Message to Creek Indian Chiefs
Document 1791Secretary Knox offers protection for the Creek Nation by United States if the Creeks will not hold treaties with other states or Indian Nations. Negotiates release of prisoners and Negros under Creek confines.
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[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] friendship between all the Citizens of the United States of America, and all the individuals, Towns and tribes of the upper, Middle and lower Creeks and Simanoles, composing the Creek Nation of Indians. —
[Ag 1 +]
Artle 2. The under signed Kings Chiefs and Warriors, for themselves, and all parts of the Creek Nations within the Limits of the United States, Do acknowledge themselves and the said Part of the Creek's Nations to be under the Protection of the United States of America, and of no other Sovereign whosoever and they also stipulate that the said Creek Nation will not hold any treaty with an individual State, or with individuals of any State.
Artle 3. The Creek Nations shall deliver as soon as practicable, to the Commanding Officer of the troops of the United States stationed at the Rock Landing on the Oconee river— all Citizens of the United States, white inhabitants, [and] Negroes, who are now Prisoners in any part of the said Nations, and if any such Prisoners or Negroes should not be so delivered, on or before the first day of January ensuing, the Governor of Georgia may empower three Persons to repair to the said Nations in order to obtain and receive such prisoners and Negroes.
Artle 4. The boundary between the Citizens of the United States and Creek nations, is and shall be, from where the old line strikes, the river [undecipherable]— thence up the said river to a place on the most Northern branch of the same, commonly Called the Houee, where a North East line to be drawn from the Top of the Curraba mountains shall intersect— thence along the said line in a South West direction to Tugelo River— thence to the Top of Carraba Mountains, thence to the head or source of the main South Branch of the Oconee river, [called the] Appalachian thence down the middle of the said main South Branch and Oconee Oconee, to its Confluence with the [undecipherable]—
[Bc. No. 923]
who [undecipherable] [undecipherable]— to the Old line on the said River, and thence along the said Old line to River St. Marys. And in order to preclude forever disputes relative to the head, or source of this main South Branch of the River Oconee at the place where intersected by the line generated from the Currahee mountain; the same shall be ascertained by an active survey on the part of the United States, who shall be appointed three [undecipherable] Citizens of Georgia, who may be appointed by the Governor of the said State, and the Creek Chiefs to be appointed by said Nation, and the said Surveyors and Chiefs, shall assemble for this purpose on the first day of October, one thousand seven hundred and Ninety One, at the Rock Landing on the said River Oconee and thence proceed to ascertain the said head, or Source of the main South branch of the said River, at the place where it shall be intersected by the line aforesaid, to be drawn from the Currahee Mountains, and in order that the said Boundary, shall be rendered distinct and well known, it shall be marked by a line of felled trees at least Twenty feet wide, and the trees Chopped on each side from the said Carrahe Mountains to the head, or source of the main South branch of the Oconee river, and thence down the Margin of the said main South branch and River Oconee, for the distance of Twenty Miles, or as much further, as may be necessary to Mark distinctly the said Boundary, and in order to distinguish forever all lands of the Creek Nation or any part thereof, lying to the Howards and Eastward of the boundary herein described, it is hereby agreed in addition to the Considerations, heretofore made for the said land, that the United States will furnish Certain Valuable Indian Goods now in the State of Georgia, to be delivered to the said Creek Nations, and the said United States will also pay the sum of one thousand and five hundred Dollars, to be paid Annually to the said Creek Nations; and the under signed Kings Chiefs and Warriors do hereby for themselves and the whole Nation, their heirs and dependants for the Considerations above mentioned, release, Disclaim, relinquish and cede all the land Northward and Eastward of the boundary herein described
Turn over
Artle 5. [undecipherable] ultimately given to the Creek Nation, all their [undecipherable] the limits of the United States to the west [undecipherable] and North ward of the boundary described in the preceding Articles.
Artle 6. If any Citizen of the United States, or other Person not being Indian, shall attempt to settle in any of the Creek Nations, such Person shall forfeit the Protection of the United States, and the Creeks may demand him, or not as they please.
Artle [7]. No Citizen or inhabitant of the United States, who [undecipherable] shall wantonly destroy the game on the Creek Lands. No shall any [undecipherable] Citizen or Inhabitant go into the Creek Country without a Passport, first Obtained from [undecipherable] Governor or from one of the United States, or the Officers of the troops of the United States commanding, or the nearest Military Post on the Frontier— or such other Person as the President of the United States, may from time to time authorize to grant the same.
