To George Washington from James McHenry, 11–12 August 1796
From James McHenry
War office 11[–12] Augt 1796.
Sir.
I received the inclosed letter from Mr Hendricks on the 9th and that from Mr Clymer the 6th inst.1
One of these gentlemen you will perceive thinks another negotiation indispensible to prevent war; the other, that an augmentation of the regular force is absolutely necessary to the preservation of peace. Both, of course, meet in the opinion, that there is serious ground to apprehend hostility on the frontiers of Georgia unless measures are adopted to prevent it.
Such being the aspect of things in that quarter, I would submit for consideration; whether it might not be expedient, in aid of the military dispositions contemplated, to incorporate in the letter proposed to be written to the governor of Georgia, sentiments to the following import.2
“That the President has read the protest of the commissioners on the part of Georgia against the proceedings of the commissioners of the U.S.;3 that he laments, that regulations calculated to preserve confidence in the Indians, in the fairness of the intentions of government, should have worn a different aspect to these gentlemen; that from the sincerity which he used in communicating to the Indians the desire of the State of Georgia to make a purchase from them of certain described land, and the instructions which he gave to the commissioners of the U.S. to facilitate and obtain it, and from the view which he has taken of the transactions at the meeting, as connected with that object, he cannot ascribe the refusal of the Indians to sell to those regulations or the conduct of the commissioners, but to a predetermination of the Creek nation not to dispose of their land: That as a further proof of the Presidents intentions, and in order to remove every doubt on this subject he will, as soon as possible, have ascertained in the most unequivocal manner, whether a change of mind has taken place in the nation respecting the land and the terms upon which they will sell; that should the inquiry turn out favourably he will cheerfully consent to the opening of another negotiation.”
I would hope from such a communication 1st. That it would have a tendency to allay the agitation which the representations of the State commissioners may have excited and perhaps arrest violent proceedings. 2. That it would afford time to government (should it suspend dangerous projects only) to arrange the military force in such a manner as to render all attempts at settlement nugatory. & 3d. That it would shew, that the Executive is disposed to obtain the land in question for the State, and preserve peace to the frontiers. With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Sir your most obt & hble st
James McHenry
August 12th.
P.S. Since writing the foregoing I have received your two letters of the 8th inst.4 I shall pay particular attention to their contents.
I now inclose you the draught of the letter to the governor of Georgia modelled agreeably to the preceding suggestions. If it is approved of I should be glad to have it returned by the next post for immediate transmission.5 It is understood that the instructions to Lt Col. Gaither will accord with it.6
With respect to the inquiry it proposes. That can be made by the person who shall be appointed to explain certain things to the Creeks in their nation, which they required and which the Commissioners have consented should be given.7
I have this moment received the inclosed letters & from Gen. Wilkinson & Cap. De Butts,8 as also one from Governor Sevier. I shall as the post goes tomorrow acknowlege it, and express the satisfaction which I expect it will give to the President.9
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW; copy, MHi: Adams Papers; copy (letterpress), DLC: James McHenry Papers.
GW replied to McHenry from Mount Vernon on 16 Aug.: “As I propose to enter upon my journey to Philadelphia to morrow; this letter only serves to cover the Papers which I received from you by the last Post; and to inform you that the draught of the Letter to the Governor of Georgia meets my approbation, under the general lights I have of the subject; but before you part with it, I again desire that you would learn the Sentiments of Colo. Hawkins & Mr Clymer on that part of it which holds up the idea of again negociating with the Creeks for a Sale of Land to that State. I shall add no more” (ALS, PHi: Washington MSS).
1. The letters from George Clymer, one of three U.S. commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Colerain with the Creek Indians in spring 1796, dated 6 July, and James Hendricks, who served as chairman for the three Georgia commissioners at that treaty, dated 9 July, have not been identified.
James Hendricks (died c.1804), Revolutionary War officer and merchant in Alexandria, Va., moved to Georgia around 1789 and became a justice of the peace in Wilkes County.
