Response to Cherokee John Watts' Concerns Over Boundaries, Etc.

War Department Papers

All Mispellings are in the Original Document

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Description    McHenry speaks on behalf of the president, who says he is pleased by the Indians' inclinations toward peace. Notes he is sending Silas Dinsmoor, an Indian agent, to live among them. Says that the prosecution of white killers of Indians will be undertaken, though the Indians should take care to avoid such occurrences of violence. States that if Indians steal from whites, the value of the stolen items will be deducted from their annuities[yearly gifts]; likewise, if whites steal from the Indians, the value of the goods will be added onto the annuities, that no violence will occur between the races. Announces that Benjamin Hawkins & Gen. Andrew Pickens have been appointed to run the boundary, and will commence doing so on April 1.

‍transcription from Originals

‍Bull Run or Raven's Creek to the Big Buffaloe lick,thence to a mountain, from which one can see a Gap, through which the line is continued along the Kentucky Trace to the ford of Cumberland River, thence down the middle of said River, leaving the River within fourteen miles of General Robertson's house, thence again into the River.  With respect to running the line, he wishes with his Nation to have it run, and that no person should be appointed by the United States who is a Speculator, or who may be supposed to have any Interest which might prejudice them in favour of the Whites or against the Cherokees.  That he has three Cherokees in his Eye who will attend; that besides the three which the United States are to appoint he would be glad that three Whites who he will name, might also be present. That the Names of the Cherokees who will attend on the part of the Nation are Wiley Elder, Ohadlokee or the Bark and Colonel Watts himself.

That the best time to run the line would be just as the Trees begin to put out their Buds. If the leaves are fully out, they cannot see so well to run the line.  That the Nation will be all together in two Moons and expect to hear when the running will commence, that their Deputies may attend.

Answer,
To Col. John Watts, and the other Chiefs and Warriors of the Cherokee Nation.  Your father the president has heard the Talks of Col. John Watts, delivered to his Secretary of War, and is much pleased with it. The greatest security for preserving preserving peace between Nations is their performing their promises to each other; and when any thing happens that might lead to War, to let their wise men meet together to settle it by a friendly conference with each other.  That the peace which exists between the United States and Cherokees may never be disturbed, your father is determined to perform all the promises he has made the Nation, and kindly has sent one of his beloved men, Mr. Dinsmoor, to live in it; to be always at hand to hear your complaints; to settle differences where he can, and to refer those he cannot settle, and which the laws do not reach, to your father for his opinion and advice. By this means he hopes, that peace, good understanding and friendship may be always preserved.  It has never failed to grieve your father when he has heard of any white man who has killed a red man, or when red men have killed white.

Congress as Col. Watts has said, have made wise laws to punish murderers, and your father will endeavor to have them faithfully executed. But the Cherokees will remember, how oft men are to do bad things when they are in a passion, and see their property in the possession of the thief. It is recommended therefore to the Chiefs and Warriors of the Nation to exert themselves and keep their bad men from such practices as a sure means of preventing murders.  It is true, if a red man steals from a white man in his Nation, the value of the thing stolen is to be deducted out of the Nation's annuity, in case the white man does not attempt private satisfaction or revenge by crossing over the line on any of the Indian land; on the other hand, if a white man, a citizen of the United States, goes over the indian line and steals horses or other property from the red people, the value of what has thus been stolen, will be paid them by by the United States; provided neither the Sufferer nor Nation shall seek private revenge or attempt to obtain satisfaction by force or violence. But the Chiefs and Warriors will perceive that it is much better such practices should not be encouraged as it is always very troublesome and difficult to settle such accounts, besides the length of time that it requires to obtain the necessary proofs.

Your father has appointed Benjamin Hawkins, General Andrew Pickens and will add a third person to run the boundary line agreeably to Treaty. They have promised to commence the first of April. He will write to them to send a Runner into the Nation to inform them where they will begin,that they may be joined by those mentioned in Col. Watts's Talks as persons to attend on the part of the Nation. He hopes if any doubts or difficulties arise that they will be removed by moderation and temper on both sides.

Given at the War Office of the United States in the City of Philadelphia, this Twenty seventh day of December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety Six,and in the Twenty First year of the Independence of the said States.---- signed,
James McHenry
Sec. of War

Blue Jacketa War Chief of the Shawnee Nation to his great Father of the Fifteen Fires.---

Father, Open your ears and listen to what I shall say.  Father, I speak to you in the language of truth, and request your particular attention.- I need not tell you, how long I was attached to my late British Father over the Waters of the Ocean, nor how often I fought his battles on the Borders of our great Lake for my name has been well known to your Nation.

Father, My eyes are now opened and my heart has felt glad since I have been in friendship with my American Brethren.

Father, I have been long deceived by the falsehoods of McKee and other British agents who have ever urged myself and my red Brethren to keep up the War against the fifteen fires- they have often told me not to trust to the Americans, that they only wished to get our lands and then drive us to the immense Waters of the West- that if I would cross the lake with them and go to Quebec I should be one of the first men of their Nation-but I refused their intreaties.  

