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208
.for itj z Columbian itpufetsm.
Town of St. in Georgia,
I sth Augujl, 1796.
Mcffrs. Powers 3 Seymour,
Printers Savannah.
IT is not from a desire to fee my
name appear in print, or a with to be
thought a party man, that induces me
to intrude on the time of your readers,
with the following long publications ;
It is merely tobring matters of lad fair
ly to their view, in order to removeany
ill grounded prejudice that may have
been entertained against me, as Superin
ent of Indian Affairs, in conlcqucnce of
late Protest made by the Commission
ers, on the part ol Georgia, for holding
a Treaty with the Creek Indians.
1 obferveby the said protest, which
is dated ar Coleraine, on the 20th of
J unc 1796, and published in your paper
of the sth inlt. that my condudas a pub
lic officer, is called in question as being
unfriendly to the views of the State of
Georgia. With how much propriety
or justice, such charges have been made,
1 shall submit to the decision of the un
prejudiced impartial part of my fellow
citizens, after they have given the fol
lowing papers an attentive perusal.
As the Commifiioners of Georgia,
have thought fit to find fault with my
condud, I conceive myfelf at liberty to
place before the public such authentic
documents as I am in pofleflion of, ref-
theft men and their emilfaries
during the late Treaty—which 1 shall
fend to you for publication, in due time.
Plcafe to publifti the papers here
with, according to their numbers,—
With due refped,
1 remain the public’s and
Your obedient humble
Servant,
JAMES SE AG ROVE,
Superintendent of Indian Af'airs, C. N.
Number I.
To the Beloved Men, Chiefs and War”
riors of the whole Creek Nation.
Brothers,
IT is more than five years since the
United Stares, and a refpedable de
legation of your beloved men and chiefs
aflembled at Naw-York, in behalf of
your whole nation, entered into a Trea
ty of peace, and agreed on a boundary
line, between your lands, and the lands
of the people of Georgia. This Treaty
it was hoped would put an end to all
hollilitics and disputes between you and
them. In this however we were dis
appointed. Neither you nor the peo-
I'lc of Georgia, were fatisfied with the
wundary liqg, inall its parts. Theprif
oners and property you had taken from
them were not restored, and frefh inju
ries were committed. Some of your
people also did much mifehief on the
Cumberland. The Treaty of New-
York thus remaining unexecuted, it
was last year intended to invite you to a
new Treaty to be held near your own
country, where all differences might be
fettled, and a firm foundation laid for
future peace and friendfhip. Prepara
tions were made for the purpose, and
orders sent to Mr. Seagrove, to invite
you to attend. But he had already met
a number of your beloved men and chiefs,
and entered into an agreement, by which
they in behalf of your nation, promised
to periorm the engagements made by
your beloved men and chiefs at New-
York. This was very pleasing to the
President, and to all his beloved men.
Soon afterwards Gov. Blount informed
the President, that your young men had
ceased to commit depredations on the
Cumberland, and thus to the great joy’
of all good people of your nation and
ours, univerial peace prevailed. The
President and his beloved men were then
thinking, how to cement this peace to.
strengthen our lriendlliip, and make
both perpetual. With this view the
President directed a large quantity of
goods to be purchased, and carried to
the borders of your country to open a
trade and friendly’ intercouTie with you.
But suddenly the agreeable profped was
clouded by the madness of a few bad men
on the Oconcc, who killed a number of
your hunters. This grieved the heart
of the President, and the hearts of all the
good peopleof the United States. The
Governor of Georgia,, was desired to
bring the offenders tojultice, and tho’
the proceedings have been flow, it is
dill hoped that they will be duly pun
ilhcd. But at all events tHe bad con
duct of a tew men need not break the
ceneral friendfhip between you and the
Lnucd btaics, and for all past injuries
on both fidcs, fatisfadion may be made.
