Treaty with the Creeks

Item

Type

Copy of Signed Document

Title

Treaty with the Creeks

Description

Georgia Governor Jared Irwin's report on the depredations on the Georgia frontier by hostile Indians. The Governor urges that innocent settlers be protected by the federal government from the attacks. If not protected, they might be compelled to leave their homes, even though they should be planting crops. He recommends that a treaty be made with the Creek Indians so that some of the lands between the Oconee and the Oakmulgie can be obtained.

year created

1796

month created

03

day created

14

author

sent from location

State House, Louisville

recipient

sent to location

Philadelphia

in image

note

Pages 3 and 5 display the bottoms of pages 2 and 4, with some overlap.

notable person/group

James McHenry
Jared Irwin
Governor Matthews
President of the United States
George Washington
the legislature
settlers
Indians
subaltern officer
troops of horse
Creek Indians

notable location

Philadelphia
State House, Louisville
County of Montgomery
frontier
Oconee
Oakmulgie
Georgia

notable item/thing

depradations on our frontier by Indians
evils
General Government
the force of the enemy
trial at the next Superior Court
treaty with the Creek Indians
resolution
calamity

document number

1796031440001

page start

1

number of pages

5

transcription

State House Louisville
Monday 14th March 1796
The following Communication was made
to the Secretary of War.
State House Louisville 14th March 1796
Sir
I do myself the Honor to transmit
you herewith enclosed certain Resolutions
of the Legislature of this State, dated the 3d
and 15th of February last five depositions relative
to the depredations committed on our frontier
by Indians, and also a certified copy of an
Act repealing a certain Act therein mentioned
and declaring the same null and void, all of
which you will be pleased to lay before the
President of the United States.
In addition to the Representations
made by the Legislature with respect
to the distressed situation of our frontier, I
must remark, that is is now become indispensably
necessary that the Inocent settlers should be protected
if possible from the ravaging hand of the Savage
if they are not, and they should be compelled
to leave their homes when they ought to be planting
their crops, there is no calculatinf where it will
end, or the scenes of distress that this Country
may probably be involved in: to prevent such ends
and at the same time to make the expences as little
furthersome to the General Government as possible
I have determined to pursue for the present, the
Arrangement established by my predecessor
Governor Mathews, which was to Garrison
each Block House erected on the frontier with
a Subaltern Officer and fifteen privates and
to continue on duty two Troops of Horse,
this mey serve as a Temporary security to the
Settlers, but cannot be considered as adequate
protections, should the Savages persis in committing
depredations, which from circumstances there is too much [undecipherable]
conclude is their intention in such an unfortunate
event I shall be compelled to augment the the arrangement
in proportion to the force of the Enemy.
I am happy to have it in my power to
inform you that some of the principal authors of our
calamities are now in the hands of Justice_ Harris[?]
with some of his followers have been apprehended
and will stand their trial at the next Suprin
Court for the County of Montgomery should they
meet with their desorts, perhaps our unhappy Country
may have once more freed from the Horror of a savage War
[undecipherable] in any event I hope and trust the protection of
the Government will not be witheld from the
inocent and that I shall speedily receive the Sanction
of the President to the measures I have adopted.
I must beg leave also to remark
that it is the first wish of the peiple of this Country
that a Treaty should be held with the Creek
Indians in order that the Lands between the Oconee
and Oakmulgie may be obtained. On this Subject
the Legislature have expressed their sense in the
Resolution herewith enclosed which is consonant to my
own Opinion.
I am &C
Jared Irwin



Secy of War
Philadelphia


A deposition of Lieutnant Irwin
relative to depredations committed by the Indians on the 28th
December 1795 was read &
Ordered to ve filed

Item sets

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (5 pages) WAE10 (5 pages) Collection: State of Georgia, Executive Minutes, 1793-1798. D:50, B:42

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Jared Irwin State House, Louisville [n/a]
Recipient James McHenry Philadelphia [n/a]