Appendix to the Answer of the United States. PART IV. Official Action Pursuant to Article IX of the Treaty of Ghent. ACTION OF THE UNITED STATES. EXHIBIT 170. Instruction from the Secretary of War to Governor Clark, Governor Edwards, and Auguste Chouteau.1 GENTLEMEN: WAR DEPARTMENT, March 11, 1815. I had the honor to transmit to you on the 24th ultimo a copy of the treaty of peace which was concluded on the 24th of December last between the United States and Great Britain at Ghent, and ratified by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the 17th ultimo. By the ninth article of this treaty it is stipulated that the United States shall put an end to all hostilities with the Indian tribes with whom they might be at war at the time of the ratification, and to restore to such tribes all the rights and privileges to which they were entitled previous to the war: provided that such tribes or nations should agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America, their citizens and subjects, upon the ratification of such treaty being notified to such tribes or nations, and should so desist accordingly. By the same article it is also stipulated that His Britanic Majesty should likewise put an end, in like manner and on the same conditions, to hostilities with the tribes or nations of Indians with whom he might be at war at the time of the ratification of said treaty. It is incumbent on the United States to execute every article of this treaty with perfect good faith, and it is their firm resolution to do it. They wish to be particularly exact in the execution of the article above recited relating to the Indian tribes. For this purpose the President has, in consequence, appointed you commissioners with full power to conclude a treaty with all those tribes, for which I enclose you a commission. You will give immediate notice to all the tribes with whom the United States are at war on the Mississippi and its waters of the peace which has been concluded between the United States and Great Britain, and of the stipulations contained in it in regard to them; and you will likewise invite them to attend by a deputation 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. II, p. 6. of chiefs, at such place or places as you may appoint, for the purpose of concluding the proposed treaty of peace and amity between the United States and all those tribes. It is thought proper to confine this treaty to the sole object of peace. Other arrangements between the United States and the Indian tribes adapted to their mutual interests may be entered into hereafter. You will avail yourself of the opportunity to inform the Indian tribes that it is intended to establish strong posts very high up the Mississippi, and from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan, and to open trading-houses at those posts, or other suitable places for their accommodation. I have the honor to be, &c. J. MONROE. Gov. Clark, Gov. Edwards, and Auguste Chouteau, Esq. EXHIBIT 171. The Secretary of War to Governor Clark.1 * * * Department of War, March 11, 1815. SIR: The commission for the commissioners to treat with the Indians with whom we were at war at the time the treaty with Great Britain was ratified, and instructions, are committed to Colonel McNair, who will likewise have the pleasure to deliver you this letter. Should any opportunity occur to enable the commissioners to avail themselves of his services with advantage in the proposed treaty with the Indians, it is desired you should do it; or should you find, hereafter, that he may be employed either with the Indians or in any other way in the Missouri Territory, or high up the Mississippi, I wish you to communicate it to the Government, and it will be considered. I have the honor to be, &c. His Excellency William Clark. J. MONROE. 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol, II, p. 6. EXHIBIT 172. The Secretary of War to Governor Clark.1 Department of War, March 25, 1815. SIR: At the treaty which you as one of the commissioners are authorized to hold with the Indians, the President thinks it will be proper to make some presents to the chiefs and headmen of the several tribes who may attend. For this purpose, twenty thousand dollars worth of goods have been directed to be purchased, and will be forwarded by Messrs. Johnson & Sibley, who will probably reach St. Louis with them in the first week in June. Whether it will be necessary to distribute the whole of these goods to the Indians, will depend upon the number of tribes which attend the treaty, and on the judgment and discretion of the commissioners as to the extent to which presents ought to be made. Should any Indians who have been friendly to the United States attend the treaty, it will be well, in the distribution of the presents, to let them feel that those who have been our enemies are not better treated than those who have been our friends. Among the articles to be sent out there will be some solid silver medals; and it having been understood that the late General Pike, when on his expedition up the Mississippi, took from some of the Indians medals which had been given to them by the British, it is requested that, if any of these Indians attend the treaty, a medal of the largest size be given to each of them in lieu of those taken from them by General Pike. I have the honor to be, &c. His Excellency W. Clark, St. Louis. J. MONROE. EXHIBIT 173. The Secretary of War to General Mason.1 Department of War, March 27, 1815. SIR: You will please to procure and forward to Governor Clark, of the Missouri Territory, about $20,000 worth of goods, intended as presents at the treaty to be held with the Indians who reside on 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. II, p. 6. 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. II, p. 7. |