Reports on the Southern Tribes and Likelihood of War
Item
Type
Contemporary Copy of Letter
Title
Reports on the Southern Tribes and Likelihood of War
Description
The war between Georgia and the Creeks could spark a general Indian war across the frontier. Knox discusses the potential for aggression against the Indians by unruly whites to unify the Southern Tribes against the interests of the United States. He anticipates Spanish agitation in fomenting Indian hostility toward the United States. He gives his ideas regarding the civilization of the Indians as the best way of assimilating them into American society.
year created
1789
month created
07
day created
07
author
sent from location
War Office
recipient
in collection
in publication
in image
note
Image of this document (transcripted) is located online at
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=53
and
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=54
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=53
and
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=54
author note
Henry Knox
recipient note
George Washington
notable person/group
George Washington
Henry Knox
Alexander McGillivray
Cherokees
Creek Nation of Indians
Choctaws
Chickasaws
settlers
Spanish
Six Nations
Indian Department
commissioners
missionary
nations south of the Ohio
lawless whites
Indian agents
notable location
War Office
North America
Mississippi
Hopewell
Great Britain
Spain
North Carolina
Georgia
the Ohio
Western Territory
Fort Harmar
frontier
boundary
hunting grounds
notable item/thing
treaties of Fort Harmar
treaty made at Hopewell
latent causes of hatred
disputes of boundaries and game
gorgets
clothing
supplies
provisions
hunting grounds
Indian relations
war
peace
land rights
expansion
alliance
coercion
negotiation
court martial
civilization of the Indians
presents to the chiefs or their wives
notable phrase
...a union as firm as the six northern nations may be formed by the southern tribes
Mr. McGillivray has stated that Spain is bound by treatty to protect the Creeks in their hunting grounds
...national dignity and justice require that the arms of the Union should be called forth to chastise the Creek Nation for refusing to treat with the United States
...it would be highly expedient to attempt to quiet the hostilities between the State of Georgia and the Creek Nation by an amicable negotiation...
...an adequate army [should] be raised until the objects of the war should be accomplished
...the negotiation should be conducted by three commissioners
...angry passions of the frontier indians and whites are too easily inflamed by reciprocal injuries and are too violent to be controlled by the feeble authority of the civil power
the disgraceful violation of the treaty of Hopewell with the Cherokees requres the serious consideration of Congress
...
lawless whites will ridicule a government which shall, on paper only, make Indian treaties and regulate Indian boundaries
lawless whites will ridicule a government which shall, on paper only, make Indian treaties and regulate Indian boundaries
...the great source of all Indian wars are disputes about their boundaries
although the disposition of the people of the States to emigrate into Indian territory cannot be effectually prevented, it may be restrained and regulated
...the idea of an Indian on this side [east] of the Mississippi will only be found in the pages of the historian
...imparted our knowledge of cultivation and arts to the aboriginals of the country
missionaries...should be appointed to reside in their nations
...[Indians will] learn to venerate and obey that power from whom they derived security against the avarice and injustice of the lawless frontier people
some late British colonies in their separate capacities
obligations of policy humanity and justice
noble liberal and disinterested administration
disposition of the people
postponing new purchases
prohibiting the citizens from intruding
population shall increase
inevitable consequence of cultivation
the idea of an Indian on this side of the Mississippi will only be found in the oage and of the historian
sensation of a philosophic mind to reflect
exterminating a part of the human race by our modes of population
imparted our knowledge of cultivation and the arts to the aboriginals of the country
source of future life and happiness
impractiable to civilize
equal and just
principles
nugatory but humiliating to the sovereign
guarantied by a body of troops
deliberating on the measures to be adopted
legislative discussion and decision
national dignity and justice require that the arms of the Union should be called forth in order to chastise
refusing to treat
reasonable terms
hostile invasion of the state
appears to the Congress
expedient to attempt to quiet the hostilities
amicable negociation
bill brought in to authorize the President of the United States to appoint three commissioners
conclude a peace
measure
examine into the manner which they are to be executed
most efectual mode of reducing the Creeks to submit to the will
acknowledge the valildity of the treaties
adequate army to be raised and continued until the objects of the war should be accomplished
force of the Creeks is estimated
delays and contingencies inseparable from the preparations and operations on an army
operating army
including all expenses
dollars annually
utterly inadequate to the object
useless expense and disgraceful to the nation
alternative
negotiation should be conducted
compensation for the trouble of the business
proper to accept the trust
invested with full powers to decide all differences respecting boundaries
renew with them the treaty
bound by treaty to protect the Creeks in their hunting grounds
doubt this assertion
claims a considerable part of the territory ceded
build up
impassable barrier
endeavor to form and cement
abilities to convince the Choctaws and Chickasaws that their remote situation is their only pressent protection
troubles will commence
causes compelling to a general confederacy
policy of the Spaniards
jealousy that power entertains to the extension
man
Creek nation
particular consideration
interest of all the Indian nations south
relate to the whites
blended together
case of a war
common cause
tribe
latent causes of hatred to each other on account of disputes of boundaries and game
impressed with the idea that their lives and lands are at hazard
inferior disputes will be accomodated and an union as firm as the six northern nations may be formed by the Southern tribes
surrounded on all sides
difficuolties of the Creeks and Cherokees may accelerate and complete
refuge from the violence of the frontier people
render their situation sufficiently understood
general view of the nations south
critical situation of affairs
paper Number 1 of the Indian Department
general statement of the circumstances relative to the Indian tribes within the limits
Governor of the Western Territory
report
treaties
document number
1789070700201
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (15 pages) | AJF17 (15 pages) | Collection: Henry Knox Papers. [microfilm] | V: 24, P: 81 |
| [view document] (3 pages) | [no image] | Publication: American State Papers, Indian Aff | Volume 1 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | War Office | [n/a] |
| Recipient | George Washington | [unknown] | [n/a] |