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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long; from Rhode Island, Mr. [James] Manning, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Few.
On motion of Mr. [William] Grayson, seconded by Mr. [Theodore] Sedgwick,
Resolved, That the postmaster general be informed, in answer to his letter of the 19th, that Congress approve his conduct in directing the deputy postmasters not to receive the paper money of any state for postage of letters.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter from Postmaster General Ebenezer Hazard is in No. 61, folio 255. It was read this day and, according to indorsement and Committee Book, No. 190 was referred to the "Comee. of the whole on the State of the Nation."]
The Secretary at War, to whom was referred a Motion of Mr. [William] Grayson, having reported the following resolution:
That having given such general instructions relative to the posting of the troops, on the western frontiers, as appeared to him proper, he has the honor herewith to submit them to Congress, and to observe, that they are conformable to the ideas presented by him to Congress in a letter of the 6th. of April.
Your Secretary takes the liberty to remark, that altho' the troops now in service, may be adequate to prevent intrusions on the public lands and to cover the surveying of that district of country, ordered to be surveyed immediately, from the banditti of Cherokees, and other small tribes of indians, between the Ohio and Lake Erie, yet in his opinion they are utterly incompetent, to protect a frontier, from Fort Pitt, to the Mississippi, from the incursions and depredations of the numerous tribes of savages who inhabit that extensive country between the Ohio and the Lakes.
Were a general war with the western indians to be apprehended and to become inevitable, Your Secretary humbly conceives that the proper and decisive line of conduct, would be to augment the troops now in service to a legionary corps of fifteen hundred men at least,
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not only to chastise and expel those tribes of savages when depredations have been dictated by a thirst for plunder and blood; but to establish posts so far into the country as would awe and curb the british garrisons, and cover effectually the territory of the United States.
Your Secretary has directed the troops to be posted in the manner best adapted in his opinion to effect the objects specified in the instructions to the commanding officer and to protect the inhabitants on the Ohio, from Fort Mc.Intosh to the Miami, a distance of five hundred miles. But if it should be the opinion of Congress that the line of posts could with propriety be further extended the commanding officer should be directed to detach two companies to the rapids of the Ohio, to take post there, so as most effectually to cover the inhabitants from the depredations of the indians.
On this principle the following resolve is formed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated June 19, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, folio 187. According to indorsement it was read June 21, "Question taken and lost. July, 1786, Referred to the Secy. at War to report the expence of a legionary corps of 1,500 men."]
"That the Secretary at War direct the commanding Officer of the troops, to detach two companies to the rapids of the Ohio, to protect the inhabitants from the incursions and depredations of the Indians."
A motion was made by Mr. [Melancton] Smith, seconded by Mr. [Theodore] Sedgwick, that the report of the Secretary at war be referred to the Committee to whom is referred a report of the Commissioners for treating with the Indians in the Northern and Middle departments.
And on the question for commitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
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So the question was lost.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Henry] Lee, seconded by Mr. [William] Grayson, to amend the report, by changing "two" into "four:" And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
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So the question was lost.
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On the question to agree to the resolution reported, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
{table}
So the question was lost.
On motion of Mr. [Melancton] Smith,
Ordered, That the Secretary for foreign Affairs have leave of Absence for ten days.
New York, June 19th, 1786.
