From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 15 November 1804
To the Senate
To the Senate of the United States.
I now lay before you a treaty entered into on the 18th. day of August of the present year between the US. on the one part and the Delaware Indians on the other, for the extinguishment of their title to a tract of country between the Ohio and Wabash rivers: and another of the 27th. day of the same month between the US. and the Piankeshaws for a confirmation of the same by the latter, together with a letter from Governor Harrison on the same subject; which treaties are submitted for your advice and consent.
Th: Jefferson
Nov. 15. 1804
RC (DNA: RG 46, EPIR, 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by Senate clerks. PoC (DLC). Notation in SJL: “Message. treaty with Delawares & Piankishs.” Enclosures: (1) Treaty between the United States and the Delaware tribe; signed at Vincennes on 18 Aug. by William Henry Harrison for the United States and Tetepachsit and others for the Delawares; the Delawares, “finding that the annuity which they receive from the United States is not sufficient to supply them with the articles which are necessary for their comfort,” cede land between the Ohio and Wabash Rivers below the land cession confirmed by the Treaty of Fort Wayne; in exchange, the Delawares are to receive $800 in goods, $400 in livestock and implements of husbandry, an annuity of $300 for 10 years “to the purpose of ameliorating their condition, and promoting their civilization,” and an annuity of $300 for five years intended for the instruction of the “domestic arts”; the Delawares are to return horses believed to have been stolen from American citizens; the Delawares are recognized as rightful owners of the land bounded by the Ohio River, the mouth of the Kentucky River, the White River, and the land ceded in this treaty; slight boundary adjustments are made to ensure that the road between Vincennes and “Clark’s grant” lies fully within the ceded tract (printed copy in DNA: RG 46, EPIR, 8th Cong., 2d sess.). (2) Treaty concluded at Vincennes on 27 Aug. between the United States and the Piankashaw tribe; the Piankashaws relinquish all claims to land ceded to the United States by the Delawares and the Kaskaskias; in exchange, they are to receive $700 in goods and an annuity of $200 for 10 years; the United States may divide the annuity among families, allowing a due proportion for chiefs (printed copy in same). (3) Harrison to Dearborn, 29 Aug., from Vincennes, enclosing treaties with the Delawares and Piankashaws and “a schedule of drafts in Consequence thereof” (not found, but see DNA: RG 107, RLRMS). Message and first two enclosures printed in , Indian Affairs, 1:689-90; treaties printed also in , 7:81-4.
lay before you: the treaties were read this day in the Senate and ordered to “lie for consideration” and to be “printed in confidence for the use of the members.” Second readings occurred on 22 Nov., and five days later, the Senate voted unanimously to ratify the treaties (, 1:473, 474-5).
The printed copies representing what TJ here submitted to the Senate included only the signature of “Teta Buxica,” or Tetepachsit, for the Delawares and none for the Piankashaws. Transcripts in House records provide more detail. The treaty with the Delawares also included signatures for Buckongahelas; Alimee, or George White Eyes; Hocking Pompskaan, or Hockingpomsga; and Tomaquee, or Beaver. The Piankashaw treaty was signed by Wabochquinkala, also known as Gros Blé, or Big Corn; Swekania, also known as Trois Fesses, or Three Thighs; Makatewelama, also known as Chien Noir, or Black Dog; Alemoin, also known as Le Chien, or the Dog; and Kekelangquagot, also known as Lightning (DNA: RG 233, PM; John P. Bowes, Land Too Good for Indians: Northern Indian Removal [Norman, Okla., 2016], 94-5; see TJ to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 30 Nov.).