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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.