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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 --THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as yesterday; and from Rhode Island, Mr. [James] Manning.
The Committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [Nathan] Dane and Mr. [James] Monroe, to whom was referred
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a letter of 16 May, from the governor of Virginia, having reported:
That it appears to the committee, that the Indian tribes therein referred to, were invited to the treaty which was held at the mouth of the Great Miami by the commissioners of the United States, but failed either to attend thereat, or to take any notice of the messages sent them for that purpose: That they have since that time attacked the frontiers of the state of Virginia, and are frequently committing murders and depredations on the inhabitants of the said state: That as the attempt for preserving peace by treaties alone has in this instance been unsuccessful, and is not likely on any future occasion, with respect to these Indians, to have a more prosperous issue, the Committee are of opinion, that the only alternative left, is for the United States to send a respectable force into their country, and at the same time authorize the commanding Officer of such expedition, either to treat with the said Indians, or make war on them, as circumstances may require. That this mode of proceeding will not only give peace to the citizens of Virginia, who are intitled by the Confederation to the protection of the United States, but will render the federal authority respectable in those countries, and be the means of preventing other tribes from disturbing the frontiers of the different states in this Union; therefore Resolved, That the commanding Officer, with the two companies of the troops now in the pay of the United States, ordered to the rapids of the Ohio on the 22 instant do, without delay, march into the country of the different tribes of Indians, either on the Wabash, or elsewhere, who are now at war with the citizens of these United States, for the purpose of treating with the said Indians, or of making war on them, as circumstances may require. That the said commanding Officer be authorised, to apply to the executive of the state of Virginia for such a number of militia, from the district of Kentucki, not exceeding one thousand, and such supplies of provision as he may, from circumstances, judge necessary, and who are hereby requested to furnish the same, deducting the amount thereof from the specie proportion of the requisition of the year 1786. That the said Commanding officer, give peace to the said Indians, on no other terms than that of their making satisfaction, as far as lies in their power, for any damages already done, and of
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delivering up a sufficient number of hostages as a security for the time to come.1
[Note 1: 1 See ante, June 6.]
This report being under debate, a Motion was made by Mr. [Charles] Pettit, seconded by Mr. [Theodore] Sedgwick, that the farther consideration of the report be postponed, in order to take up the following proposition:
Whereas information has been received, that small parties of Indians have crossed the river Ohio, near the falls thereof, and committed depredations in the district of Kentucki, in consequence whereof, on the 22 instant Congress ordered a detachment of two companies of the federal troops, to take post at the falls of the Ohio, to aid the militia of the frontiers in the protection of the inhabitants; but Congress are not possessed of sufficient evidence of the aggression or hostile disposition of any tribe or tribes of Indians, towards the United States, or any of them, to justify them in carrying war into the indian country. For the prevention of future incursions, Resolved, That Congress will, without delay, proceed in the organization of the Indian department, and adopt such other measures, as shall effectually secure peace to the Indians and safety to the citizens inhabiting the frontiers of the United States.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No, 36, III, folio 269.]
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On the question to postpone for the purpose abovementioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
{table}
So the question was lost.
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After further debate, a Motion was made by Mr. [William] Houstoun, seconded by Mr. [Charles] Pettit, that the further consideration of the report be postponed till Wednesday next; and on the question to postpone till Wednesday, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
{table}
So the question was lost.
A motion was then made by Mr. [William] Grayson, seconded by Mr. [James] Monroe, to amend the report, by adding, after the words "therefore resolved that the Commanding Officer," the following, "attended by the commissioners or Superintendant of the Indian department for the time being;" and by striking out, in the latter end of the said sentence, the words "as circumstances may require," and in lieu thereof, inserting "as the said commissioners or superintendant may direct."
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And on the question to agree to this Amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
{table}
So the question was lost.
The report being amended by striking out the word "either" before "Wabash," and the words "or elsewhere" immediately following it,
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Monroe, seconded by Mr. [James] Manning, to amend the report farther by striking out the words "making war on them," and altering the clause so as to read "or repelling their attacks as circumstances may require, so as to secure the frontiers of the said States from further depredations."
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And on the question to agree to this Amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Monroe,
{table}
So the question was lost.
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On the question to agree to the report of the Committee as amended, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson,
{table}
So the question was lost.1
[Note 1: 1 June 29: "his letter of 19 June with Mr. Temple's letter respects the counterfeiting of Mediterranean passes" was referred back to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report, and "Report by letter May 9th., 1787."
Committee Book No. 190.]
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