[Copy of the report of the Committee on Indian Affairs received at Knox= ville April 16^th 1794 for= warded for the Information of Mero District—] [Copy] The Committee to whom was referred the President's Message of the 20^th of January last Report as their opinion— That the present situation of the southwestern frontier requires that the government of the United States take the most speedy and efficacious measures, as well to afford ample protection to the exposed inhabitants of that frontier, from the repeated depredations of the hostile Indians, as to prevent unauthorized attacks by the lawless white inhabitants on the Indian tribes. That in order to effect these purposes the committee recommends the following resolutions: That the President of the United States be authorized to call out such a number of the militia of the said states as may be requisite to carry on offensive operations against such tribes or towns of Indians, as may continue hostile, if in his opinion, such offensive measures may be necessary for the security of the frontier inhabitants, by compelling the Indians to [a] strict compliance with their treaties, and to prevent unprovoked aggressions by them: Provided, That the whole number [undecipherable] so to be called into service, at any one [undecipherable], [undecipherable] officers and privates, not be continued in service, at any one period, longer than the term of months the President to be authorized to establish such military posts as he may [undecipherable] to prevent, as far as [undecipherable], any depredations of the Indians within the the boundary line, fixed by treaty, between the United States and them, and also to prevent any lawless attacks by the white inhabitants on the Indians or encroachments on [their] hunting ground, without the said line, and to cause military posts to be guarded by troops raised for the defence of the frontier and to cause to be raised on the terms of the present military establishment one or more troops of horse to be employed as patroles between the said posts. That every officer, noncommissioned officer or private of the militia of the United States, who shall go armed over the mutual boundary line, and commit murder or other depredations upon the Indians, without being legally authorized thereto, under the President, every such person so offending shall be considered as having voluntarily put himself under military power, and shall be tried by a court martial, and if convicted of the murder of an Indian, shall suffer death; and if convicted of any offence, short of murder, shall suffer such fines and penalties, as shall be adjudged by the said courtmartial, not extending to the taking life; and moreover if such offender shall be an officer, upon such convic- - on, he shall be cashiered, and forever Thereafter disqualified from holding a military commission within the United States: Provided, that this prohibition shall not extend to militia officers or privates, pursuing any Indian party, which may have been committing depredations, within the present limits of the said states.