To the Chiefs and Warriors of the Chickasaw Nation of Indians. BROTHERS,-Your father, general Washington, the Presi dent of the United States, has understood through governour Blount, that you are greatly in want of arms, and ammunition, and corn; and therefore he has taken the earliest opportunity of proving to you his friendship and the desire of being serviceable to you. It is his earnest desire to be at peace with all the Indian tribes, and he recommends the same measure to you. Nothing but the most dreadful necessity will justify a state of Such necessity however sometimes exists; but peace is always to be sought for with the greatest eagerness upon the first opportunity. war. war. The United States has endeavoured to persuade the hostile Indians to a peace, from motives of kindness to them, and not from any apprehensions as to the final issue of the On these grounds a treaty with the Indians north of the Ohio is to be held at Sandusky in a short time. If they' listen to the dictates of justice, they will make peace; if not, they will be made to repent their persisting in hostilities. Although the United States are slow to anger, yet when once roused their wrath will be destructive to their enemies. Your father general Washington will continue to love and cherish you; and if requisite, he will supply you further with articles necessary to your station; and for which you will apply to the general commanding the army at fort Washington. Given at the war office of the United States, in the city of Philadelphia, this 27th day of April, 1793. H. KNOX, Secretary of War. Department of State, to wit: THE preceding letters and documents are true copies from those remaining in the office of this department. TH: JEFFERSON. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS, States for the purpose of obtaining a recognition of our treaty with Morocco, and for the ransom of our citizens, and establishment of peace with Algiers. While it is proper our citizens should know that subjects which so much concern their interests and their feelings have duly engaged the attention of their legislature and Executive, it would still be improper that some particulars of this communication should be made known. The confidential conversation stated in one of the last letters sent herewith is one of these.-Both justice and policy require that the source of that information should remain secret. So a knowledge of the sums meant to have been given for peace and ransom might have a disadvantageous influence on future proceedings for the same objects. GEORGE WASHINGTON. THE Secretary of State, having duly examined into the papers and documents of his office relative to the negotiations proposed to be undertaken with the governments of Morocco and Algiers, makes thereupon to the President of the United States, the following report: The reports which he made on the 28th of December, 1790,* on the trade of the United States in the Mediterranean, to the House of Representatives, and on the situation of their citizens in captivity at Algiers to the President, having detailed the transactions of the United States with the governments of Morocco and Algiers, from the close of the late war to that date, he begs leave to refer to them for the state of things existing at that time. On the 3d of March, 1791, the legislature passed an act appropriating the sum of 20,000 dollars to the purpose of effecting a recognition of the treaty of the United States with the new emperor of Morocco; in consequence whereof Thomas Barclay, formerly consul general for the United States in France, was appointed to proceed to Morocco, in the character of consul for the United States, to obtain a recognition of the treaty; and on the 13th of May, in the same. year, the following letter was written to him: To Thomas Barclay, Esq. Philadelphia, May 13, 1791. SIR,-You are appointed by the President of the United States to go to the court of Morocco, for the purpose of obtaining from the new emperor a recognition of our treaty See page 56 of this volume. with his father. As it is thought best that you should go in some definite character, that of consul has been adopted; and you consequently receive a commission as consul for the United States in the dominions of the emperor of Morocco, which having been issued during the recess of the Senate, will of course expire at the end of their next session. It has been thought best, however, not to insert this limitation in the commission, as being unnecessary, and it might perhaps embarrass. Before the end of the next session of the Senate it is expected the objects of your mission will be accomplished. Lisbon being the most convenient port of correspondence between us and Morocco, sufficient authority will be given to colonel Humphreys, resident for the United States at that place, over funds in Amsterdam, for the objects of your mission. On him, therefore, you will draw for the sums herein allowed, or such parts of them as shall be necessary. To that port, too, you had better proceed in the first vessel which shall be going there, as it is expected you will get å ready passage from thence to Morocco. On your arrival in Morocco, sound your ground, and know how things stand at present. Your former voyage there having put you in possession of the characters through whom this may be done, who may best be used for approaching the emperor and effecting your purpose, you are left to use your own knowledge to the best advantage. The object being merely to obtain an acknowledgment