The negotiation of a treaty with the Northwest Indians, who had been the most powerful allies of Great Britain during the war, was entrusted to Major General William Henry Harrison, Brigadier General Duncan McArthur and John Graham, Esquire. The instructions, which were issued to these commissioners on June 9, 1815, contained a clear and comprehensive statement of the interpretation placed by the United States upon the terms of Article IX:92 "The objects of the proposed treaty are, to remind the tribes of their existing relations with the United States; to explain to them the nature of the reciprocal stipulations in the treaty of peace and amity lately concluded between the United States and Great Britain, so far as they concern the Indians; to inform them of the measures that have been taken to carry the treaty of peace into effect, by a mutual surrender of the military posts which the American and the British forces had taken from each other during the war; to warn them against any improper practices that might involve them in hostilities with the United States; to promise a punctual performance of all our engagements with them; and to insist upon the observance of good faith on their part. * * * "The President entertains a strong hope that the Government of Great Britain will evince the sincerity with which it ratified the treaty of Ghent by restraining all its subjects from lawless attempts to alienate the Indians from the nation whose territory they inhabit. The Indians should be warned against any misrepresentation of the late treaty with Great Britain, which there is some reason to think has already been misrepresented. The stipulations respecting the Indians are reciprocal, and amount, in fact, to nothing more than would have been the case if the treaty had not contained them; they merely provide that the parties, as a consequence of the peace between themselves, shall severally offer peace to the Indians with whom they were actually at war when the treaty was ratified—each party agreeing with the other to place the Indians inhabiting their respective territories upon the footing upon which they stood before the War. In doing this, the United States have acted voluntarily; and it must not be credited for a moment that Great Britain has had any peculiar agency in obtaining a benefit for the Indian tribes, whether they were at war or at peace with us. The object of these explanations will be to counteract any suppositions * * * that the treaty of peace has placed Great Britain in a new and more advantageous relation to the Northwest Indians; to supersede the idea that the Indians have acquired by the treaty a more independent political character than they possessed before; and to beget a just confidence in the power as well as the resolution of our Government to maintain its rights against every opposition. * * the result of your negotiations, if it is such as may be reasonably expected, you will put into the form of a treaty, recognising the existing state of peace, exchanging assurances of mutual friendship, and confirming all antecedent treaties and engagements, except so far as they respect a co-operation in the late war against Great Britain." In August, 1815, the tribes of Northwest Indians were assembled by Major General Harrison and his colleagues.93 Some difficulty was experienced in gathering together all the tribes for this conference by reason of the fact that the Shawnee Prophet and certain of his followers remained at the neighboring British post and did not at first attend. Harrison was informed that these Indians were detained by the British officers at Fort Malden, and certain correspondence passed between him and those officers.4 The British officers took the position that the Indians were free and independent, and stated that the Indians, who were with them, considered that it was a matter of greater importance to them to attend a council, which the British were to hold on August 26th for the purpose of explaining the articles of the Treaty of Ghent.95 By reason of this and other delays the conference was protracted and the treaty was not negotiated until September 8, 1815. On August 22nd General Harrison addressed the chiefs and warriors, who had attended, and said, "That he wished to offer peace to all the tribes within the limits of the United States and all the members of those tribes, who had joined the British in the late War, and wished them all to come and hear the words of the President, sent through the commissioners to them."'96 On August 25th, Tar-hee (The Crane), a principal chief of the Wyandots, in a speech to the commissioners, stated that he had sent his nephew to summon the absent Indians to the conference; 93 Appendix, Vol. II, p. 703. 94 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 696–700. 95 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 696-698. that his messenger found these Indians in council with the British agents and delivered the message of the Wyandots calling them to the conference; that "He was answered by one of the British agents, saying that they had received a message from the other side of the Great Waters, commanding them to hold a council at the same time that the American council should be held; that the young men who were in the habit of passing from one side to the other might attend (if they chose) the American council, but they could not spare the chiefs until their council should be over; them they wanted near their council-fire, as they were convinced that their council would involve more of the interest, and be more to the advantage of the Indians, than the American council. The agent further observed that they might attend the American council after they had attended theirs."97 Upon hearing this speech, General Harrison remarked that he clearly perceived that these were the answers of the British agents and not of the Indians themselves; that he could not understand why the British agents should prevent the Indians from coming to the treaty, as it was called for the purpose of fulfilling the terms of a treaty with