us when you first came into this country, and when we first met together in council. In this you told us we should live in peace and friendship with each other, and join our hands firmly together. It seems they were badly bound, for the ties were soon broken. We know not exactly how or when they were destroyed. We will now renew them in so strong a manner that they will last forever, and bury in oblivion all past misfortunes. Be strong in this good work, and it will never fail. This belt was presented to us from brothers, and our king now shows it to you, that you may recognise it.
Okia, a Pattawatamy chief, arose and spoke as follows:
FATHER: I come from the river Huron, near Detroit. My fathers have long possessed that country. The other Pattawatamies present live on the St. Joseph's, and in that direction. All my old chiefs are dead; you therefore see young chiefs only from my towns, who are unaccustomed to speak in council. You told us you would deliver the presents in bulk to the Pattawatamy nation. In this case, I am afraid my people will not get a due proportion, and I am too proud to complain to you, should they be unfairly distributed; therefore, as I live detached from the others, and intend to return home with the Chippewas, by the way of fort Defiance, I be my father would let me have my proportion separately, for we have many young women and children at home, to whom I shall be very happy to deliver the presents of their father. I wish much to carry with me a copy of the treaty, to show my people. Living so far from the rest of my name, I can derive no advantage from the one you have given to our nation generally, and I should be ashamed and mortified to return without one. I would request a trader for my village, and would wish for Mr. La Chambre, with whom we are long acquainted. [A belt.]
Te-ta-boksh-ke, King of the Delawares, spoke as follows:
FATHER: You have in your prison a man (Newman) who came in to us about a year ago, and proved the preservation of many of our women and children, by the information he gave us: for this we cannot help feeling grateful. Now, your children, the Delawares, all beg of you to spare the life of this man, as he has been instrumental in saving many of us from destruction. We hope, father, you will grant this first request of your children, the Delawares. [A string.]
The General arose, and spoke as follows:
MY CHILDREN, THE PATTAWATAMIES: I wish you to endeavor to make among yourselves an amicable and fair division of the goods intended for you. It would be a very difficult task for me to perform with justice. You are acquainted with your own people and numbers. I am not well enough informed on this head, to make a true appointment. I wish all the other nations to act in a similar manner, and make a distribution to the satisfaction of their respective people. I wish each nation to appoint two confidential people from among themselves, to receive the goods, and to give receipts to the storekeeper, who will thereby convince me of his having justly delivered them.
Council adjourned.
8th August, afternoon.- The medals and silver ornaments, &C. were delivered. No material, or other than complimentary conversation took place.
August 10th. In Council: Present as before.
The Red Pole, a Shawanese chief, spoke as follows:
You, my uncles, the Wyandots, my grandfathers, the Delawares, and all you nations present, you see we are now here from all parts of this great island, and you happily accomplished the good work before we, the Shawanese, arrived. I thank you all for it. I now present to your view, the wampum given to me by our elder brother, now become our father. He gave it to us from his heart; and I hope you will, for the future, view him as our true father. We must, for the future, lie in harmony with him, and one another. The Great Spirit gave us this land in common. He has not given the right to any one nation, to say to another, this land is not yours, it belongs to me.
FATHER: I have heard every thing which has been here transacted. Peace is firmly established. It affords me satisfaction and happiness the hatchet is cast away for ever. I have reason to believe that the mischief which has been lately done, has been committed by a small party of Shawanese, who have been in the woods a long time hunting. It grieves us much, that, while we are here accomplishing the good work of peace, some of our own people are yet deaf to our advice. And, to convince you that we will never permit such practices, I now offer to leave with you my aged father, as a hostage, and proceed immediately, myself, to call home those people, and take measures to prevent their future misconduct. I have just returned from an absence of two years to the Southward; and in that period, my young men, uncontrolled by their other chiefs, have fallen into bad practices; but they shall have an immediate end.
All my brothers present, as the peace is now entirely completed, and as our Father of the Fifteen Fires has adopted us as his children, and called us by that name, I now tell him, in presence of you all, that we, the Shawanese, do acknowledge the Fifteen Fires as our father, and that, henceforth, we will always regard him as such.- [A white string.]
You, my uncles and grandfather, have settled with our father the boundary line, in a manner which meets my entire approbation. I am perfectly satisfied with it, and it appears you had our common interest in view.
FATHER: As all the nations are now present, they can never hereafter deny their own work, nor say that other people acted for them, without authority. I, therefore, recommend to them, to fulfil strictly their agreements, and adhere religiously to their engagements.- [A belt.]
The General arose and spoke as follows:
CHILDREN:
All you nations listen. By the seventh
article of this treaty, all the lands now ceded to the United States, are free
for all the tribes now present to hunt upon, so long as they continue to be
peaceable, and do no injury to the people thereof. It is, therefore, the common
interest of you all, to prevent any mischief being done upon those hunting
grounds. Those people who have committed the late outrage on our peaceable
inhabitants, had been hunting on those grounds, and after finishing their hunt,
proceeded to the commission of the bad actions of which I have complained.
These practices, for the reasons I have already given you, must have an
immediate end.
74 *
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
582 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1795. |
The Red Pole has behaved like a candid, honest man, in acknowledging the errors
of his people, and in promising to restrain them immediately. He has done more;
he has offered to leave his own father as a hostage, until he can inform me of
his having called them home; but, I will not separate him from his old father;
I will depend upon his honor for the performance of his promise.- [A white string
to the Red Pole.]
All you, my children, listen to me. The great business of peace, so long and ardently wished for, by your great and good father, General Washington, and the Fifteen Fires, and, I am sure, by every good man among you, being now accomplished, nothing remains but to give you a few words of advice from a father, anxious for the peace and happiness of his children. Let me earnestly exhort you to restrain your young people from injuring, in any degree, the people of the United States. Impress upon their minds the spirit and meaning of the treaty now before us. Convince them how much their future welfare will depend upon their faithful and strict observance of it. Restore to me, as soon as possible, all my flesh and blood which may be among you, without distinction or exception, and receive now from my hands the ten hostages stipulated by the second article, to be left with me as a security for their delivery. This unequivocal proof of the confidence that I place in your honor, and in the solemn promises you have made me, must satisfy you of my full persuasion of your sincerity. Send those ten young men to collect your prisoners; let them bring them to me and they shall be well rewarded for their trouble. I have here a particular account of the number remaining among you, and shall know when they are all restored.
I now fervently pray to the Great Spirit, that the peace now established may be permanent, and that it may hold us together in the bonds of friendship, until time shall be no more. I also pray that the Great Spirit above may enlighten your minds, and open your eyes to your true happiness, that your children may learn to cultivate the earth, and enjoy the fruits of peace and industry.- [A white string.]
As it is possible, my children, that we shall not soon meet again in public council, I take this opportunity of bidding you all an affectionate farewell, and of wishing you a safe and happy return to your respective homes and families.- [A string.]
Bu-kon-ge-he-las, a Delaware Chief, spoke as follows:
FATHER:
Your children all well understand the sense of the treaty which is now concluded. We experience daily proofs of your increasing kindness. I hope we may all have sense enough to enjoy our dawning happiness. Many of your people are yet among us. I trust they will be immediately restored. Last winter, our king came forward to you with two, and when he returned your speech to us, we immediately prepared to come forward with the remainder, which we delivered at fort Defiance. All who know me, know me to be a man and a warrior, and I now declare, that I will, for the future, be as true and steady a friend to the United States as I have heretofore been an active enemy. We have one bad young man among us, who, a few days ago, stole three of your horses; two of them shall this day be returned to you, and I hope I shall be able to prevent that young man from doing any more mischief to our Father the Fifteen Fires.
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, chief of the Chippewas, spoke as follows:
FATHER:
I have heard, and understand, all that you have said. I am perfectly satisfied with every part of it; my heart will never change. No prisoners remain in our hands in the neighborhood of Michilimackinac. Those two Frenchmen present (Messieurs Sans Crainte and Pepin) can witness to the truth of this assertion.
Masass, a Chippewa chief, arose and spoke as follows:
I have heard all the proceedings relating to this treaty. I express my perfect satisfaction at its happy conclusion. When I relate at home the important event, my people will stretch out their arms towards you; and when I have informed them that you have promised to cherish them as your children, they will rejoice in having acquired a new, and so good, a father.
Council adjourned.
I certify the foregoing to be a true register of the minutes and proceedings of the treaty of Greenville.
|
H. DE BUTTS, Secretary. |
HEAD QUARTERS, GREENVILLE, 20th Sept. 1795.
_________
A return of the numbers of the different
nations of Indians present at, and parties to, the treaty of Greenville, taken
on the 7th August, 1795.
|
|
Wyandots, |
|
180 |
|
Interpreters. |
|
H. DE BUTTS, Secretary. |
_________________
SUPPLEMENT.
To the Cherokees, now settled on the head waters of Scioto.
Whereas, I, Anthony Wayne, Major General, commanding the army of the United States, and sole commissioner for settling a permanent peace with all the Indian tribes northwest of the river Ohio, having accomplished that great and good work, and having this day signed and exchanged articles of a permanent peace with the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pattawatamies, Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese, Miamies, Eel river, Weas, and Kickapoos, nations of Indians:
Do, hereby, once more invite you, the said Cherokees, residing on the waters of the Scioto, to come forward immediately to this place, and enter into similar articles of peace: for which purpose, I now send Captain Long-hair, a principal Cherokee chief, to conduct you to head quarters, where you shall be received in friendship, and treated with kindness and hospitality. Captain Long-hair will give you the particulars respecting this treaty; as also those of a treaty of peace lately made between the United States and the Cherokee nation; so that you now stand alone and unprotected unless you comply with this last invitation.
Given at Head quarters, Greenville, 3d August, 1795.
|
ANTHONY WAYNE. |
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1795.] |
TREATY OF GREENVILLE. |
583 |
In consequence of the above message, some of this party of Cherokees returned
to Greenville with Captain Long-hair, and have since accompanied him home to
their nation; the remainder promised to hunt peaceably on Scioto, until their
corn was fit to gather; when they would quit this side of the Ohio forever, and
return to their own country.
