[Page 1 is a repository placeholder: "Illegible Text — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically."] Instructions to the Governor of the Western territory and to the Commanding officer of the troops on the Ohio. and an Estimate of the expence of an expedition against the Wabash Indians. [Instructions from the President of the United States to Governor St. Clair, 6 Octo. 1789.] To Arthur St. Clair Esq^r. Governor of the territory of the United States, Northwest of the Ohio, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Northern District. - Sir, Congress having by their Act of the 29^th of September last empowered me to call forth the Militia of the States respectively, for the protection of the frontiers from the incursions of the hostile Indians, I have thought it proper to make this communication [undecipherable] with the instructions [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] are most inclined for War or Peace. - If for the former it is proper that I should be informed of the means which will most probably induce them to peace. - If a peace can be established with the said Indians on reasonable terms, the interests of the United States dictate that it Should be effected as soon as possible. - You will therefore inform the said Indians of the dispositions of the general Government on this Subject, and of their reasonable desire that there should be a cessation of hostilities as a prelude to a treaty. - If however notwithstanding your intimations to them they should continue their hostilities, or meditate any incursions against the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania, or against any of the troops or forts of the United States, and it should appear to you that the time of execution would be so near as to forbid your transmitting the information to me, and receiving my further orders thereon, you are hereby authorized and [undecipherable] to call on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Militia of Virginia and Pennsylvania [undecipherable] detachments of Militia as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] number [undecipherable] however one thousand from Virginia and five hundred from Pennsylvania - I have directed Letters to be written to the Executives of Virginia and Pennsylvania informing them of the before recited Act of Congress and that I have given you these conditional directions, so that there may not be any obstructions to such measures as shall be necessary to be taken by you for calling forth the Militia agreeably to the instructions herein contained. The said Militia to act in conjunction with the federal troops in Such Operations, offensive or defensive, as you and the commanding Officer of the troops conjointly shall judge necessary for the public Service, and the protection of the inhabitants and the frontiers. The Said Militia while on actual Service to be on the Continental establishment of pay and rations. They are to arm and equip themselves, but to be furnished with public ammunition if necessary, and no charge for the pay of said Militia will be valid unless supported by regular muster rolls made by a field or other Officer of the federal [troops] to be appointed by the Commanding Officer of the troops. I want to have it observed forcibly that a war with the Wabash Indians ought to be avoided by all means consistently with the Security of the frontier inhabitants, the Security of the troops and the national dignity. - In the exercise of the present indiscriminate hostilities, it is extremely difficult if not impossible to say that a war without further measures would be just on the part of the United States. - But if after manifesting clearly to the Indians the dispositions of the general Government for the preservation of peace, and the extension of a just protection to the said Indians, they should continue their incursions, the United States will be constrained to punish them with Severity. You will also proceed as far as you can with Safety to carry into effect the orders of the late Congress respecting the Inhabitants of St. Vincents, and on the Kaskaskias, and the other Villages on the Mississippi. It is a circumstance of some importance that the said Inhabitants should as soon as possible possess the lands to which they are entitled by their claims and fixed principles. - I have directed a number of Copies of the Treaty made by you at Fort Harmar with the Wyandots &c on the 9^th of January last to be printed and forwarded to you, together with the ratification, and my Proclamation enjoining the observance thereof. As it may be of high importance to obtain a precise and accurate knowledge of the several Waters which empty into the Ohio on the North west - and of those which discharge themselves into the lakes Erie and Michigan, - the length of the portages between, and nature of the ground, an early and pointed attention thereto is earnestly recommended. Given under my hand in the City of New york, this 6 day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine, and in the thirteenth year of the Sovereignty & Independence of the United States. -