- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- A talk delivered by the Kings, Headmen, and Warriors of the Creek Nation, 1786 Oct. 22
- Date of Original:
- 1786-10-22
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Treaties
- 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 by the Kings, Headmen and Warriors of the Lower Creeks to the Indian commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia to hold a treaty near the mouth of Shoulderbone Creek, Georgia. This talk, dated October 22, 1786, reveals that Alexander McGillivray is ostracized by many of the Creeks and his communications to the commissioners should be disregarded. The leaders of the lower Creeks indicate their willingness to punish those Creeks guilty of crimes against whites and their eagerness to re-establish peace with the citizens of Georgia. This copy was originally enclosed with a letter from John Habersham in document tcc116 of the Southeastern Native American Documents Database.
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:
- tcc118
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc118
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc118#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc118/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 22, document 03.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
(Copy)
A Talk delivered by the Kings, Headmen and Warriors of the Creek Nation, to the Commissioners for holding a Conference and Treaty with the said Indians by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia near the mouth of Shoulderbone Creek on the Oconee river.
October 22nd 1786
[Signed] James Durouzeaux &
[Signed] Philip Scott Sworn Linguist
Fathers, Friends and Brothers
We, the Head men have come to answer your Talk which we heard yesterday, and to tell you that we are willing to give you satisfaction for the injuries our People have done to the State of Georgia. There are white People in the Nation who have been the occasion of those Murders; they must and will be killed when we return to the Nation and the Indians who were concerned must also be killed; two Indians were killed when the Mischief was done.
The Chief Person who has been
Page: [2]
against you is Alexander McGillevray; he is of a large family, therefore we will give him an opportunity of going away quietly. But we must remove him. If he chuses [chooses] to live with the Spaniards he may go to them, or else he must also be killed. We do not mean to deceive you as has been the case hitherto.
The Talks and letters that have been sent you by McGillevray as the voice of the Nation are not so. They are of his own making, and to suit his private purposes, and make our Nation [unclear text: poor ] . This is well known to those present who are from the upper Creeks.
Brothers.
The two particular men that will be first [added text: made ] examples of are Richard Bailey and John Francis of the [unclear text: Kealges ] .
We who are here are the Chiefs of the Lower Creeks and are determined to do what we are engaged for.
Afterwards we shall not be ashamed to look you in the face.
According to your invitation
Page: [3]
we have come from our Country, and have suffered a great deal of fatigue and hunger. But it was ordained by the Master of Breath that we should attend at all Treaties when called upon Our fore fathers at their first meeting, when the White path was opened between them, were good friends. The Master of Breath now hears what we say and what we say we mean to maintain. We were then in Poverty, and had nothing but bows and arrows; but now we are able to speak in friendship with each other. He who made everything will we hope direct matters so that we may return home in peace and good will with you. The Master of Breath has settled us on [added text: the ] Land together; He is like a man on the top of a house, who hears all that we say.
The White People have learning. We have none! still we hope to settle matters so as to be agreeable to both parties. We are all from one Mother
Page: [4]
Friends and Brothers.
Agreeable to the Treaty held at Galphinton (and as soon as satisfaction is given) we shall bring down some of our People to attend and see the Line marked from the mouthof the of the [of the] Oakmulgy to the Saint Mary's River, and the upper Line also; then when the [unclear text: Trees ] are marked, each party will know how far to go.
We first gave you Land from the Savannah to the Ogechee Rivers. Then by the bad conduct of [added text: our ] Young People we were obliged to give you the Oconee for the safety of our Women and Children. We might have given you satisfaction by taking the lives of our People, but we prefered [preferred] giving you the Lands, and you shall enjoy it.
We whose names are underwritten do Certify that the foregoing is a true and literal interpretation of a Talk delivered this day by the Kings, Head Men, and Warriors of the Creek Nation to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs for the State of Georgia --
Signed,
[Signed] Jas. [James] Durouzeaux
[Signed] Philip [unclear text: Scott ] --
mark
The foregoing is a true copy from the Original
Jas. [James] M. Stewart
[illegible text]