John Adams Papers
389 documents

Instructions to Indian Agent to the Creeks & Other Indians South of the Ohio
09/08/1796 Letterbook CopyOfficial commission and instructions for Benjamin Hawkins, as Principal Temporary Agent for Indian Affairs, within the Indian Nations South of the Ohio, and North of the Territorial Line. Includes …
John Adams Papers
Instructions to Deputy Paymaster & Storekeeper for Tennessee
08/13/1796 Letter SignedAppoints Hillis as deputy paymaster & military storekeeper for Tennessee. Instructions from the Comptroller of the Treasury and the Accountant of the War Department follow, addressing record- and …
John Adams Papers
Instructions to Army Officer Commanding in Tennessee, Relative to Relations to the Indians
09/09/1796 Letterbook CopyInstructs the U.S. Army officer commanding in Tennessee in how to coordinate enforcement of the recent act to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indians with the new Indian agent for the region, …
John Adams Papers
Instructions to Army Officer Commanding In Georgia, Relative to Relations with the Indians
09/09/1796 Letterbook CopyInstructs the presiding U.S. Army officer in Georgia (Major Constant Freeman) in his powers, relating to the sending of a new Indian agent to manage trade & intercourse with the Creek, Choctaw, and …
John Adams Papers
Instructions for Superintendent of Military Stores
11/11/1796 Letterbook CopyLays out instructions for office of Superintendent of Military Stores, including inspection & reporting on the condition of supply houses, armories, arsenals, etc.; proper record keeping; and …
John Adams Papers
Instructions for Keeper of Military Stores
11/11/1796 Letterbook CopyAppoints John Harris Storekeeper of articles pertaining to the Department of War [military stores], and transmits regulations for that office. These address: inventorying & record-keeping, the receipt …
John Adams Papers
Discussion of a Speech to Encourage the Cherokee to Higher Civilization
08/24/1796 Letter SignedEncloses a draft of a speech to the Cherokeeswhich is designed to encourage their civilization and make its management [by the U.S.?] more economical. Asks Washington's opinion on that document, and …
John Adams Papers
Detailed Instructions for the Execution of the Plan for Civilizing the Cherokee
08/29/1796 Letterbook CopyAttaches speech, approved by the president, to the Cherokees. Laments that recent attempts to civilize the Indians have failed; states that the key is to "wean them from hunting and trapping," and …
John Adams Papers
Detailed Instructions for Commander in Georgia to Dispose Troops to Keep Peace Between Creek Indians & Georgians
08/23/1796 Letter SignedNotes that a treaty has been concluded with the Creek Indians reaffirming desires to live in friendship with the United States; however, asks Gaither to be prepared for contingencies. Says that the …
John Adams Papers
Conference with the Several Indian Chiefs Assembled, & Washington's Reply
11/29/1796 Letterbook CopyVarious Indian chiefs speak on rights to land, inclinations to peace over war, and a recent treaty. Tribes represented: Wiandots [Wyandots], Delawares, Shawanees [Shawnees], Ottawas, Chippewas, …
John Adams Papers
Choctaw Chiefs' Objections to U.S. Encroachment
12/16/1796 Letterbook CopyWishes to renew friendship with U.S., and profess that the Choctaw have never broken any faith with the Americans. Discusses the exact parameters of the boundary of Choctaw land, asks that the U.S. …
John Adams Papers
Assessment of Dispute Between Georgia & Creek Indians
08/11/1796 LetterbookWeighs the arguments of those who believe that the serious situation on the Georgia border could escalate into war, and believe that either further negotiations or a show of strength via …
John Adams Papers
Status of Northwest Indians, U.S.-Cherokee Boundary Project, & Frontier Military Movements
08/08/1797 Autograph Letter SignedReports that the Indians of the Northwest appear to desire remaining at peace with the U.S. Also reports on the progress of the commissioners running the boundary line between U.S. and Cherokee land, …
John Adams Papers
State of Foreign Negotiations
10/29/1797 Autograph Letter SignedRefers to ongoing foreign treaty negotiations and forms of government.
John Adams Papers
State Department Preparation for State of the Union Address
10/30/1797 Autograph Letter SignedConfirms that he is forwarding some of Adams' correspondence to its recipients; also informs Adams that he is preparing "business to lay before Congress," presumably material for Adams' state of the …
John Adams Papers
Secretary of War's Extracts of Communications with Gen. Wilkinson
09/1797 Extract of LetterMcHenry documents extracts from Wilkinson dated 13 June, 7 July, and 6 September 1797. McHenry includes his replies to Wilkinson dated 14 July and 25 July 1797. They regard martial law around …
John Adams Papers
Returning Originals of Forwarded Correspondence
10/17/1797 Autograph Letter SignedAdams writes to enclose all the originals of letters McHenry had sent to him, that McHenry may have them for his records. Expresses concern over McHenry's health.
John Adams Papers
Requests for Cabinet Guidance on State of the Union Speech & Other Issues
03/20/1797 Type UndeterminedAsks Secretary of State and Attorney General to find a precedent for the State of the Union speech, as none has ever before been given [to Adams' knowledge]. Also asks the Secretaries of State, …
John Adams Papers
Request for Information on Pertinent to Congress, Especially Regarding Sickness in Philadelphia
10/15/1797 Autograph Letter SignedInforms McHenry that the Adams family will be at either East Chester or New York until the next meeting of Congress; tells McHenry how to address letters so they will reach him. Asks McHenry to …
John Adams Papers
Report to the President from the Departments of War, Treasury and State on a Treasury & Revenue Dispute
12/18/1797 Letter SignedAnalyzes complaints of the Secretary of the Treasury, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., against a Mr. Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue. These are: a complaint of the delinquency of the inspector of the revenue …
John Adams Papers
Report on National Defense
10/22/1797 Autograph Letter SignedReports on salient issues of national defense, that the president may include them in his upcoming State of the Union address to Congress. Advises that the president call for an increase in the U.S. …
John Adams Papers
Regulations for Commanders of Frontier & Maritime Posts
03/28/1797 Letterbook CopyRegulations for maritime and frontier forts & posts, which address post security, not divulging fort layouts and garrisons, record-keeping of visitors to the post, punishment of unauthorized persons …
John Adams Papers
Regarding the President's Box at the Theater
10/26/1797 Autograph Letter SignedComments on the fact that the president seems to have requested a box at a theater in Philadelphia; [goes on at some length, but is largely illegible due to faint ink].
John Adams Papers
Regarding Philadelphia's Recovery from Sickness
10/27/1797 Autograph Letter SignedWolcott informs Adams that the city of Philadelphia is returning to life after the recent outbreak of sickness there.
John Adams Papers
Regarding Foreign Affairs, Including War Between France & England
10/31/1797 Autograph Letter SignedConcerns foreign affairs, such as arrival of John Quincy Adams as a minister to Berlin, as well as the war between France and England, and how it relates to the United States.
John Adams Papers