Father, Long have I been blinded to my own interest and that of my Nation but thank the great Spirit who sent that Bird whose spreading wings embraced our nation and diffused peace throughout our Country.  

Father, When I fought for the British I fought with bravery and sincerity but since I have found them carrying on a deception among us for many years past, I have been determined to break asunder the chain by which we were held and dissolve the ties of friendship by which we were bound- I have seen my error on holding them so long fast by the hand and since have found a great difference between their friendship and that of my American brethren.

Father, Many years past I received from Sir John Johnston, British Superintendant of Indian affairs a testimonial of my fidelity and attachment to the British King this flattered me because I was sincere in their cause but being so long in the clouds of Darkness and guided by a deception which has ever attended their Councils, I have thrown them off and hope to be placed under the left arm of the United States there to be held as a sincere friend and Brother.

Father, This testimonial which I beg you to read- I shall cast away and would be glad to receive from the United States a testimonial of my attachment to them- this I hope you will give me.

Father, It shall be my study as it is my wish to instil into the minds of my young men and warriors the necessity of acting faithfully towards the United States and preserving inviolate the treaty of peace lately concluded between your great Warrior and my red Brethren.

Father, I take you by the hand and hope you will believe what I have said to be truth.

Father, I have accompanied one of the great Chiefs of our Nation to this City to see you he is now here and a good friend to the Americans.

Done at Phila.
November 1796.

My Children

I have heard and considered what you have said to me through the Secretary of War and I am pleased to see you at the seat of government and to receive you as friends.

You have asked my advice and I will give it to you freely upon such matters as appear to me to be essential to your welfare. In the treaty which you have entered into with my great Warrior General Wayne and which has been ratified by the Senate of the United States you have made certain grants and promised certain things that I make no doubt you will comply with. On the other hand the United States have promised in the same treaty certain things to you which they mean to perform.

The United States who love Justice have agreed to pay to you and your Children forever a yearly sum of money in goods for a certain parcel of your land. By the same treaty, the Indian Nations, mentioned therein have bound themselves not to sell any of their land, except to the United States. This is a wise part of the treaty inasmuch as it prevents your people from being cheated out of large tracts of Country by designing men who would not pay them what the land was worth whilst what they might receive for it could be of no use to their posterity. This is not the case when the United States buy your land. They are careful that the Children of those who sell it shall reap as much advantage from the sale as their fathers did. Thus the treaty secures to each Indian nation their land against purchases of Individuals, whilst the laws of the United States have in addition to that treaty, provided a punishment for persons who shall attempt to buy it contrary thereto.

Let your Nations therefore pay a due respect and attention to this part of the treaty; and they will have nothing to apprehend for their land.--- It may be proper to say something to you relative to the distribution of the goods agreed to be paid to you annually for the land ceded by this treaty. It is right that the quota, apportioned to each nation, should be delivered to such persons only as the nation may appoint to receive it. To prevent frauds herefore, and insure a fair distribution among yourselves, it is recommended, that each nation should fix every year upon the persons whom it wishes should receive its quota; and that they should instruct their Interpreters to inform the Agent who is to deliver the goods of the names of the persons so chosen___

I shall now give you some advice respecting the conduct of your people, the observance of which I consider of importance to their tranquillity and peace. There are among the Indians as among the Whites, individuals who will steal their neighbor's property when they found the opportunity in preference to acquiring property to themselves by honest means. Bad White men, for example, will go into the Indian Country and steal horses and bad Indians, in like manner, will go into the settlement of the Whites and steal their horses. If the Indian nations wish to deserve the friendship of the United States and to prevent the white settlers on the frontiers from retaliation on their property, the Chiefs and Warriors of the respective nations must use their endeavors to punish such offenders and restore to the Whites or to some Officer of the United States, the property they may have stolen.  As for the government, it will use its utmost endeavors, to restore to every Indian any property of his which may have by their respective Interpreters.

Should you have any thing particular to say before you leave the seat of government, you will address it to the Secretary of War, who is instructed by me upon all matters relating to the Indian Nations and who will furnish such of you as have acquired the title of Chiefs or Warriors with a testimonial of the same import as that delivered up by Blue Jacket, as a proof of my esteem and friendship.  (COMMENTARY: Chief Colonel John Watts and other Chiefs are told they have the right and authority to speak with the Secretary of War. Today, that position has transitioned over to the Secretary of Interior since the War Department oversaw Indian Affairs and today the Secretary of Interior oversees Indian Affairs.)

I now sincerely wish you a good journey and that you may find your Brothers and families well on your return and that the Great Spirit above may long preserve your nations in peace with each other and with the United States.

Given at Philadelphia this twenty ninth day of November 1796 and in the twenty first year of the Independence of the United States of America______

signed Geo.Washington