Great Britain.98 It is thus apparent that the British officers and Indian agents were indisposed to lose their control over such of the Northwest Indians as had assisted Great Britain in the war, and were using every means to counteract the effect, which would necessarily follow the conclusion of peace between them and the United States, resulting eventually in their loss to the British as allies. The council was adjourned by General Harrison from day to day awaiting the full attendance of the tribes.99 On August 29th, he stated that, if these absent Indians did not come, the commissioners, "would make the treaty with those who were present and forever exclude from its circle those who neglected or refused to come and renew the chain which had united them with the American nation."'100 On August 31st, representatives of all the nations attended, including the Shawnee Prophet and his followers: 101 General Harrison, after going through the ceremonies, to which the Indians 97 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 704-705. 98 Appendix, Vol. II, p. 705. 99Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 703-706. 100 Appendix, Vol. II, p. 706. were accustomed, offered peace to them and explained the terms of the Treaty of Ghent.102 These explanations were continued by General Harrison on the following day. After recounting the various events of the war he said: "Such was the posture of affairs when the British and Americans had agreed to make peace; they asked each other, what shall we do for the red people? They have assisted us in the war, let us extend peace to them also; let the King of Great Britain extend his hand to those who have fought against him, and let the President of the United States extend his hand to those who have fought against the United States. Let us all have peace. They therefore agreed that there should be peace, and forgiveness for and oblivion to past hostilities; and that the Indians should be placed on the same footing and in the same situation that they were immediately previous to the war, provided the Indians themselves should agree to these conditions and be willing to hold them by the hand. "The United States more readily agreed to this arrangement, because they were at that time only at war with parts of tribes. The Wyandots, for instance, were many of them hostile, while their great chief was ever the most faithful of their friends. They could not strike an enemy without wounding a friend; they therefore resolved to wipe the tears from the eyes of all, and, in pity to all, to make peace. 66* * * The United States had nothing to ask of them; peace was a boon which they gave without asking an equivalent; all that was required was for them to accept or reject it; if the latter, that part of the treaty of Ghent which regarded it was at an end. "It was ever the custom of the United States to do every thing in the face of day. For this purpose they held their council at this public place, and in this public manner; all might here come, even the British officers. 103 In addressing himself to the hostile Indians, who had lately come from the British forts, General Harrison said, "Chiefs and warriors, if what we have told you has not been told you by the British agents, you have been deceived; I solemnly declare to you that it has been the instructions of their Government; and they were not to aid or assist you in any hostile views which you might have meditated against the United States."'104 102 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 706-711. 103 Appendix, Vol. II, p. 714. On September 2nd and 4th further conferences were held, and on the latter day speeches were made by the Shawnee and Pottawatamie chiefs, in which they rejoiced at the peace and agreed to bury the tomahawk forever.105 On September 5th the council was continued, and it was then declared that the Shawnee Prophet and his followers had departed. In referring to their departure General Harrison said that notice might be given to them and he would postpone the council until three o'clock, if they wished to return; but that, if they did not return, they should be forever excluded from the treaty. He declared, “The commissioners do not wish to be understood as prohibiting them from coming over. Any individual may return and join his tribe if he does so peaceably. The Shawanees, for instance, may come and join their tribe; but as a nation (if they refuse to sign the treaty) they will not be permitted to kindle a fire separate from the fire or independent of the chiefs of the nation."'106 Speeches were then made by several Indians to the effect that the Shawnee Prophet and his followers had left by reason of a message sent them by the British officers, which requested them to come to a council which they were about to hold.107 The Shawnee Prophet and his followers, however, do not appear to have returned during either September 6th or 7th, when the terms of the treaty to be made were explained to the chiefs and warriors of the assembled tribes. The treaty was concluded on September 8th with the sachems, head-men and warriors of the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Seneca, Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatamie and Miami tribes.108 The recital of the treaty is as follows: "Whereas the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatimie, tribes of Indians, together with certain bands of the Wynadot, Delaware, Seneca, Shawanoe, and Miami tribes, were associated with Great Britain in the late war between the United States and that power, and have manifested a disposition to be restored to the relations of peace and amity with the said States; and the President of the United States having appointed Commissioners to treat with the said tribes; the said Commissioners and the Sachems, Headmen, and Warriors, of said tribes having met in council, etc." * ** 105 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 715–720. 106 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 720-723. 107 Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 722-723. |