of the treaty, we rely that you will be able to do this, giving very moderate presents. As the amount of these will be drawn into precedent on future similar repetitions of them, it becomes important. Our distance, our seclusion from the ancient world, its politicks and usages, our agricultural oc cupations and habits, our poverty, and lastly our determination to prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form and to any people whatever, will furnish you with topicks for opposing and refusing high or dishonouring pretensions; to which may be added the advantages their people will derive from our commerce, and their sovereign from the duties laid on whatever we extract from that country. Keep us regularly informed of your proceedings and progress, by writing by every possible occasion, detailing to us particularly your conferences either private or publick, and the persons with whom they are held. We think that Francisco Chiappe has merited well of the United States by his care of their peace and interests. He has sent an account of disbursements for us amounting to 394 dollars. Do not recognise the account, because we are unwilling, by closing that, to give him a colour for presenting larger ones hereafter, for expenses which it is impossible for us to scrutinize or control. Let him understand that our laws oppose the application of publick money so informally; but in your presents, treat him handsomely, so as not only to cover this demand, but go beyond it with a liberality which may fix him deeply in our interests. The place he holds near the emperor renders his friendship peculiarly important. Let us have nothing further to do with his brothers, or any other person. The money which would make one good friend, divided among several will produce no attachment. The emperor has intimated that he expects an ambassador from us. Let him understand that this may be a custom of the old world, but it is not ours: That we never sent an ambassador to any nation. You are to be allowed from the day of your departure till your return $1663 a month, for your time and expenses, adding thereto your passage money and sea stores going and coming. Remain in your post until the 1st of April next, and as much longer as shall be necessary to accomplish the objects of your mission, unless you should receive instructions from hence to the contrary. With your commission you will receive a letter to the emperor of Morocco, a cypher and a letter to colonel Humphreys. I have the honour to be with great esteem, &c. TH: JEFFERSON. A private instruction which Mr. Barclay is to carry in his memory, and not on paper, lest it should come into improper hands. We rely that you will obtain the friendship of the new emperor, and his assurances that the treaty shall be faithfully observed, with as little expense as possible. But the sum of ten thousand dollars is fixed as the limit which all your donations together are not to exceed. May 13, 1791. TH: JEFFERSON. A letter was at the same time written to Francisco Chiappe, a person employed confidentially near the emperor, who had been named consul there for the United States by Mr. Barclay, on his former mission, and appeared to have acted with zeal for our interest. It was in these words: To Francisco Chiappe. Philadelphia, May 13, 1791. SIR,-Since my entrance into the office of Secretary of State, I have been honoured with several of your letters, and should sooner have acknowledged the receipt of them, but that I have from time to time expected the present occasion would occur sooner than it has done. I am authorized to express to you the satisfaction of the President at the zeal and attention you have shown to our interests, and to hope a continuance of them. Mr. Barclay is sent in the character of consul of the United States to presènt our respects to his imperial majesty, for whom he has a leiter from the President. We have no doubt he will receive your aid, as usual, to impress the mind of the emperor with a sense of our high respect and friendship for his person and character, and to dispose him to a cordial continuance of that good understanding so happily establish ed with his father. Our manner of thinking on all these subjects is so perfectly known to Mr. Barclay, that nothing better can be done than to refer you to him for information on every subject which you might wish to inquire into. I am with great esteem, &c. TH: JEFFERSON. To this was added a letter to colonel Humphreys, our resident at Lisbon, through whom it was thought proper to require that the draughts of money should pass. It was in the following words: To Colonel David Humphreys. Philadelphia, May 13, 1791. DEAR SIR, Mr. Thomas Barclay is appointed by the President of the United States to go to Morocco, in the character of consul, for the purpose of obtaining from the new emperor a recognition of our treaty with his father. Ten thousand dollars are appropriated for presents, in such form and to such persons as Mr. Barclay in his discretion shall think best; and he is to receive for himself at the rate of two thousand dollars a year, and his sea expenses. It is thought best that the money for these purposes should be placed under your control, and that Mr. Barclay should draw on you for it. Thirty-two thousand one hundred and seventy-five guilders current are accordingly lodged in the hands of our bankers in Amsterdam, and they are instructed to answer your draughts to that amount; you notifying them that they are to be paid out of the fund of March 3, 1791, |