________
At a private conference, on the 12th August, with the Miamies, Eel
river, and Kickapoo Indians:
The Little Turtle, in the name of the others, observed, that, as they intended
soon to depart, and return to their respective homes, he took this opportunity
of repeating to the General, that he, himself, and the Indians with him, were
perfectly acquainted with every article of the treaty; that no part of it had
escaped their serious and anxious deliberation; that, in the early stage of the
negotiation, he had not comprehended the moderation and liberality with which
he is now convinced it is dictated; that, to this cause, and to a duty which he
conceives he owes his country, must be attributed the opposition he exhibited
on sundry occasions; that he was persuaded, his Father would not think unkindly
of him for it; for he had heard him, with much pleasure, approve of the freedom
with which he delivered his sentiments; that he was a man who spoke as he
thought, and a man of sincerity; and that he embraced this last occasion to
declare, that, as he was fully convinced that the treaty was wisely and
benevolently calculated to promote the mutual interest, and insure the
permanent happiness of the Indians, and their Father, the Americans; so it was
his determined resolution to adhere religiously to its stipulations. He asked
for traders to reside at their different villages, and mentioned the names of
some, who, for the confidence they had in their integrity, they wished might be
licensed, and continued by the United States, as traders among them; he hoped
(the Weas particularly) that a fort would be immediately established at
Ouiatanon; and promised ever assistance which they could afford to the
establishment; that he, himself would reside near fort Wayne, where daily
experience should convince his Father of his sincere friendship; and that, as
he intended to rekindle the grand council fire at that place, by means of which
the different nations might communicate with each other as usual, he requested
his Father to give orders to the commandant of fort Wayne, to inform him, from
time to time, of any measures which the great council of the Fifteen Fires
might adopt, in which the interest of their children should be concerned; and
that Mr. Wells might be placed there as a resident interpreter, as he possessed
their confidence as fully as he did that of their Father.
_______
On the 9th September, a party of Shawanese, consisting of between sixty and seventy warriors, who had hitherto proved refractory and hostile, arrived at Greenville, with four prisoners, three of whom they captured on the 13th of last July, in Randolph county, Virginia.
On the 11th, the General gave them audience, when Puck-se-kaw, (or Jumper) one of their chiefs, spoke as follows: MY FATHER: I have been in the woods a long time; I was not acquainted with the good works which were transacting at this place, by you, and all our great chiefs.
Last spring, when we were hunting peaceably, our camp on Scioto was robbed; we are very poor, and the mischief that has since been done, was in retaliation for the injuries we then sustained.
As soon as I received this belt, which you sent me by Blue Jacket, one of our great chiefs, and as soon as I was informed by him, that the good work of peace was finished, I rose to come and see you, and brought with me these four prisoners. I now surrender them up to you, my father, and promise sincerely that we will do no more mischief.
I hope that, for the future, we shall be permitted to live and hunt in peace and quietness. We were poor, ignorant children, astray in the woods, who knew not that our nation, and all the other tribes of Indians, had come in, and made peace with you. I thank the Great Spirit for at length opening our eyes.
FATHER: We beg you will forgive, and receive your repentant children; these people whom I now deliver to you, must plead our forgiveness, and vouch our sincere intention to alter our conduct for the future.- [A white string.]
The foregoing is the supplement to the treaty of Greenville.
|
H. DE BUTTS, Secretary. |
________________________________
|
4th CONGRESS.] |
No. 68. |
[1st SESSION. |
INDIAN TRADE.
COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE, DECEMBER 15, 1795.
|
WAR OFFICE, December 12, 1795. |
SIR:
By direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor to present herewith, "a report of the measures taken for opening trade with the Indians;"
|
And am,
&c.
|
The VICE PRESIDENT of the United States, and President of the Senate.
__________
Report of the Secretary of War of the measures taken for opening a trade with the Indians.
The situation of the Six Nations, surrounded either wholly by the settlements of citizens of the United States; or, on one side by them, and on the other, by the British of Upper Canada; and by both in near neighborhoods; seemed to exclude them from the experiment proposed to be made, of commencing a trade on the principle of furnishing cheap supplies to the Indians: for the familiar intercourse between them and the whites, would have subjected the public to continual impositions, against which no checks were provided.
Peace with the tribes northwest of the river Ohio, was only in a train of negotiation; these, of course, were not in a condition to participate in the projected trade.
It remained then to make the experiment with the Southern tribes. And because the small appropriation for this object seemed intended merely as an experiment, it was desirable to make it with as little expense as possible. For this, among other reasons, the sum appropriated was divided unequally, and more than two-thirds destined for opening a trade with the Creeks, to whom the goods could be conveyed by sea. The remainder was designed for the trade with the Cherokees and Chickasaws. The remote situation of the Choctaws could render either of the two trading posts but of small and only contingent use to them.
To accommodate the Creeks, Colerain, on the river St. Mary's, was chosen, on the best information to be obtained, as the most eligible situation for a trading post; because it was easy of access to us, there being depth of water for sea vessels to go to the spot, and sufficiently so to the Creeks, especially of the Lower towns.
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