Knox drafts proposed instructions to Indian Commissioners
Document 1793Document, Draft Memorandum containing proposed instructions for U.S. Commissioners of Indian Affairs.
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[XXXIII-142]
[1800?]
[79?]
Proposed instructions [f/c?]
([Sketch?]) to the Commissioners
16 February 1799
1 The Commissioners to be fully informed upon
the subject of all the treaties, that have been
held by the U.S. or which have been
held under their authority, with the
Northern and western Indians, including
the treaty of Fort Harmar in the year 1789
and the boundaries then established
described. That the [strikethrough: boundaries,]
the Commissioners to possess themselves fully
of all the proceedings of the said
treaties, and the tribes, and principal
warriors, who possess the said —
The next to be informed & [undecipherable]
Type
Draft Document
Description
Document, Draft Memorandum containing proposed instructions for U.S. Commissioners of Indian Affairs.
Date
02/16/1793
Author
Recipient
Repository
Collection
Document number
1793021600101
Page start
1
Note
document is written in the hand of Knox
Notable persons
Henry Knox
Notable locations
Fort Harmar
Notable items
commissioners to be fully informed
subject of all the treaties
held by the US
under their authority with the Northern and Western Indians
treaty of Fort Harmar in year 1789
boundaries then described
commissioners possess themselves fully of all the proceedings of the first treaty and of the tribes and principal
who penned the first
who had a right to relinquish the lands which were then ceded to the US
part of the said lands have been sold to individuals
parts assigned to the late Army of the United States
principle as well as a compensation
former treaty
compensation than given was inadequate
remaining lands of the Indians
shall be
by the general government
former boundaries
tribes
proportion to the several tribes
the commissioners be directed further
marked up the map
provided the same would satisfy the Indians so as to confer the remainder of the boundary, always however reserving as much land about the
as are now occupied by the several grantees or where
that the commissioners be instructed to use their highest exertions to obtain the
the reservations excepted as before explained
and that for this purpose they be intrusted with dollars
to influence certain
men to favor them
but if after every endeavor the assembled Indians should refuse the
aforesaid
then the commissioner to endeavor to
the best boundary
to which they will agree
the commissioners
exterior to conform the
on obtaining this information of the Indians
may be to be in
commissioners
would give a definitive answer upon the subject at a period to be fixed
which period should not be earlier than
months after the Senate should be assembled at their next session
they would fix the period abort one year from
the
commissioners should
commissioners
impress the Indians that until the answer should be received a solemn truce to be observed on both sides
if the idea
should be
perhaps it might be extended by the company for three or for seven years
all things to remain
if is the effert would be open to all intents and purposes
the commisioners to be particularly
to do nothing
upon the right of preemption or general power of the US over the country
of which were established by the peace of 1783
but at the same time impress upon them
in no degree affects their right to the
the US concedes unlimited
excepting that when sold it
to the US and under.