War Office, Dec. 12, 1795 Sir, By direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor to present herewith; — "a report of the [undecipherable] made in providing [undecipherable] for a report of the measures taken for opening trade with the Indians." — and am &c Timothy Pickering The Vice President of the United States & Pres. of the Senate. --- Report on measures taken for opening a trade with the Indians December 12^th 1795 --- [The report of the Secretary of War on the] measures taken for [opening] a trade with the Indians [undecipherable] The situation of the Six Nations, surrounded either wholly by the [undecipherable] of citizens of the United States, or on one side by them, [with] restrictions by the British of Niagara [Canal?]; and by both in view [of undecipherable], [undecipherable], found to exclude them from that [opportunity?] proposed to be [the?] [means?] of commencing a trade on the principles of furnishing cheap supplies to the Indians: for the familiar intercourse between them and the Whites, would have [subjected?] the public to continual impositions against which no checks were provided. Peace with the Tribes northwest of the river Ohio was only in a train of [undecipherable: probable reading "negotiation"]: they, of course, were not in a condition to participate in the projected trade. It remained then to make the experiment with the [Southern?] Tribes. And because the small appropriation for this object formed intended exceedingly as an experiment, it was desirable to make it with as little expense as possible. For this, among other reasons, the sum appropriated was divided unequally, and more than two thirds destined for opening a trade with the Creeks, to whom the goods could be conveyed by [sea:] The The remainder was designed for the trade with the Chickasaws. The [most?] [favorable?] of the Cherokees [could?] render either of the two trading posts but [if?] [small?] and only [contingent?] use to them. To accommodate the [Creeks?], [Colerain?], on the river St. Mary's, was chosen, on the best information to be obtained, as the most eligible [place?] for a trading post; because it was easy of access to us, there being depth of water for sea vessels to go to the post, and sufficiently so to the [boats?]; especially of the Lower Towns. For the purpose of [supplying?] the Cherokees and Chickasaws, it was [proposed?] that Tellico [Blockhouse?], within the country of the Cherokees, would be a convenient station. It is already a military post, with a small garrison of regular troops. As such it will be [known?], as advanced of the settlements of the white people it will be convenient; and the Indians are already accustomed to resort thither for friendly conferences and negotiations. [Notwithstanding?], lest there should be any [just?] objection to that station, the final choice of the trading post in that quarter, is referred to Governor Blount, with a reliance on his knowledge and judgement to fix it in the place most suitable for effecting the true objects of the establishment. It is obvious that neither the Chickasaws nor Cherokees, especially the latter, can be much benefited by these arrangements: nor can they be well accommodated until at least one trading post for each be established on the [River?] Mississippi. [undecipherable lines] Chickasaws [undecipherable] [did not admit?] of [being?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable lines] It has been [suggested?] that the trade could not have been sooner commenced: but after [procuring?] the goods [necessary?] for [several?] [undecipherable] [treaties?], and the [annuity?] due to the Chickasaws, with [free?] [supplies?] [accidentally?] [destined?] for the Cherokees and Chickasaws, on [deputations?] from these tribes; the merchants [firms?] were so [drained?]; that the requisite [assortments?], especially of the articles most important for the Indian trade, could not be obtained, either at Philadelphia, New-York or Baltimore, and the [manager?] was obliged to await the arrival of the fall ships. Then, as soon as the purchases could be made, and the very trusty persons necessary as [factors?] could be provided, the goods were put [off?] under their care, to their respective destinations: they are now on their way. The Secretary of War begs leave to remark; that the annuities stipulated to be paid to the several tribes of Indians on the borders of the United States, are the following: To the Six Nations and [Associates?], to the value of . . . 4,500 dollars To the Chickasaws . . . . . . . . 3,000. To the [Cherokees?] . . . . . . . . 5,000. To the Creeks . . . . . . . . 1,500. To the Wyandots, Delawares & several other    tribes northwest of the Ohio, agreeably to } 9,500.    General Wayne['s late] treaty,    . . . total amount . . 23,500. — To which may be added for contingent demands 6,500. —                   30,000. making [undecipherable lines] about thirty thousand dollars. [undecipherable lines] to be [regularly?] furnished [undecipherable] [undecipherable], they [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to and [proportions?] [demanded?]; and [thereby?] [undecipherable]. If the [undecipherable] [undecipherable], are [undecipherable] and ex- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] the public against the [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. All which, is respectfully submitted to the Senate of the United States. Department of War, December 12, 1795.              Timothy Pickering.