Memorandum of instructions on treaty negotiations given to Captain Hendricks by Colonel Pickering.

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Memorandum of Instructions given to Captain Hendricks by Colonel Pickering. Niagara 4^th June 1793. After discoursing with the hostile Indians about the treaty, and hearing their claims with respect to the boundary which they suppose should be the Ohio, it may be expedient for you to suggest some things for their consideration as of yourself, in order to draw them far they may be persuaded to desist from their rigid demands. 1^st. It is true the Commissioners at some former treaties set up extravagant claims, but perhaps the present Commissioners may confine themselves to moderate limits, and relinquish all the rest of the lands. 2^d. The Treaties formerly made were carried to the great Council of the United States when coming there signed by a number of Indian Chiefs, might suppose that then Chiefs represented their nations and that the treaties were right. In consequence of which the great Council sold large tracts of land along the Ohio to a number of people who have since settled upon them. And being thus sold and settled, it may be very difficult if not impossible now to give them up. Understand that such sales have been made from the West line of Pennsylvania (which begins at the mouth of little Beaver Creek) down the Ohio as far as the great Miami. 3^d. Now suppose the Commissioners should relinquish the lands westward of the great Miami and pay a good sum of money, or a large quantity of goods for the lands Eastward of the great Miami, would it not be well to agree to such terms and make peace. 4^th

Type

Copy of document

Description

Instructions from the Commissioners to Captain Hendricks. Hostile Indians claim boundary as Ohio; commissioners suggest that Hendricks consider the following in order to explore Indian flexibility on this matter. 1. Admit that some commissioners set up extravagant claims. Emphasize that current commissioners will confine selves to moderate tenets. 2. Former treaties went to great council of United States. Previous chiefs sold land to whites. Will be difficult to give that land back to Indians. Admit that some land sold from west line of Pennsylvania, down Ohio to great Miami. 3. Consider if commissioners relinquish claims west of great Miami and pay for lands east of Miami. 4. Consider prospect of commissioners giving up land south of line established by Treaty of Ft McIntoch and Ft Harmar. 5. What advantages do you wish by claiming United States land? Furs and skins you can obtain by hunting. Consider that commissioners will pay money in goods or provisions; is this better than war? Cannot you hunt on same lands? 6. Keep minds open to talks. Do not fix terms of peace until you hear them. United States wants to find out what is true and what is right. Note on bottom of document indicates that commissioners wrote these instructions for Hendricks, but after Hendricks left Navy Hall. Pickering wrote the instructions at Chippewa and overtook Hendricks at Fort Erie. Hendrick translated and destroyed original.

Date

06/04/1793

Author

Timothy Pickering

Recipient

Captain Hendricks

Sent from

Niagara

Repository

National Archives and Records Administration

Collection

Third Congress: Transcribed Confidential Reports and Other Communications Transmitted by the Secretary of War to the House of Representatives, 3d

Document number

1793060440155

Page start

Note

This document is enclosed in instructions to the commissioners appointed to deal wih the hostile Indians north of the Ohio, in the form of a journal of their proceedings, submitted to the House of Representatives on December 4, 1793. This document is an integral part of [Public Reports] and other communications of the Secretary of War, 12/99/1793.

Notable persons

Timothy Pickering

Captain Hendricks

Timothy Pickering

Federal Commissioners for Treaty Sandusk

y Benjamin Lincoln

Beverley Randolph

Colonel Pickering

congress

Notable locations

Niagara

Navy Hall

Chippewa

Ohio River

United States

Pennsylvania

Great Miami River

whites

Indians

Little Beaver Creek

Ft. McIntosh

Ft Harmar

Ft Erie