of the great majority of the Citizens of the United States to an Indian War, in almost any event and with how much satisfaction they would embrace a peace upon terms of justice and humanity. I for therefore this negociation is entrusted with the hope, that you will by your intelligence and perseverance be able to close a scene of hostilities, which on the part of the United States have been dictated by the protection due their frontier Citizens. In order that you may possess all the knowledge in the power of the Executive to give you have herewith furnished the several papers upon this subject enumerated in the Schedule annexed— which contain information from the peace between great Britain and France in the year 1763 until the present time. With respect to the treaties made between the United States, and the several hostile tribes since the peace with Great Britain in 1783 it is to be observed that the treaty of Fort Harmar made in January 1789 is regarded as having been formed on solid grounds— the principle being that of a fair purchase and sale. The Government considers the six nations who claimed the lands by virtue of former Conquests lying between the Ohio and lake Erie, which were ceded and confirmed to the United States by the said treaty with the said six nations— together with the Wyandots and Delawares and Ottawas and other western Indians who were the actual occupants of the lands, as the proper owners thereof— that they had a right to convey the said lands to the United States, and that they did accordingly make the said conveyance with their free consent and full understanding. Parties however who were not at the treaty of Fort Harmar Harmar may have been either at the treaty of Fort McIntosh or the Miami— Pichouchibiitas a chief of the Delawares, was at the latter. But if it should appear upon a further investigation of the subject, at the place of conference, that there were other tribes interested in the lands then ceded to the United States, than those who subscribed the said treaty— or that the consideration given was inadequate, it may be proper in either or both cases, that a liberal compensation be made to the just claimants. It will therefore be one of the first objects of the proposed treaty to ascertain from the Indians what tribes are the allowed proprietors of the country lying to the northward of the Ohio and to the Southward of the lakes. You will perceive by Hutchens Map, herewith delivered, the boundaries confirmed by the said treaty of Fort Harmar to the United States— and also the tracts which have been granted by the United States to the late army and to particular companies of men. You will endeavour to the utmost of your power, to induce the tribes claiming a right to the said lands, to confirm the boundary established by the said treaty of Fort Harmar with the six nations and Wyandots Delawares &c for which purpose you will among other considerations offer— 1^st The guarantee of the United States of the right of soil to all the remaining Indian lands in that quarter against the citizens or inhabitants of the United States. 2^dly That the United States will relinquish the places mentioned in the said treaty as trading posts to the northwest general boundary, excepting however, the grounds upon which the Forts are erected now occupied by the British troops, and which by the treaty of peace of 1783 were ceded to the United States— together with the portions of land in the vicinity of said Forts in possession of the White Inhabitants, and which have been purchased of the Indians. 3^dly The United States will relinquish any of the military posts, which shall appear to be established without the boundaries of the treaty of Fort Harmar or the boundaries which you may agree upon. 4^thly That the United States will pay to the several tribes in the proportions which shall be agreed upon the sum fifty thousand dollars in goods, according to a Tariff of articles, to be settled at the treaty. The Tariff shall include the prime cost of the goods in Philadelphia or New York, together with the charge of the transportation to the place which shall be fixed for the delivery, and no more. 5^thly That in addition to the above sum to be paid immediately— the United States will also pay annually the sum of ten thousand dollars in goods, to such tribes, and to be delivered at such places, as shall be agreed upon. You will observe that the space between the tracts of Land granted to particular companies and the Indian boundary established by the treaty of Fort Harmar, will render it extremely difficult if not impracticable to relinquish any lands in the said space, without establishing a cause for perpetual discussions and hostilities between the whites and Indians. But if the relinquishment of any lands in the said space, should be an alternative with the said Indians, and a line could be agreed upon which would be free from dispute, you may in order order to effect a peace make such relinquishment. In case you should be under the necessity of making this relinquishment, it will be left to your discretion whether or not to make the same compensations, as are stated for the confirmation of the general boundary established by the treaty of Fort Harmar. But you are to understand explicitly that the United States cannot relinquish any of the tracts of land which they have already granted as marked upon the said Map. In respect to all that has been said with regard to relinquishment, you will please to understand that no particular difficulty is intended to be thrown in the way of the relinquishment of any lands, westward of the Great Miami and northward of the Ohio from the intersection thereof by the great Miami except the tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres granted to General Clark. You will observe that as none of the Wabash tribes attended the treaty at Fort Harmar, the Western boundary then established is imperfectly described. In the treaty made by General Putnam with the said Wabash tribes, on the fourth of October last, the boundaries are not defined. He says that he understood the eastern boundary claimed by the said Wabash Indians, would be described by a line drawn from the Miami village to a creek a few miles above the falls of the Ohio. But it is a point of considerable importance in case of a successful treaty, that a well defined boundary should be established with all the tribes, so that in future no misunderstanding should happen on that account. It will be an object worthy of your attention, to make as far as shall be consistent with the main design of peace, to form separate contracts or treaties relatively to boundaries with the several tribes to whom the lands actually belong, avoiding as much as possible, to confirm the idea of a union, or general confederacy of all the tribes, or of any patronage of the whole over the lands of any particular tribes, or sub-divisions of tribes. But as the said Indians are much attached to the idea of a general confederacy, your proceedings in these particulars will require peculiar caution and management. You will in all your negociations carefully regard the general rights of preemption of the United States to the Indian country against all nations and individuals, as established by the treaty of 1783 with Great Britain. But in describing these rights to the Indians you will impress them with the Idea that we concede to them fully the right and possession of the soil as long as they desire to occupy the same; but when they choose to sell any portion of the Country, it must be sold only to the United States, who will protect the Indians against all imposition. In case of a successful treaty, the delivery of all prisoners taken from the United States must be strenuously insisted upon. But it will be left to your judgement