CHAPTER IV. THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY. British retain the Western posts-Effect on the Indians-Land sp in the West-Washington's opinion-Cession of title by the State spective view-Steuben sent to take possession of Western pos refused the possession-Causes assigned-Boundary line not to -British strengthen the posts-Great council of Indian tribesof Fort Harmar-Not adhered to-Brant and the Northern conf St. Clair, governor of the Northwestern Territory-Indians den lidity of his treaties-State of the case-Ordinance of 1787-Un ceeding of government-British policy and agency-Encouragem to Brant-Influence of McKee, Elliott, and Girty-Mission of G the Western tribes, and his report-Conduct of British agents States adopt war measures against the Indians-St. Clair's le dissensions-Harmar's Expedition, and two defeats-Discord in -Indian villages destroyed-Indian account of the battles—Acti government in relation to the Indian War-Peace messengers and preparations-British agents and Indians dissatisfied-America explained-Scott's Expedition-Wilkinson's Expedition-St. Clai izes his army at Fort Washington-Commences his march-Buil Hamilton and Jefferson-Reaches the waters of the Wabash-A camps-Attacked by the Indians and entirely defeated-Great los Americans-Causes of defeat-St. Clair exculpated-New army au by Congress to be raised-General Wayne appointed to its com Peace still offered to the Indians-The chiefs of the nations are in the seat of government-Commissioners meet the Indians in co Indians insist on the Ohio boundary-Attempts at peace fruitles causes-British erect a new fort on the Maumee-Spain offers ass to Indians-Wayne assembles his forces at Fort Washington-Final of the peace commissioners-Wayne moves his army-Establishe Greenville-Goes into winter quarters-Buries the bones on the St. Clair's defeat--Fort Recovery built-Attack by the Indians escort-Wayne learns the movements of the Indians and the British 174 nd spec n posts- ribes-T confeder ns deny the 7-Unwis ragement of Game gents ir's leries merican p St. Clair org -Builds Far ash-Aray reat loss of th my authori ts comman are invited -Indians attack Fort Recovery, and are repulsed-Wayne marches from Greenville-Builds Fort Defiance-Sends a peace messenger to the Indians -The reply of the Indians-Wayne marches on-Leaves his heavy baggage -Moves down the Maumee-Battle, and complete victory-Wayne destroys Indian and British property-Effect of the victory on the Indians-The army returns-Fort Wayne built-Fort Loramie built-Army in winter quarters at Greenville-Indian spirit subdued-The tribes disposed to peace measures-Opposition made by the British agents-Great council held-Propositions made by the English governor of Detroit-Brant coincides-Indians do not consent-They send peace messengers to the Americans-The preliminaries of peace entered into-Great council held at Greenville, and treaty made-Terms of the treaty-Other events during the Indian War-Genet, French minister; his schemes to involve the United States in war-His attempts in the West; contemplated invasion of Louisiana and Florida-Separation of the Western States, and revolt in the Spanish provinces, projected-Genet issues commissions-Excitement among the Western people-Action of the United States governmentGenet recalled by France, who disowns his acts-Free navigation of the Mississippi insisted on by the United States; denied by Spain-Governor Miro relaxes the stringent measures in relation to duties-He grants special privileges of trade on the Mississippi-Attempts of Spain to dismember the Union-Operations in relation to the navigation of the MississippiUnsuccessful attempts of government to treat with Spain-Baron Carondelet's policy and attempts to separate the West-Treaty of Madrid-Free navigation of Mississippi secured-New Orleans a free port of depositYazoo speculation-Projected British invasion of the Spanish provinces, by way of the lakes and the Illinois-Spanish posts withheld from the Americans-The causes-Spanish perfidy and duplicity-Powers proceeds to Detroit, the head-quarters of Wilkinson-Conduct of Wilkinson-New Orleans ceases to be a port of deposit, unless duties are paid-The act of the Intendant reversed by the King of Spain-Jefferson sends ministers to France and Spain-Spain cedes Louisiana to France-Diplomacy of the American ministers relative to the purchase of LouisianaAll Louisiana purchased from France-Spain objects, but renounces opposition-Effectual agency of Mr. Livingston-Spanish and French claims to land-British evacuate the Western posts-Northwestern Territory— Ohio set off—Indiana created-Extent of the United States' possessions in the Northwest. THE treaty of peace of September, 1783, was not accompanied by the immediate surrender of the British posts to the American authorities. Much recrimination occurred the non-performance and violation of certain articles treaty; and more than ten years of diplomatic cont intervened, creating and cherishing bitter feelings o sides of the Atlantic, before a great part of the disput in a measure settled, by Jay's treaty of 1794. In th time, the British retained possession of the posts American side of the great lakes, and, as those post their possessors a decided influence over the warlike tr Indians in their neighbourhood, this was a subject to the United States were peculiarly sensible. The year 1784 had nearly passed away