Por this purpose, it will be necessary for
to meet and talk trebly with each
Columbian jftluieum, &c.
other: for with the friendly disposi
tions which generally prevail on both
sides, the President doubts not that all
difficulties may be removed. And af
terwards, it is expected the peace be
tween us will be better guarded, and
secured from interruption. This fub
jed is now under consideration in the
great Councilof the United States, and
when the plan is formed, it will be com
municated to you.
Brothers,
I have now to inform you, that in
order to enquire into and remove ail
caufcs of complaint on both Tides, and to
establish as on a rock the peace and
friendfhip, so necelfary to the happiness
of the red and the white people, you are
invited to alfemble at Coleraine on the
St. Mary’s, by the middle of next May.
There the Prefidcpt has appointed
feme of his beloved inen to meet you
for the good purposes above mentioned,
and he defircs there may be a full repre
sentation of your nation, that all parts
of it may fully underhand the affairs
tranfaded: That all who have cause to
complain may be heard; and the grounds
of future quarrels be removed.
Brothers,
The President and great council of
the United States, are disposed to open
a fair trade on terms very advantageous
to you. At the proposed Treaty the
manner and place of carrying on this
trade may be fixed. The United States
desire no profit from this trade, they on
ly wifii to make it ufeful to you, and the
means of securing peace and friendfhip
between you and us for ever.
Brothers,
There is another matter of great im
portance which will there be proposed
for your consideration. I have already
remarked that the boundary line fixed on
in the Treaty of New-York, has not
proved fatisfadory. You know that
the people of Georgia have claimed fome
lands beyond the boundaries then fet
tled. Thar fettiement has been a source
of complaint to the people of Georgia.
You aiio have complained of it. The
uneasiness on both iides has doubtless
produced the mifehiefs which have since
happened. The people of Georgia aiio
demand compenlation for the Negroes,
Horses and other property taken from
them.
To put an end to all thefc complaints,
and to fettle all disputes between you
and them, the people of Georgia desire
to meet you at the proposed Treaty, they
have appointed three of their beloved
men to represent them. These beloved
men will tell you what are the wishes
of the people of Georgia. They ilil)
desire to have the lands between the
Oconee and Oakmulgee, and between
the Altamaha and St. Mary’s. This
latt tract they call Telalee, it lies east
ward of a line which would run from
the junction of the Oconee, and Oak
mulgee, straight to tiie head of bt. Ma
ry’s.
Brothers,
You will confider whether it will be
for your interelt to part with thole
lands. The three beloved men of
Georgia will talk with you about them.
The talk is to be open, fair, and hon
ourable, in presence of the beloved men
whom the President will appoint to
hoid the Treaty, and without whose ap
probation nothing is to be done. The
President will act the part of a father
towards you. He will appoint fome of
the best of his beloved men to hold the
Treaty, to fee that it be conduced fair
ly. There is to be no deception, no
force, no threats: without your own
free oonfent nothing is to he concluded.
If you do not chufe to relinquilh those
two trads of land, you will fay so. But
if you should be willing to relinquilh
them, then the beloved men of Georgia
will stipulate to give you such a sum of
money, or such a quantity of goods, as
you and they shall agree on, in confid
cration of that relinquilhment. And
fome of the Presidents beloved men will
be appointed to fee that the quantity
ftipulatcd, be delivered to you.
Brothers,
The great council of the United
States,.have been so desirous of doing
justice to all the Indian Tribes, and of
guarding them from injuries in their
Treaties and bargains, that they have
made it a rule to let no Treaty or bar
gain, with Indians, about their lands,
be binding, uniefs in the firft place it be
made in the pretence and with the ap
probation of the beloved men, whom
the President appoints to hold the Trea
ty. • In the next place, left even thole
beloved men, lhould make mistakes,
the treaties or bargains are to be brought
to the President. Then he and his
council of old men examine and confider
them. If thetreaties or bargains are
not just and proper, they witi throw
them away : but if they appear fair and
right, the President and his old coun
fellors will approve of them, and then
they will be binding on both parties.
