Report of the Secretary at War: Indian Affairs north of Ohio River
Item
Type
Printed transcription/modern copy of letter
Title
Report of the Secretary at War: Indian Affairs north of Ohio River
Description
Report of the Secretary of War re Indian Affairs. Notes that the confederation of tribes, to oppose settlement of lands north of Ohio River is important subject. Discusses White encroachment. Indians will only accede to outright purchases of land. Attempts to claim lands by conquest will require constant employment of troops. The principle of waging war for an object which may be obtained by treaty is justly to be questioned. If the commissioners adhere to this approach, hostilities may be expected. Your secretary humbly apprehends that the United States may conform to the modes and customs of the Indians in the disposal of their lands without the least injury to their national dignity. Were an opposition to the custom of Indians in this respect to be a material part of national character, it would not be highly estimated in the opinion of the world.
short description
Rpt, Secretary of War re Indian Affairs
year created
1788
month created
05
day created
02
author
secondary author
in collection
in publication
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Congress
Governor Arthur St. Clair
Secretary of War
confederation of tribes
Indians
troops
notable location
Ohio River
Ohio
north of Ohio River
notable item/thing
Indian affairs
white encroachment
land claims
conquest
Indian war
Indian policy
world opinion
extensive indian war in the present political crisis
event pregnant with unlimited evil
consideration of the propriety of so modifying the instructions to the Governor of the Western Territory and the Superintendant of Indian affairs
sum be paid in money or goods on the signing of the deeds at the ensuing treaty
humbly submitted to congress
attempt to establish a right to the lands claimed by the indians by virtue of an implied conquest will require the constant employment of a large body of troops or the utter extirpation of the indians
circumstanced as they are at present being in alliance with and favorably treated by the British Government
doctrine of conquest is so repugnant to their feelings that rather than submit thereto they would prefer continual war
principle of waging war for an object which may be obtained by a treaty is justly to be questioned
indians will in the first instance object to the right of the United States to the country north of the Ohio
commissioner who are to hold the treaty are bound by instructions to adhere rigidly to the principles of conquest and the limits of territory stated at the former treaties
abrupt departure of indians and hostilities
secretary humbly apprehends that the United States may conform to the modes and customs of the indians in the disposal of their lands without the least injury to the national dignity
opposition to the customs of the indians in this respect to be a material part of national character
opinion of the world
negociate an extinguishment of the indian claims to the territories described by former treaties
case of a new purchase of the modification of the former boundaries
sum of money may be given according to the indian custom on the chiefs signing the deeds in the usual form
limits of their hunting grounds and territory have been circumscribed and defined
practice of the British government and most of the northern colonies previously to the late war of purchasing the right of the soil of the indians and receiving a deed of sale
mode of alienating their lands to which they will peaceably accede
said tribes of indians have expressed the highest disgust at the principle of conquest which has been specified to them as the basis of their treaties
Secretary of the United States for the department of war to whom was referred a letter
Governor of the Western Territory
[secretary of war]
confederation of a large number of tribes of Indians to oppose the settlement of the lands, north of the river Ohio
subject of great importance and seriously claims the attention of the United States
notable phrase
extensive indian war in the present political crisis
event pregnant with unlimited evil
consideration of the propriety of so modifying the instructions to the Governor of the Western Territory and the Superintendant of Indian affairs
sum be paid in money or goods on the signing of the deeds at the ensuing treaty
humbly submitted to congress
attempt to establish a right to the lands claimed by the indians by virtue of an implied conquest will require the constant employment of a large body of troops or the utter extirpation of the indians
circumstanced as they are at present being in alliance with and favorably treated by the British Government
doctrine of conquest is so repugnant to their feelings that rather than submit thereto they would prefer continual war
principle of waging war for an object which may be obtained by a treaty is justly to be questioned
indians will in the first instance object to the right of the United States to the country north of the Ohio
commissioner who are to hold the treaty are bound by instructions to adhere rigidly to the principles of conquest and the limits of territory stated at the former treaties
abrupt departure of indians and hostilities
secretary humbly apprehends that the United States may conform to the modes and customs of the indians in the disposal of their lands without the least injury to the national dignity
opposition to the customs of the indians in this respect to be a material part of national character
opinion of the world
negociate an extinguishment of the indian claims to the territories described by former treaties
case of a new purchase of the modification of the former boundaries
sum of money may be given according to the indian custom on the chiefs signing the deeds in the usual form
limits of their hunting grounds and territory have been circumscribed and defined
practice of the British government and most of the northern colonies previously to the late war of purchasing the right of the soil of the indians and receiving a deed of sale
mode of alienating their lands to which they will peaceably accede
said tribes of indians have expressed the highest disgust at the principle of conquest which has been specified to them as the basis of their treaties
Secretary of the United States for the department of war to whom was referred a letter
Governor of the Western Territory
[secretary of war]
confederation of a large number of tribes of Indians to oppose the settlement of the lands, north of the river Ohio
subject of great importance and seriously claims the attention of the United States
document number
1788050214000
number of pages
3
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | P: 103-105 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: Territorial Papers, Vol. 2. | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Author | Congress of the United States | [unknown] | [n/a] |