2. See n.5 below.
3. For the protest from the Georgia commissioners, see McHenry to GW, 25 July, n.3.
5. This draft has not been identified, and the letter McHenry eventually sent Georgia governor Jared Irwin did not include the suggested sentiments (see McHenry’s second letter to GW on 3 Aug., and notes 2 and 5 to that document).
7. Creek Indian chiefs had requested further explanations regarding compensation for murders of their men and the boundary line negotiated in the U.S. treaty with Spain (see Timothy Pickering to GW, November 1795, and n.3 to that document, and U.S. commissioners to McHenry, 1 July 1796, in , Indian Affairs, 1:610–11).
8. The enclosed letters from Gen. James Wilkinson and Capt. Henry De Butts have not been identified, but Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser for 13 Aug. 1786 printed extracts. Wilkinson wrote McHenry from Greenville, Tenn., on 16 July “that in consequence of my orders and arrangements Lieut. Col. Hamtramck on the 11th inst. actually displayed the American stripes from Fort Miami, and embarked the same day, with about 400 men for Detroit, of which place I have no doubt he is now in possession.” De Butts wrote McHenry from Detroit on 14 July “that on the 11th inst. about noon, the flag of the United States was displayed on the ramparts of Detroit, a few minutes after the works were evacuated by Col. England and the British troops under his command, and with additional satisfaction I inform you that the exchange was effected with much propriety and harmony by both parties.”
9. Tennessee governor John Sevier had written McHenry from Knoxville on 20 July: “Yours of the 20th Ultimo I had the honor to receive. Am extremely sorry any uneasiness should be occasioned by any of the citizens of the South Western Territory, now the state of Tennessee.
“You are pleased to mention, you have been informed that numerous forced settlements are made on Indian lands, as confirmed to them by treaty, but have not informed me, where, or by whom the same have been made.
“It is not unknown to the executive that I have but recently come into the administration, and that Indian affairs at best are generally managed with much difficulty and trouble. …
“I have had an extensive acquaintance with several Indian tribes upwards of thirty years and I can with great propriety say that the more my knowledge is of those people, more difficult it is to find a person calculated with address to transact the business of a savage nation. …
“I do not mean to excuse the people of this country and say that none of them are not guilty of encroachments and often times doing injustice to their neighboring tribes, neither is it to be expected when we find that the laws of the original states at various times have been insufficient to restrain the unruly from various and innumerable disorders of this kind. And when we consider the many unprovoked and wanton barbarities so often and recently exercised by the savage on the frontier citizens, might we not wonder that the spirit of discord and irreconciliation does not in a much greater degree prevail.
“Permit me to assure you, that I am authorized to say that our Legislature together with myself, are sincerely disposed to regard and observe all the treaties that are, or may be, sanctioned and ratified by the Federal Government, so far as they are not pernicious, odious nor in[i]quitous. …
“Beg leave to observe that the Cherokee settlements are in our vacinity, and a great part of that nation is within our territorial limits, of course they frequently resort among our inhabitants and particularly at this place. And notwithstanding the agents resident among them, we are constantly engaged, and much time taken up in the transaction of Indian business. In order to prevent any misunderstanding, and a wish that we might mutually cultivate friendship and tranquility with those people, I shall have no objection to lending my assistance in any thing that may not be incompatible with the dignity and duties of my station” (T: Governor John Sevier Papers; see also McHenry’s first letter to GW, 27 June, and n.4 to that document).
McHenry replied to Sevier on 13 August. His letter began: “I had the satisfaction of receiving your letter of the 20th of July ulto by yesterdays Mail. As the president was at Mount Vernon I immediately transmitted it to him. Your readiness to co-operate with him in preserving peace to the frontier Inhabitants and in those measures which Congress have thought proper to adopt in the same view will I am persuaded give him sincere pleasure” (MH: Frederick M. Dearborn Collection).