- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1791 June 16, Philadelphia / John Wereat
- Creator:
- Wereat, John
- Date of Original:
- 1791-06-16
- Subject:
- Indians of North America--Claims against
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
military records - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document is a letter from John Wereat in Philadelphia, dated June 16, 1791, possibly directed to Georgia Governor Edward Telfair (1786-1787, 1790-1793), though the addressee is not apparent on the letter. Wereat defends his decision to an unnamed Commission for armament of the state of Georgia against the Indians. Wereat asks for documentation of the acts and authority that raised the Militia in 1786 and the State troops in 1788, in order to justify the expenses before the board. He accounts for the expenditures by describing the "ravages" of the Indians against citizens of the state and defends the armament on constitutional grounds. Wereat was the auditor for the state of Georgia from 1782-1792.
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:
- tcc334
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc334
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc334#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc334/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:
- 2 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 42, folder 05, document 03.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Philadelphia
16th June 1791
Sir,
Since my last the Commissioners have called upon me to shew [show] the reasons why the armaments against the Indians were made, the necessity for so doing and the authority that directed it, this will make it necessary for me to be furnished with the Acts for raising the Militia in
1786 and for raising the State Troops in
1788, together with such observations as may occur to your Excellency on the subject.
In the mean time I shall inform them, that the armaments were made for the defence [defense] of the State, that it was necessary for its' preservation, that the most fertile part of the State was depopulated by the ravages of the Indians, by killing the most inoffensive of our Citizens to the Southward, carrying away their Negroes and driving off their Stocks, which entirely broke up the Southern settlements and obliged others to fortify within eighteen miles of the Town of Savannah, that during all these acts of violence and outrage from our Savage neighbors we had no aid from the Union, that although the proceedings of the State were not sanctioned by any existing Acts of Congress, that body does not say, a State shall not arm for its defence [defense] when attacked, but admits it, was not this the case the Union would not be the protectors but the oppressors of the State by subjecting it to Savage cruelty. That the Commissioners appointed by Congress for forming a treaty with them were treated with insult and obliged to return without effecting anything, that our greatest security against their attacks will be their apprehensions of the power of the Union, we have nothing to expect from their good faith which is evinced by their witholding [withholding] the property which by the late Treaty they engaged to restore.
Page: [2]
I shall be glad to hear from your Excellency on this subject.
I am most respectfully Sir,
Your very humle. Servt [humble servant]
[Signed] John Wereat