With all these precautions to proted
your lands, you mu ft fee that it will be
pcrfedly fafe to treat about them, with
the three beloved men of Georgia. And
for that purpose, and to fettle all dif
ferences, and to render and firmly ef
tahlilh peace, and friendfhip between
your nation, and the United States, and
to form a plan of trade, you are earnellly
invited to attend the Treaty ; and that
you might come prepared for it, I have
clearly Hated all the bulinefs, then to be
tranfaded, so that having time to think
of it before-hand, you may not in any
agreement you enter into, be exposed to
deception, or have afterwards any rea
son to complain.
Given at the War Office in the City
of Philadelphia, this third day of
March, 1796.
JAMES M‘HENRY,
Secret ay of War.
Number 11.
Mu scoc HE, near Coleraine, 28 th
June, 1796.
After the draft of the Treaty was
read, explained, amended and approved,
by the Indians and Commifiioners, Mr.
Seagrove, requested of the Commiifion
ers, to take such meafuresas they deemed
advifeable on the fubjedtof his requeftof
the 26th instant, which is as follows :
The Superintendent of the Creek
Nation is deiirous, that his message to
the Chiefs of the Creek Nation, accom
panying the invitation of the President
of the United States, should be inter
preted to all the Chief's now at Cole
ram, and that they be asked, if this is
not the fame that they had explained to
them by his deputies, at their meetings
in the nation.
That they be asked, Whether they
have had any other T aik or message,
before or since their receiving the Pre
iident's invitation, from the Superin
tendent, advising them agamft telling
their lands to the people of Georgia.
To enquire of the Chiefs, whether
any of the Superintendents deputies, or
any person employed by him, advised
them at any time againil felling their
lands to Georgia.
To have Timothy Barnard, James
Burgess, and Alexander Cornels, his
deputies, sworn in public—Alio Rich
ard Thomas, and Townly Bruce, Clerks
to the Chiefs, whether or not, the Talk
or message, which tney have just heard,
is not the fame ones explained to the
Creek people in their towns ; and whe
ther they have ever heard of any ether
to the Creek Chiefs, from the Saperin
tendent, forbiding, or even advising
them not to fell their lands to the Geor
gians.
That the Chiefs, and also all the tra
ders and others, from the Creek Na
tion, now present, be alked in direct
terms, whether the Superintendent hath
at any time, whilst on their way, or since
ti.eir arrival at Coleraine, advised, or
forbid their felling their lands to Geor
ge*
[Signed)
Js. SEAGROVE, Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, C. N.
7 0 the Commijjtoners of the
United States.
The Superintendent requefts~
that the Commifiioners of
Georgia and their Inter
preter lhould attend, and ‘p
that to-morrow be the
time for hearing this busi
ness.
They in conformity therewith,, deter
mined that the examination should be in
full Council of all the Chiefs, and that
it should be now had.
The Message from the Superintendent, da
ted St. Mary’s, in Georgia, 6th A
pril, 1796, in the words following,
and addrejfed to the Che fs, was read
by Mr. paragraphs,
and interpreted to the Indians.
From James Seagrove, Superin
tendent of Indian Affairs.
St. Alary's, in Georgia,. 6th April, 1796*
To the Kings, Chiefs, Headmen and
Warriors, of the Upper and Lower
Creeks and Simanoleas, and other
Tribes, living in the Creek Land.
Brothers,
By desire of our great and good Friend
and father,, the President of the Uni
ted States, I now call on my friends, the
Chiefs of the Creek Land, to a great
and general Treaty, to be held at Cole
raine on this river, to commence at the
middle of next moon.
The Talk which accompanies this
from the Secretary of War, by order of
the President of the United States, will
fully explain to you the wife and friend
ly motives of our government, for hold
ing a I reaty at this time.