before the d nation of the British cabinet not to evacuate the W posts, was known to the government of the United State the detention of these posts on the lakes, was ascrib hostile temper manifested by the Indians; for it unfort was soon apparent that the cessation of hostilities with land was not necessarily the cessation of warfare wi native tribes; and, while all hoped that the horrors of war in the West were ended, it was not difficult to s probability of a continued and violent struggle. Thus, indignity of permitting a foreign power to maintain gat within the limits of the nation, were superadded the m perpetrated by the savages, and the consequent diffic settling the fertile and vacant lands of the West.' Virginia, at an early period, (in October, 1779,) h law discouraged all settlements, on the part of her ci northwest of the Ohio; but the prospect of peace adde to a spirit of land-speculation that soon became stronger law; and in what manner to throw open the immense which lay west of the mountains, without driving the n to desperation, was a problem for statesmen to solve. W ington, in a letter to James Duane, in Congress, in Septe 1783,3 writes upon the difficulties which lay before that in relation to the public lands. He pointed out the nece 'Marshall's Washington, vol. ii. 2 Rev. Stat. of Vir. vol. ii. 3 Sparks's Washington, vol. viii. 477. which existed for making the settlements compact; and proposed that it should be made even felony to settle or survey lands west of a line to be designated by Congress, which line, he added, might extend from the mouth of the Great Miami to Mad River, thence to Fort Miami, on the Maumee, and thence northward, so as to include Detroit, or, perhaps, from the fort, down the river to Lake Erie. He proposed other stringent measures, in order to preserve the tranquillity of the Northwest; but, before Congress could take any efficient steps to that effect, it was necessary that those measures of cession which commenced in 1780-81 should be completed. Six days after the date of this letter, on the 13th of September, Congress stated the terms upon which they would receive the proposals of the Old Dominion for the cession to the United States of all their right in the territory northwest of the river Ohio.1 We have seen the result of the action of Congress, and of the several States claiming the lands of the Northwestern region, terminating in the adoption of the famous ordinance of July 13th, 1787: our view must now be turned to the condition of this portion of the Northwestern Territory, from the latter period to the time of the formation of a distinct territorial government in Wisconsin. A retrospective glance at existing affairs is, nevertheless, necessary. In July, 1784, General Washington had sent Baron Steuben to Canada for the purpose of obtaining possession of the Western posts, under the terms of the treaty of 1783, with orders, if he found it advisable, to embody the French of Michigan into a militia, and place the fort at Detroit in their hands. The baron was received by General Sir Frederick Haldimand with politeness, but, at the same time, was told by him that he had received no orders to deliver up the posts along the lakes; and the necessary passports were refused.* The retention of the posts by the British was alleged to be for the purpose of preserving the peace of the frontiers, as the Old Journals, iv. 189. 2 Sparks's Washington, vol. viii. 463. Indian tribes scattered along the Northwestern Territory alarmed at the prospect before them of the advance white population, and were daily showing undoubted sig dissatisfaction, if not of hostility. The true ground of ex differences between the Indians and the United States question of boundary, and the encroachments of white s ments already made, together with the dread of future a in this respect. The Indians maintained that the Ohio I was the line, and was not to be crossed by the Americ and, as the Indians were not included in the treaty, it be a nice legal question how far the United States had a rig advance upon the territory then occupied by the Indians. posts in Michigan thus withheld from the possession of United States were Detroit and Michillimackinac; and G Britain, in order to guard against the incursions of the A ricans, took immediate measures to garrison the fort of troit, under instructions from Lord Dorchester.1 In December, 1786, a grand confederate council of Indians northwest of the Ohio, was held near the Huron lage, at the mouth of the Detroit River, which was atten by the Six Nations, the Hurons, Ottawas, Miamies, Sha nese, Chippewas, Cherokees, Delawares, Pottawatamies, the confederates of the Wabash. The council was pacific, I viding that the United States did not encroach on their lan It was finally proposed to call a grand council of the India in which the whole ground of complaint between the sava and the United States should be discussed, and some fi determination made. This council was held, and, although no records of its p ceedings have been discovered, yet it is believed that th were forwarded to Lord Dorchester. It is probable that the was a division in their deliberations, because two separa treaties were held at Fort Harmar, in January, 1789, whi were attended by only a part of the Indians. These treati were held by General St. Clair: in the first place with t 1 Lanman's Michigan, p. 150. See Note A. |