Sir: In obedience to the order of Congress of the 16th instant directing the Commissioners for Indian affairs to report to Congress such information as they may be possessed of concerning the disposition and conduct of the Indians next adjoining to the settlements of Kentucke towards the Inhabitants thereof &ca., We report:
That from the report of William Clark Messenger, sent to Post St. Vincient with messages to the Indians on the river Wabash &ca., the report of the Messengers sent to the Miami and other western Indian nations, inviting them to a general treaty ordered to be held at the mouth of the big Miami on the north western bank of the Ohio, to which reports they refer Congress, they being in the hands of their Secretary; from a private letter from Mr. Edgar of the Kaskasies to General Clark (No. 1) which we enclose; from a private letter from Moses Henry of Post St. Vincient to General Clark, which we have seen, expressing his fears of the hostile disposition of the Wabash
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and other westerly Indians, and hoping a Treaty would be held with them; from the non-attendance of those Indians at the Treaty, and from the report of the Chiefs of the Wiandots, Delawares, and latterly the Shawanoes, who declare that the Officers, Indian-agents, and Emissaries at the British posts and in the Indian villages uniformly endeavour to keep the Indians at variance with the people of the United States; and from the coroboration of these reports and letters by the deposition of one Doleman and one Sherlock (No. 2) with the information of Capt. Abner Dunn (No. 3) and the letter of Messrs. Elliot and Rinkin messengers (No. 4) we are of opinion that the Wabash and other Indian Nations in that quarter, are more hostily than peaceably disposed towards the people of the United States and particularly against the settlement of the lower part of Kentucke, and although a partial intercourse has been between a few Traders and people from Kentucke and some of these Indians, it is not, and will not be cordial or safe, untill effectual measures are adopted by Congress to settle the animosities between the people of that Country, and the Indians mentioned in consequence of the late, long and cruel war.
That for want of a Treaty being held, at a place where it would have been practicable to have collected these western nations and of leading a respectable military force into the Indian country which would have awed the Indians and expelled the British Emissaries from their Towns, the wound is still left open, and these people with this baneful influence are left to stimulate them to mischief and it is to be fear'd that unless Congress interfere, mutual and repeated ill offices will continue between the parties and be the means of spreading war to the Nations already at peace with the United States and thereby of involving not only these to a much distressed settlements but the whole frontier in its dreadful effects.
That animosities have subsisted and mischiefs have been done between the Wabash Indians and licentious people of that Country, owing to the circumstances and influence above mentioned, is well known and that the ill-disposed on both sides, by mutual ill-offices, such as stealing each other's Horses, and committing partial murdurs, do great injury to the peace and welfare of the orderly People of that Country, is beyond a doubt, and the cruelty of the Indians in consequence thereof, has been sadly experienced by the Innocent inhabitants, instead of those who merited it.
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That the misfortunes which have fallen on the Settlers of the upper part of the district of Kentucke in the opinion of the Commissioners is not in consequence of any hostile intentions or disposition in the breasts of the nations treated with but of a banditti composed of a few Cherokees and others, who live by themselves on a branch of the Scioto, called Paint creek, and do not exceed seventy or eighty persons fit to bear arms, and who may be easily extirpated, which measure would not only give peace to that part of the settlement, but be satisfactory to the Indian nations treated with.
From an early knowledge of the above stated facts, and a consciousness of the necessity of measures being taken to remove these animosities and settle matters between the United States and the hostile tribes, the Commissioners were induced to come to the enclosed resolutions.
In stating the above report Your Commissioners hope they have given the information required and set the situation of the Frontier in a clear point of view, so as to be clearly understood and satisfactory to Congress.
We have the honor to be etc.
Richd. Butler.
Saml. H. Parsons.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 56, folio 283. According to indorsement it was read June 21 and referred to Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [James] Monroe. The enclosures are on folios 287--297.
June 21: The "Petition of Will. W. Morris respectg. the renewal of final settlemt. certificates lost and destroyed" was referred to the Board of Treasury to report and report rendered August 8. The petition, dated, June 20, is in No. 42, V, folio 383.
The "Petition of John Stevens, a hostage left in Canada for pay and depreciation of pay which Connecticut has refused to grant him" was referred to the Commissioner of Army Accounts to report. Report was rendered June 27. The petition, dated June 19, is in No. 42, VII, folio 324.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also, according to indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, of June 19, forwarding a letter from John Temple informing that British Mediterranean passports are being counterfeited in Philadelphia. See post, June 27. Jay's letter is in No. 80, II, folio 381. Temple's, dated June 7 is in No. 92, folio 561.]
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