Artle [8]. If any Creek Indian or Indians, or Persons residing among them, or who shall take refuge within their Nation, shall commit a robbery or Murder, or other Capital Crime, on any of the Citizens or Inhabitants of the United States, the Creek Nation or Town, or tribe, to which such Offender or offenders may belong shall be bound to deliver them up to be punished according to the Laws of the United States.
Artle [9]. If any Citizen or Inhabitant of the United States, or of the Territorial Districts of the United States shall go into any Town, settlement or territory belonging to the Creek Nations of Indians, and shall there commit any Crime, violence upon, or trespass against the Person or Property of any Peaceable or friendly Indian, or Indians, who is condemned within the Jurisdiction of any State, or in the Jurisdiction of either of the said Districts, against a Citizen or Inhabitant thereof, would be Punishable by the Laws of such State or district, such Offender or Offenders shall be subject to the same Punishment, and shall be proceeded against in the same Manner, as if the crime had been Committed within the Jurisdiction of the State, or the District of which he or they may belong— and is subject to which inhabitants thereof
Artle [10]. In cases of [undecipherable] on the Person or Property of the [undecipherable] Dead of either party, that has not been revenged nor reparation thereof shall be committed by the other, until satisfaction shall have been refused by the party of which the aggressor is, and shall have been refused.
Artle 11. The Creeks Shall give Notice to the Citizens of the United States of any designs, which they may know or discover to be formed in any Neighboring tribes, or by any Persons whatsoever against the Peace and interest of the United States.
Artle 12th. That the Creek Nations may be led to a greater degree of Civilization, and to become herdsmen and Citizens instead of [undecipherable] in a state of Hunters, the United States, will from time to time furnish gratuitously the said Nations, with useful Domestic Animals, and Implements of Husbandry, and further to assist the Nation in so [undecipherable] a measure, and at the same time to establish a Certain Mode of Communication, the United States, will send such and so many Persons to reside in the said Nations, as they may judge proper, and not exceeding four in Number, who shall dedicate themselves to act as Interpreters. These Persons shall have lands Assigned them by the Creeks for Cultivation, for themselves and their Successors in Office; but they shall be precluded to carrying any kind of traffic.
Artle 13. All Animosities for past grievances shall henceforth cease, and the contracting Parties shall carry the foregoing Treaty into full Conviction, with all good faith and amity.
Artle 14. This treaty shall take effect and be Obligatory on the contracting as soon as the same shall have been ratified by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States.
In behalf of the United States Henry Knox
In behalf of them Selves and the whole Creek Nation
Alex. C. McGillivray, and Kings, Chiefs and Warriors of the Cup take, Little Tallisee, Big Tallisee, Tuschabitty, Hatchee, Cawatha, of the Broken Arrow, Coosadas, Alabama Chief [undecipherable] —
Was made and concluded on the [undecipherable] day [undecipherable] 1790—
[Extract of a letter from General Knox to Governor [undecipherable], dated Philadelphia Nov. 19th 1791.]
"Your reasons for appointing three deputies to [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable], Chichasaws and Choctaws are conclusive, and the business will probably be acted upon decisively by the President of the United States, as soon as a law shall be passed, ascertaining their duties and compensations."
"The closing paragraph of this letter affords me pleasure— I am authorised by the President of the United States, to tender you his thanks for the able manner in which you conducted the Treaty, and for the zeal you uniformly evinced to promote the interests of the United States, in endeavouring to fix a peace on the basis of justice and humanity— and I beg leave to add Sir, that in pursuance of so good a work, you will never want the firm support of the Supreme executive of the United States."
[Ac. No. 923]
Type
Document Signed
Description
Secretary Knox offers protection for the Creek Nation by United States if the Creeks will not hold treaties with other states or Indian Nations. Negotiates release of prisoners and Negros under Creek confines.
Date
08/07/1791
Author
Recipient
Collection
Document number
1791080700001
Page start
1
Note
Document contains conflicting dates: 1790 and 1791
Notable persons
Henry Knox
Creeks
Seminoles
Alexander McGilivray
Indians
Negroes
Negro
prisoners
slaves
Chiefs
Warriors
Governor of Georgia
Little Tallissee
Big Tallissee
Alabama
Notable locations
Creek Nation
United States
river
mountains
Oconee River
Georgia
Currahee Mountain
Notable items
boundary
game
robbery, murder, or other capital crime