whether a particular compensation shall be stipulated or not to the individual owners of such prisoners, as it is well known that they are not considered as the common property of the Indian communities. While at the treaty you must endeavour to ascertain as accurately as may be the names, and numbers of the respective Indian tribes within the limits of the United States north of the Ohio— and also the names of the influential chiefs — their divisions of lands, and all other other matters relatively to trade and intercourse with them. And as it is highly probable there will be a great number of distant Indians from the northward, westward, and Southward, you will endeavour to learn the tribes to which they belong and whether their being present is the effect of curiosity or invitation. It will depend upon your judgement whether after the treaty shall be about concluding to inform the Indians of the measures taken by the United States for furnishing provisions during the treaty, and of the causes which prevented. It may also be proper to observe that the same causes prevented very great quantities of goods being brought to the treaty ground. You have herewith delivered to you the Belt sent by the hostile Indians, with the message according to the treaty— thus you will show them as the evidence that their message was received. You have also delivered the belt of the five nations, received upon the same occasion. You will endeavour to obtain permission that agents of the United States may reside among the Indian tribes as their protectors and friends; and also that traders may be established among them. The United States will hereafter enter into arrangements with the Indians to supply them with goods, in the manner most beneficial to them, and which shall tend to prevent all imposition. In case of a treaty, an article to be inserted that murderers on either side shall be given up or punished with death, according to the usage of the respective contracting parties. In case of Robberies or horse stealing, the Robbers or Thieves to be punished with fine, the amount of which to be fixed if incurred by the Indians, who should fail in payment, the same to be deducted from the annual payment of the tribe to whom the culprit should belong. The society of Friends have with the approbation of the President of the United States decided to send some of their respectable members, in order to contribute their influence to induce the hostile Indians to a peace. They are not however to confer with the Indians upon any subject of importance until they shall have previously communicated the same and received your approbation. The Reverend John Hechenwelder a moravian teacher, who resided many years among the Moravian Indians of the Delawares will accompany you in order also to use his influence towards peace. He will understands the Delaware tongue and altho' he is unwilling to act as a common interpreter, yet you may rely upon his ability to control others, and prevent imposition. His knowledge of Indian customs and manners may be of great use in your negociations. You have delivered to you one hundred sets of silver ornaments, which you will present to such influential chiefs as you shall judge proper. It will be necessary that you should endeavour if— consistently with the public interests, to close the treaty on or before the first of August. But whatever shall be the result of the treaty, you will inform Major General Wayne thereof, on the Ohio, as expeditiously as possible— and in order that there may be no defect in the transmission, you will send many copies by different routes, and spare no pains or expense to render the communication perfect. General General Wayne has been instructed to issue a proclamation, informing the people of the frontiers of the proposed treaty and— prohibiting all offensive movements of the whites to the northward of the Ohio until they shall receive further information on the subject. The good understanding which subsists between the United States and the five nations of Indians— and the steps they have taken for the purpose of terminating hostilities with the western Indians, manifested by their Journey to the Council of Aus Glaize the last year endues the reliance that they will still continue their endeavours to bring about a peace. Many of them will be at the proposed treaty and you will probably be able to make considerable use of them to instil into the minds of the hostile Indians favourable dispositions towards the United States. You will exclude all citizens of the United States from attending the treaty, excepting such as are herein mentioned, and such others as shall actually be in your employ. It is however probable that the British Agents, Mes^rs Butler and McKee, will be present by the desire of the Indians. In this you will not object, although you cannot formally admit of them or any other British Agents as Mediators or Umpires. It is understood also from General Hall, that several Gentlemen of Governor Simcoe's family are desirous of being present at the treaty, perhaps from motives of curiosity. If this should be the case, you will cordially accede to the idea upon the ground that the intentions of the United States being upright, they cannot have the least objection to the presence of any Gentlemen of the British government as evidences thereof. You will forbid all persons from attempting any negociations with the Indians relatively to the purchase of lands upon any pretence whatever. The general form of such a treaty, as the government are desirous of having observed in future is herewith delivered— to which you will adhere as far as the same may be suited to the State of things. In addition to Jasper Parish, who is the established Interpreter for the United States with the said five nations— I have written to James Dean, also to accompany you as the principal interpreter of the said five nations. His influence among the said Indians, and his knowledge of the Indian manners and customs may be serviceable. It is also expected that M^r Williamson and W^m James Ranken, will accompany you as interpreters of the Shawanoes and Delaware tongues. Their men have been represented as persons having an extensive knowledge of the characters of the Western Indians and as men of probity and upon whom reliance may be placed. The sum of twenty thousand dollars in specie, will be delivered to you for the particular purpose of gratuities, to such influential persons or chiefs as may in your Judgement be necessary— and also the further sum of [blank] Dollars in order to defray the expenses of yourselves, dens and attendants. If you should effect a peace, it might be proper to invite a number of influential chiefs to repair to this place, in order to visit the President of the United States, and also for the purpose of choosing such goods as would be most suitable to their wants. Your rout will be hence by the way of New York, Albany, Fort Stanwix, Wood Creek, Oswego, and Niagara. Thence Governor Governor Simcoe will furnish you with a vessel for the purpose of conveying you to the place of treaty. I have written to General Schuyler to provide boats for your stores and yourselves at Sandusky— these boats will be carried by land from the Mohawk river to Wood Creek. If you should prefer taking the route from Albany to New York by land you will please to pursue the same. Given by the special direction of the President of the United States, in the City of Philadelphia, this twenty sixth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three. (signed) H Knox, Secretary for the Department of War, and having the direction of Indian Affairs. [LS] Registered, Jn^o Stagg jun^r Ch. Clk. The foregoing is a true copy from the records of the War Office. Jn^o Stagg Jun^r Chief Clerk. December 4^th 1793.