Every preparation is now making for
the purpose. As the President wiffie*
that every Chief of your land should be
present, I have to request that you da
not fail to give pundual attendance, and
as near the time appointed as poflible.
Do not my friends luffer any idle, ma
licious stories, that may be circulated in
your country, prevent your attending
-1 mention this, because I well know*
that you have people among you, and
near you, who do not wifii to fee your
nation and the United States, living m
peace. 1 hefe people will of course, do
all in their power to prevent your.meet
mgthe beloved men from the President
but you mult {hut your ears against their
lies, and follow my advice.
Brothers, You have often met me on
the frontier of this country,, and I have
always sent you home la:e and well
plealed, and I can venture to aaurc you
;t will be the lame now.
You have no danger to fear'from any
thing that has been done on either fide
whiiit you are attending the proposed
Treaty. You will fee by the Prefident*
Talk herewith, that a principal motive
for holding the lame, is to lettie all dis
putes, that we may foreier after, live as
one great family in peace and love.
Fail not my friends to attend—much
good is intended, and I hope will k ac
complilhed. The principal men of eve
ry to.wn in your nation, i hope will not
rail to come. Plenty of every thin-r
that is goodwill be provided for then/;
and I would also recommend, that your
traders while and red, do come
at laid time, every thing that they have
for sale, as there will be plenty of goods
tor them, as well as every Indian who
wants ro purchase.
My deputies will explain to you
without lots of time, the T alk from the
President; and they are ordered by me,
to attend you to me ac Coleraine. ‘
As soon as you have had a meeting,
and determined on coming, you mult
fend off runners to me, with accounts of
the fame; and also of the number of peo
ple I may exped.
You all know my friendfhip for you,
and that I would not call you to a ‘i rea
, ty, uniefs I was certain it was for your
good. My advice has fleered you clear
of many dangers for years past—l lliall
continue to give it to you at ail times,as
a lather to children that he lores.
T he time is short that you are to pre
pare lor our meeting ; I therefore can
not fend you a long talk at this time ;
I fhall'only add that the season of the
year will be fine for the purpose—You
will have plenty of grass lor your hor
fes,and roads good ; and it is also a time
of the year when you seldom go into the
woods a hunting.
You can leave } r our women and young
people at home, to make ycur corn, &c.
whiift you are securing peace and happi
ness to them and yourlelves.
My deputy, Mr. Barnard, will fur
ther explain and inform you, respecting
the intended Treaty—pray attend t
him.
Wishing that I may have the pleasure
of soon feeing you, and taking my Creek
friends by the hand, I remain with much
, fmcerity, their unalterable friend.
( Signed)
Js. SEAGROVE, Superintendent
of Indian A fat rs, C. A.
After this was finijhed, the Commijjto rt
put the following Questions, and
ceived the Anlwers as recorded.
Firjl —Chiefs of the Creek Land, is
this the Talk interpreted to|you by Mr.
Seagrove’s Agents in your land ?
Anjwer by the Chiefs —Yes, it is the
fame word for word.
Second by CommiJJjoners —Was there
any other ’Talk sent you before, or since
this talk was interpreted to you, relative
to the objects of it ?
Anjwer —N O.
Thirdby Comm’Jf oners- — Has Mr* Sea
grove or any of his Agents, at any time
;advifed you against felling your Lanos
to the people of Georgia ?
Avfiucr —No ; no white man, or any
other man, employed by Mr. Seagrove,
ever advised any such thing ; we advi
sed among ourselves, and determined net
to feUohem any land. ,
The Commifiioners then
•Mr. Thomas King, to administer an
oath to the Deputy Agents and InK *
preters, to answer such questions as
lhould be asked them. The perio*-*
sworn and interrogated, were Timon •
A Barnard, James Burges,.and Alexam*
Cornels, Richard Bailey, and Ric*
Thomas. . ..,
Quejlion ly Comm-Jfioners- You ■
heard the message read—ls tm*
No. 52.