Talk of the Chickasaws the 13^th of December 1796, held with the Secretary of War. They requested to know when the Spaniards would evacuate the post at the Chickasaw Bluffs. That they had been taught by the President to expect that event. That they asked moreover when it shall be given up, that it will be destroyed and not occupied by Troops of the United States. Do not want to see any fort established there, and will not submit to have one there. Have a claim against the State of South Carolina for a tract of land which that State confiscated under protest that the Indians who owned it had joined the British Army during the American revolution. Wish for the good Offices of the United States to obtain Compensation. George Colbert has a claim against the Cherokees for three Negroes of his which they have in their Nation and will not restore to him. Wishes the United States to see Justice done him; or to be paid by the United States for them. --- A Talk from a Deputation of the Chickasaw Nation to the Secretary of War dated Philadelphia, Dec.^r 15 1796. Friend and Brother, When we met you last at your Office you told us that the United States intended to take possession of the Chickasaw Bluffs as soon as the Garrison there should be evacuated by the Spaniards. We then remonstrated against the measure, as infringing on our rights and tending to excite resentments in the minds of our young Warriors which might end in the dissolution of those Bonds of friendship that have so long bound us to the United States and which have so often been cemented by our Blood — We wish now to repeat those remonstrances, and call your attention to two instruments signed by our beloved father the President, one guaranteeing to the Chickasaw Nation a Tract of Country therein described, the other dated some time in August 1795 declaring the disposition of your Government respecting the Bluffs — from these instruments we felt ourselves perfectly at peace respecting our lands, assured that we should not be intruded on particularly by Citizens of the United States. — But we are now told that a Garrison shall be established on our lands without the consent of our Nation even being asked. What are we to conclude from this? — That we have been trifled with and deceived, and that we have no rights at all, for if you can seize on a single foot of our land without our consent, you can seize on the whole. But we will not suffer ourselves to think so hardly of our Friends, whose justice and truth we have so often spoken with enthusiasm to our neighbouring Nations, whose prejudices and resentments against you embraced us for our Attachment to you. We have now to request that since our jealousies have been awakened, we may have a Talk to take home to our Nation signed by our Father the President and yourself recognizing our Boundaries as formerly guaranteed, and securing to us the undisturbed possession of the lands within the same. Holatta Mataha .......... + his Mark Malcom + his Mark McGhee, Mingo Mataha .......... + D^o Mark Interpreter. George Colbert .......... + D^o Thomas Brown .......... + D^o John Brown .......... + D^o George Augusta .......... + D^o Holatta Hachee .......... + D^o Holatta Tuska .......... + D^o [Talk]