- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- A talk, 1786 Oct. 21, to the Kings, Headmen, and Warriors of the Creek Nation, on Shoulder Bone Creek, near the Oconee River
- Date of Original:
- 1786-10-21
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Treaties
Creek Indians--Claims against - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- speeches
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document is a copy of a talk delivered to the leaders of the Creek Nation by the Indian commissioners appointed by the State of Georgia Legislature respecting terms and conditions for the negotiation of the Shoulder Bone Treaty. This talk is referred to in document tcc116 as having been enclosed in a letter from John Habersham to Georgia Governor Edward Telfair. The talk, dated October 21, 1786, refers to recent meetings with Alexander McGillivray, a Creek chief, and also discusses alleged crimes committed against settlers by 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:
- tcc117
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc117
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc117#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc117/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:
- 5 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 77, folder 22, document 02.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
A Talk, delivered by the Commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, to the Kings, Headmen, and Warriors of the Creek Nation, on Shoulder bone Creek, near the Oconee river, the
21st October 1786
Friends and Brothers
We are [added text: very ] glad that you have come to see us in consequence of an invitation we sent you about two months ago. From the manner in which we have proceeded you must be convinced that it is our sincere wish to make up the quarrel which has subsisted between our people and your Nation for sometime past. And if a firm and lasting Peace is not settled, you will have yourselves to blame for the consequences that must follow.
Since we drove the English from among us, and made peace with them, our Great Men and yours have held two Treaties at each of which they consented to certain boundaries that were to divide their respective settlements, and a number of regulations which were necessary for the benefit of both parties. We expected that what was then agreed upon would have been carried into effect, by you with the same good faith that we ourselves [added text: have ] observed
Page: [2]
We are sorry, however, to have it to say, that we have been disappointed
Brothers,
Open your ears wide, and hear the wrongs we have suffered. Without the smallest provocation, your People broke into our peaceable settlements last spring, killed the Inhabitants, and burned their habitations. Not satisfied with killing men like themselves, they barbarously murdered our innocent Women & Children. This made the Blood of our Warriors to boil, they laid hold on their Guns- and if they had been suffered to go on long before this time your Towns would have been on fire, and your people killed, or driven into the Wilderness. At such a time, it would have been very difficult to have distinguished between Friends and Enemies. But our warriors were kept back, in the expectation that your Wise Men would send the Murderers to us, or have inflicted such punishment on them as their crimes deserved and that in the presence of such Persons as our Governor should send to see it done, which was what you promised in the Treaties. It is in vain to say that these
Page: [3]
things are done by the direction of White People among you. If they are shew [show] your disapprobation of their conduct, by driving them from your Nation. That will be the best and only evidence we can receive.
Friends & Brothers,
You are sensible we have not received the least satisfaction yet. It is time we should know whether we may expect it or not, and to put the matter off any longer is what we cannot consent to.
A man by the name of Halfbreed McGillvray who lives in your Nation, and calls himself King of all your Headmen, has sent us some letters, in which he acknowledges that the murders were committed by his direction, in order to compel us [added text: to remove from the Lands you gave us ], and on which thousands of our People are now settled.- He has the assurance now to demand that we may give them up again and says in doing so he speaks the voice of the Creek Nation. [added text: Here McGillevrays letters to the Governor and Commissioners were read. -- ] You best know if He speaks the truth. It is owing to what this man has said that he have drawn out the numerous Army of Warriors which you saw two days ago and whom we are determined
Page: [4]
not to send home until we get satisfaction for the injuries we have sustained. It is in our power to add a vast number to these, if it should become necessary. And not withstanding what McGillvray has told some of your people, you may be assured the Congress are bound to assist us when we make war with your Nation. He has also told us as you have seen, that what your Great Men & Warriors have done at former treaties shall not stand. If he commands you & your land we ought to know it. We do not doubt you will think it reasonable and just to make us some recompence [recompense] for all the trouble & expence [expense] we have been at since the late unhappy times began.
Friends and Brothers,
We will now tell you on what conditions we are willing to take your Nation by the hand again, and bury all our differences They are these Full satisfaction for all murders committed by your People since the signing of the last Treaty at Galphinton, by having the murderers immediately apprehended and put to Death in the presence
Page: [5]
of such Persons as we shall send to see it done. That you return all prisoners and property now in the Nation belonging to Citizens of this State.
Brothers.
If you are willing to engage for the performance of what we have required we will enter into a fresh Treaty with you In which we will agree to such further regulations as may be necessary and which we hope will set all matters right between us for the time to come. So shall the path be again white and Straight, and our Childrens Children have cause to rejoice at our Meeting this day.
The foregoing is a true copy from the original --
[Signed] Jas. [James] M. Stewart Clk. B.C. [Clerk Board of Commissioners]