- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1825 Dec. 24, Department of War to [the] Georgia delegation / James Barbour, Sec[retar]y of War
- Creator:
- Barbour, James, 1775-1842
- Date of Original:
- 1825-12-24
- Subject:
- Indian land transfers
Boundaries
Creek Indians--Treaties - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Decatur County, Chattahoochee River, 30.7088028, -84.8638097
- Medium:
- official reports
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Copy of a letter from Secretary of War James Barbour to the members of Congress from the state of Georgia, dated December 24, 1825. Barbour informs the delegation of concerns associated with the controversies surrounding the recently signed Treaty of Indian Springs (1825) between the Creek Nation and the U.S. government. The central point of contention, according to Barbour, is where the boundary line between the Creek Nation and the state of Georgia will be drawn. He indicates that the Creeks want a natural boundary- the Chattahoochee River, and that the government has heretofore refused to accept the treaty unless all lands within Georgia are ceded. Barbour asks the representatives from Georgia to consider how to proceed based on the demands of the state and the Creeks.
Digital image of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2000, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc028
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc028
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc028#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc028/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 77, folder 33, document 21.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
(Copy)
Department of War
December 24th 1825
Gentlemen,
The Executive influenced by the strongest desire to relieve the controversy with the Creeks so far as Georgia was particularly concerned from the difficulties produced by their determined opposition to the treaty of the Indian Springs, has been negotiating some time past on the basis of a surrender of all their lands within the limits of Georgia. The prospect of success was [added text (appears to be different ink): for a ] [deleted text: at one ] time flattering. Recent events however have entirely dissipated it, as to the whole of their lands in Georgia. They are willing to make a cession to the East of the Chatahoochie -- insisting on the necessity of a natural boundary as a protection against those trespassers which they suffer when separated only from the white population by an artificial line. By reference to to [to] the map it appears, that a very large proportion of the lands within the limits of Georgia will be acquired by the establishment of the Chatahoochie as a line of demarcation.
Page: [2]
They have incumbered [encumbered] this proposition with some conditions which are exceptionable, but which it is hoped might be satisfactorily modified. The Executive has refused to accept any proposition short of an entire cession within the limits of Georgia, and have used all the means in its power consistent with a sense of duty to induce them to yield. To a communication signifying this determination on the part of the Executive they have returned the enclosed reply so as to leave no ground on which to justify an expectation that they will recede further. The Executive is brought therefore to the question whether it is most advisable to refer the Treaty with the objections made to its validity to Congress for their decision, or to accept the new basis of the Chatahoochie and resume the negotiation. As the course heretofore pursued by the Executive has been dictated alike by a sense of duty and a most sincere wish to place the subject on a footing acceptable to Georgia, her wishes on the question which the Executive finds itself obliged to decide would have great influence on its decision. To learn her wishes, therefore is desirable. Her delegation in Congress may be safely resorted to as being able to furnish the most satisfactory information on this point, and the posture of the affair is made known with a view to enable you to make such a communication to the Executive
Page: [3]
as in your own judgment the circumstances may justify or require.
I have the honor to be your Obedt. [Obedient] Servant
(signed)
[Signed] James Barbour
Members in Congress from the State of Georgia. Honble [Honorable]
Thomas W. Cobb
J. McP. Berrien
John Forsyth
George Cary
A. Cuthbert
C. E. Haynes
James Meriwether
Edward F. Tatnall
Wiley Thompson
Page: [4]
Secy. [Secretary] of War to Georgia Delega. [Delegation]