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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.09985 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0090] July-August 1789 |
| Title | Indian treaties |
| Date | ca. July - August 1789 |
| Author | Washington, George (1732-1799) |
| Additional authors | Knox, Henry (1750-1806) |
| Document Type | Government document; Legal document |
| Content Description | Discusses treaties with the Indians, particularly the Creeks. Mentions a land dispute between the natives and settlers in Georgia, which has been a major roadblock to obtaining a treaty. Date previously inferred, written in pencil. |
| Subjects | Muscogee (Creeks) Indian President Government and Civics Military History Westward Expansion Immigration and Migration Frontiers and Exploration American Indian History Treaty Diplomacy Boundary or Property Dispute |
| People | Washington, George (1732-1799) Knox, Henry (1750-1806) |
| Theme | Creating a New Government; Native Americans |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Additional Information | Docketed by Knox on page 4 ("draft of a message not sent") and with the closing line of page 4 in his hand. The text on pages 1-4, addressed to "Gentlemen of the Senate," evidently constitutes an unsent message from President George Washington to the U.S. Senate, asking for their advice on a contentious boundary issue that was holding up the U.S. treaty with the Creeks. The reference on page 2 to "The Creeks now in this City" dates the document to sometime between 21 July 1790, when Creek chief Alexander McGillivray and his delegation arrived in New York City to negotiate the treaty, and 7 August 1790, when Washington submitted the finalized treaty to the Senate. It is unclear if Knox prepared this text for Washington, or if Washington prepared it and sent it to Knox for his input. The opening sentence, however, ("On the 22nd of August 1789 I stated to the Senate...") indicates that the message was intended to be addressed to the Senate by the president. Pages 5-8, in the same secretarial hand, are early versions of two of the six Secret Articles that were appended to the 7 August 1790 Treaty with the Creeks. They deal with commerce between the U.S. and Creek Nation (particularly in the event of war with Spain), and promise commissions, medals and $100 annual stipends to various chiefs (whose identities are further specified at the close of page 8). |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |