George Washington
Message to The Senate of January 11, 1790 Regarding
The Treaty with The Creek Indians
UNITED STATES, January 11, 1790
Gentlemen of the Senate.
Having advised with you upon the terms of a treaty to be offered
to the Creek Nation of Indians, I think it proper you should be
informed of the result of that business previous to its coming before
you in your legislative capacity. I have therefore directed the
Secretary for the Department of War to lay before you my instructions
to the commissioners and their report in consequence thereof.
The apparently critical state of the Southern frontier will render
it expedient for me to communicate to both Houses of Congress, with
other papers, the whole of the transactions relative to the Creeks,
in order that they may be enabled to form a judgment of the measures
which the case may require.
G WASHINGTON.
Message to The Senate of August 4, 1790 Regarding
The Treaty of 1790 with The Creeks
UNITED STATES, August 4, 1790
Gentlemen of the Senate.
In consequence of the general principles agreed to by the Senate
in August, 1789, the adjustment of the terms of a treaty is far
advanced between the United States and the chiefs of the Creek Indians,
now in this city, in behalf of themselves and the whole Creek Nation.
In preparing the articles of this treaty the present arrangements
of the trade with the Creeks have caused much embarrassment. It
seems to be well ascertained that the said trade is almost exclusively
in the hands of a company of British merchants, who by agreement
make their importations of goods from England into the Spanish ports.
As the trade of the Indians is a main mean of their political management,
it is therefore obvious that the United States can not possess any
security for the performance of treaties with the Creeks while their
trade is liable to be interrupted or withheld at the caprice of
two foreign powers.
Hence it becomes an object of real importance to form new channels
for the commerce of the Creeks through the United States. But this
operation will require time, as the present arrangements can not
be suddenly broken without the greatest violation of faith and morals.
It therefore appears to be important to form a secret article of
a treaty similar to the one which accompanies this message.
If the Senate should require any further explanation, the Secretary
of War will attend them for that purpose.
G WASHINGTON.
The President of the United States states the following question
for the consideration and advice of the Senate: If it should be
found essential to a treaty for the firm establishment of peace
with the Creels Nation of Indians that an article to the following
effect should be inserted therein, will such an article be proper?
viz:
SECRET ARTICLE
The commerce necessary for the Creek Nation shall he carried on
through the ports and by the citizens of the United States if substantial
and effectual arrangements shall be made for that purpose by the
United States on or before the 1st day of August, 1792. In the meantime
the said commerce may be carried on through its present channels
and according to its present regulations.
And whereas the trade of the said Creek Nation is now carried on
wholly or principally through the territories of Spain, and obstructions
thereto may happen by war or prohibitions of the Spanish Government,
it is therefore agreed between the said parties that in the event
of any such obstructions happening it shall be lawful for such persons
as ________ ________ shall designate to introduce into and transport
through the territories of the United States to the country of the
said Creek Nation any quantity of goods, wares, and merchandise
not exceeding in value in any one year $60,000, and that free from
any duties or impositions whatsoever, but subject to such regulations
for guarding against abuse as the United States shall judge necessary,
which privilege shall continue as long as such obstruction shall
continue.
G WASHINGTON.
Message to The Senate of August 6, 1790 Regarding
The Treaty of 1790 with The Creeks
UNITED STATES August 6, 1790.
Gentlemen of the Senate.
Considering the circumstances which prevented the late commissioners
from concluding a peace with the Creek Nation of Indians, it appeared
to me most prudent that all subsequent measures for disposing them
to a treaty should in the first instance be informal.
I informed you on the 4th instant that the adjustment of the terms
of a treaty with their chiefs, now here, was far advanced. Such
further progress has since been made that I think measures may at
present be taken for conducting and concluding that business in
form. It therefore becomes necessary that a proper person be appointed
and authorized to treat with these chiefs and to conclude a treaty
with them. For this purpose I nominate to you Henry Knox.
G WASHINGTON.
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