Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3Jefferson, Thomas
History
Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
From those papers you will find that we have been constantly
endeavoring, by every possible means, to keep peace with the Creeks;
that in order to do this, we have even suspended and still suspend the
running a fair boundary between them and us, as agreed on by themselves,
and having for its object the precise definition of their and our
lands, so as to prevent encroachment on either side, and that we have
constantly endeavored to keep them at peace with the Spanish settlements
also: that Spain on the contrary, or at least the officers of her
governments, since the arrival of the Baron de Carondelet, have
undertaken to keep an agent among the Creeks, have excited them and the
other southern Indians to commence a war against us, have furnished them
with arms and ammunition for the express purpose of carrying on that
war, and prevented the Creeks from running the boundary which would
have removed the cause of difference from between us. Messrs. Viar and
Jaudenes explain the ground of interference on the fact of the Spanish
claim to that territory, and on an article in our treaty with the
Creeks, putting themselves under our protection. But besides that you
already know the nullity of their pretended claim to the territory, they
had themselves set the example of endeavoring to strengthen that claim
by the treaty mentioned in the letter of the Baron de Carondelet, and
by the employment of an agent among them. The establishment of our
boundary, committed to you, will, of course, remove the grounds of all
future pretence to interfere with the Indians within our territory, and
it was to such only that the treaty of New York stipulated protection:
for we take for granted, that Spain will be ready to agree to the
principle, that neither party has a right to stipulate protection or
interference with the Indian nations inhabiting the territory of the
other. But it is extremely material also, with sincerity and good faith,
to patronize the peace of each other with the neighboring savages. We
are quite disposed to believe that the late wicked excitements to war
have proceeded from the Baron de Carondelet himself, without authority
from his court. But if so, have we not reason to expect the removal of
such an officer from our neighborhood, as an evidence of the disavowal
of his proceedings? He has produced against us a serious war. He says in
his letter, indeed, that he has suspended it. But this he has not done,
nor possibly can he do it. The Indians are more easily engaged in a
war than withdrawn from it. They have made the attack in force on our
frontiers, whether with or without his consent, and will oblige us to a
severe punishment of their aggression. We trust that you will be able
to settle principles of a friendly concert between us and Spain, with
respect to the neighboring Indians: and if not, that you will endeavor
to apprize us of what we may expect, that we may no longer be tied up
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account