General Statement of Indian Policy
Item
Type
Printed transcription/modern copy of Document
Title
General Statement of Indian Policy
Description
In a comprensive statement of Indian policies, Knox discusses the cost of war and peace with the Indian Nations along the Southwestern frontier. He speculates on the size of an army necessary to engage hostile Indians along this vast expanse of territory. He concludes that peace and diplomacy are more cost effective than war. He references the practice of providing gifts to subjugated people by European nations which he believes to be the safest way to manage Indians.
year created
1790
month created
01
day created
04
author
sent from location
War Office
recipient
in collection
in publication
note
An image of this document is located online at
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=60
and
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=61
and
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=62
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=60
and
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=61
and
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=007/llsp007.db&recNum=62
notable person/group
George Washington
Henry Knox
Indian Department
commissioners
Creek Nation of Indians
Choctaws
battalion
British
Upper and Lower Creeks
lawless whites
Cherokee nation
Governor of the Western Territory
notable location
War Office
Southwestern frontier
territory
frontier
frontiers from Georgia to Lake Erie
boundary
south of the Ohio
Cumberland
Kentucky
Wabash
Morocco
Algiers
Tunis
Tripoli
Great Britain
Cumberland River
posts northwest of the Ohio
district of Kentucky
Miami village
incursions into the Wabash territory
indiscriminate
notable item/thing
artillery
supplies
provisions
gifts
hostilities
war
solemn offer of peace
land rights
boundary disputes
Indian relations
unprovoked aggressions
punishment
murder
depredations by the Creeks
ammunition
murders
friendship of Chickasaws and Choctaws
artillery
infantry
surveys
additional pay
reduction of pay
patrols
arms of the Union
notable phrase
"No peace with the Indians can be preserved, unless by a military force."
"...the propriety of employing the militia of the country for that purpose may be doubted."
"It seems to have been the custom of barbarous nations, in all ages, to expect and receive presents from those more civilized, and custom seems confirmed by modern Europe, with respect to Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli."
"A comparative view of the expenses of a hostile or conciliatory system towards the Indians, will evince the infinite economy of the latter over the former."
"Is the situation of the United States such, with respect to the neighboring European colonies, as to render it good policy at this time to annihilate the Indian customs, and expectations of receiving presents, and thereby disgusting them in such a manner as to induce them to connect themselves more closely with the said colonies?"
"That the Indians possess the natural rights of man, and that they ought not wantonly to be divested thereof, cannot be well denied."
"Were these rights ascertained and declared by law
"...the propriety of employing the militia of the country for that purpose may be doubted."
"It seems to have been the custom of barbarous nations, in all ages, to expect and receive presents from those more civilized, and custom seems confirmed by modern Europe, with respect to Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli."
"A comparative view of the expenses of a hostile or conciliatory system towards the Indians, will evince the infinite economy of the latter over the former."
"Is the situation of the United States such, with respect to the neighboring European colonies, as to render it good policy at this time to annihilate the Indian customs, and expectations of receiving presents, and thereby disgusting them in such a manner as to induce them to connect themselves more closely with the said colonies?"
"That the Indians possess the natural rights of man, and that they ought not wantonly to be divested thereof, cannot be well denied."
"Were these rights ascertained and declared by law
were it enacted that the Indians possess the right to all their territory which they have not fairly conveyed, and that they shoud not be divested thereof, but in consequence of open treaties, made under the authority of the United States, the foundation of peace and justice would be laid."
document number
1790010400000
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [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] |