1. This document is a draft of a secret article which George Washington submitted to the Senate on August 4, 1790, during negotiations in New York City for a treaty of peace and friendship between the United States and the Creek Indians. See “Conversation with George Beckwith,” August 7–12, 1790, note 5 (PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). description ends , VI, 546–49). In his message to the Senate accompanying this article Washington stated: “In preparing the articles of this treaty, the present arrangements of the trade with the Creeks have caused much embarrassment. It seems to be well ascertained, that the said trade is almost exclusively in the hands of a company of British merchants, who, by agreement, make their importations of goods from England, into the Spanish ports.

“As the trade of the Indians is a main mean of their political management, it is therefore obvious, that the United States cannot possess any security for the performance of treaties with the Creeks, while their trade is liable to be interrupted or withheld, at the caprice of two foreign Powers.

“Hence it becomes an object of real importance, to form new channels for the commerce of the Creeks through the United States. But this operation will require time, as the present arrangements cannot be suddenly broken, without the greatest violation of faith and morals.

“It therefore appears to be important, to form a secret article of a treaty, similar to the one which accompanies this message.” (ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Indian Affairs, I, 80; Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and all the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1852). description ends , I, 1063.) On the same day the Senate “Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to the execution of the secret article referred to in the message, and that the blank in said article be filled with the words ‘President of the United States’” (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and all the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1852). description ends , I, 1064). On August 7, 1790, Washington submitted the treaty to Congress, and on August 12 the Senate ratified the treaty (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and all the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1852). description ends , I, 1068, 1074).

2. H originally wrote the word “admissable.” The word “proper” is not in H’s handwriting.

3. H wrote and then crossed out “Alexander McGillivray.” McGillivray was chief of the Creek Indians. On July 20, 1790, he and twenty-nine other leaders of the Creek nation arrived in New York City to negotiate the treaty with the United States Government. In the final form of the secret article, the blank was filled with the words “President of the United States.” See note 1.

4. H wrote and crossed out at this point: “unless the United States shall make substantial and effectual arrangement for carrying on the said trade and furnishing the said Creek Nation with the usual supplies by or through their own Agents or Citizens.”