Message to the Indians

Item

Type

Extract of Letter

Title

Message to the Indians

Description

Message sent to Indian Nations represented at the Council at the Rapids of the Miami River. Request an answer. Message relates to disputes over the boundary line.

year created

1793

month created

08

day created

13

in collection

in image

author note

Commissioners

notable person/group

Indians
commissioners
chiefs

notable location

rapids of the Miami River
Miami River
Ohio River
frontier
boundary
boundary line

document number

1793081390201

page start

1

transcription

69 Tuesday August 13
Being thus prevented from proceeding to the Miami bay, the Commissioners concluded to send a message to the Indian Nations at the rapids, and a letter to Colo McKee. The message & letter here follows.
To the chief warriours of the Indian nations assembled at the foot of the rapids of the Miami river. Brothers, it is now fifteen days since we delivered our speach to your deputies at this place; in which we explicitly answered the written question presented by them from you, and gave our reasons why we could not make the Ohio the boundary between you and the United States. We also mentioned ^some of^ the kind, of the engagements we were willing to make in behalf of the United States. The particulars together with other stipulations for your benefit, we judged proper to reserve to be explained you in full council, when we should meet face to face. Brothers, the next morning your deputies spoke to us, said they would our [illegible] before you, [and?] desired us to wait for your answer, which we desired & expected might be speedily given.
Brothers, we have waited fourteen days, and no answer has yet arrived.
Brothers, it is time to bring the business to a conclusion, the summer has almost passed away, and we do not yet know even whether we are to have a treaty.
Brothers, you know that we came to treat with you of peace, we again tell you that we [expressly?] desire ^to make^ peace; and in the times of peace we [illegible] to do you ample justice. But if nothing is to be held, if peace is not to be obtained, we desire immediately to know it, so that we may go home.
Signed by the Commissioners

Item sets

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (1 pages) WFG14 (1 pages) Collection: Benjamin Lincoln Papers P: 69

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Federal Commissioners Treaty at Sandusky [unknown] [n/a]
Recipient Chiefs and Warriors Council of Indian Nations at Rapids of Miami River [unknown] [n/a]