Coweta County GaArchives History - Books .....Chapter II 1928
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Book Title: Coweta County Chronicles

CHAPTER II.

    McGillivray's Appeals. Georgia Cedes Territory to the United States. Appeals
of the Creek Chiefs. Letters from Duncan G. Campbell and James Merriwether.
Speeach of Hop-o-ith-le-yo-ho-lo. Letters from Governor Troup and William
McIntosh. Lamar's Talk to the Indians. The Killing of McIntosh. Military Orders.
A Last Appeal from the Indians to the Legislature.

The Creeks' Complaints as Given by General Alexander M'Gillivray.

  In December 1787, Dr. James White, appointed by Congress a superintendent of
the Creeks, wrote M'Gillivray and from him received the following:

  "There are chiefs of two towns in this nation, who, during the late war, were
friendly to the State of Georgia, and had gone at different times among those
people, and once, after the general peace to Augusta.

  "They (the whites) there demanded of them a grant of lands belonging and
enjoyed as hungting-grounds by the Indians of this nation in common, on the east
of the Oconee River. The chiefs rejected the demand, on the plea that these
lands were the hunting-grounds of the nation, and could not be granted by two
individuals; but in a few days, a promise was extorted from them, that on their
return to their country, they would use their influence to get a grant confirmed.

  "Upon their return a general convention was held at Tookabatcha, when these
two chiefs were severely censured, and the chiefs of ninety-eight towns agreed
upon a talk to be sent to Savannah, disapproving, in the strongest manner, of
the demand made upon their nation, and denying the right of any two of their
countrymen to make cession of land, which could be only valid by the unanimous
voice of the whole,
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as joint proprietors in common. Yet these two chiefs, regardless of the voice of
the nation, continued to go to Augusta, and other places within the State of
Georgia.

  "They received presents and made promises; but our customs did not permit us
to punish them for the crime.

  "We warned the Georgians of the dangerous consequences that would certainly
attend the settling of the lands in question. Our just remonstrances were
treated with contempt, and these lands were soon filled with settlers. The
nation, justly alarmed at the encroachments, resolved to use force to maintain
their rights; yet, being averse to the shedding of blood of a people whom we
would rather consider as friends,. we made another effort to awaken in them a
sense of justice and equity. But we found from experience, that entreaty could
not prevail, and parties of warriors were sent to drive off the intruders, but
were instructed to shed blood only when self-preservation made it necessary.

  "This was in May 1786. In October following, we were invited by Commissioners
of the State of Georgia to meet them in conference at the Oconee, professing a
sincere desire for an amicable adjustment of our disputes, and pledging their
sacred honours for the safety and good treatment of all those that should attend
and meet them. It not being convenient for many of us to go to the proposed
conference, only a few, from motives of curiosity, attended. They were surprised
to find an armed body of men, prepared for and professing hostile intentions.
Apprehensions for personal safety induced those chiefs to subscribe to every
demand that was asked by the army and the Commissioners. Lands were again
demanded, and the lives of some of the chiefs were required, as well as those of
some innocent traders, as a sacrifice, to appease their anger. Assassins have
been employed to effect some part of their atrocious purposes. If I fall by the
hand of such, I shall fall a victim of the noblest of causes, that of
maintaining the just rights of my country.   I aspire to the honest ambition of
meriting the appellation of the preserver of my country, equally with the chiefs
among you, whom, from acting on such principles, you have exalted to the highest
pitch of glory. And if, after every peaceable mode of obtaining a redress of
grievances proved fruitless, a recourse to arms. to obtain it be a mark of the
savage, and not of the soldier, what savages must the Americans be, and how
much, undeserved applause
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have your Cincinnatus, your Fabius, obtained! If a war name had been necessary
to distinguish that chief, in such a case, the Man-Killer, the Great Destroyer,
would have been the proper appellation.

  "I had appointed the Cussetas for all the chiefs of the Lower Creeks to meet
in convention. I shall be down in a few days, when, from your timely arrival,
you will meet the chiefs, and learn their sentiments, and I sincerely hope that
the propersitions [1] you shall offer us will be such as we can safely accede
of. The talks of the former commissioners, at Galphinton, were much approved of,
and your coming from the White Town (seat of Congress) has raised great
expectations that you will remove the principal and almost only cause of our
dispute, that is, by securing to us our hunting-grounds and possessions, free
from all encroachments. When we meet we shall talk these matters over.

                       "Meantime, I remain,
                              "With regard, your obedient servant,
                                        "ALEXANDER M'GILLIVRAY."

  The getting of the Indians' lands by the State of Georgia was a long agony.
There were councils, called pow-wows (a more appropriate name) by the Indians,
at many times and places. In 1802 the State of Georgia and the United States had
one at Washington, D. C, attended by Abram Baldwin, James Jackson, John
Milledge, for Georgia, and James Madison, Albert Gallatin and Levi Lincoln for
the United States who agreed:

  Georgia cedes to the United States all the territory belonging to her south of
Tennessee, and west of the Chattahoochee, up to the great bend, thence west of
the line direct to Nickajack creek, near the present city of Chattanooga, upon
these conditions:

  "(1) That out of the proceeds of the sale of these lands the United States
shall give to Georgia $1,250,000.

  "(2) That all persons who are settled within said territory shall be confirmed
in all their titles under the United States government.

  "(3) That the ceded lands be considered a public fund to be distributed by the
United States in the proper manner, as other public funds in lands.

[1] The letters are given without correction or change.    Editor.
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  "(4) That the United States, at her own expense, extinguish for the use of
Georgia as soon as the same can be peaceably done on reasonable terms the Indian
claims to the county of Tallahassee, to the land occupied by the Creeks, and to
those between the forks of the Oconee and the Ocmulgee rivers, for which several
objects the president of the United States shall order that a treaty be
immediately held (made?) with the Indians, and that, in like manner, the United
States shall extinguish the Indian title to all other lands in the State of
Georgia.

  "(5) That the territory thus ceded shall form a state as soon it shall contain
60,000 people, and as such be admitted into the union."

  That little item (4) was easier promised than carried out. Naturally the
Indians were not willing to leave their native and greatly beloved hunting
grounds and homes for a long weary trip to a strange country. The journal of
Benjamin Hawkins tells that many of them had settled down, built permanent
homes, planted orchards and were farming, keeping cattle and in other ways
emulating the civilization of their white neighbors. Sharing the feelings of the
Indians in the matter, many of the whites were conscientious folk, even in that
day of ruthless, rough-shod, might-makes-right action, who balked at having the
Indians forcibly torn from lands that belonged to them in spite of absurd claims
made by adventurers long before. There are many state papers relating to the
matter. There were crimination and recrimination between the presidents of the
United States and the governors of Georgia, and attempts at treaties with the
Indians themselves, at various times and places after this, for twenty-three
years. Since learning by bitter experience that the whites, in the end,
outfought them, and out-talked them in debate, the Indians were reduced to use
of craft, as the weak ever are, and taking advantage of their form of
communistic ownership of the land, that gave the head men of all the towns a
voice in making treaties, only a part of them could be induced to attend a
council and when they signed the absent ones would declare it void because all
had not signed. Sometimes those present would not sign because their brothers
were not present. The expedient to gain a respite from the bitter day of loss,
working in both cases.

  From the Milledgeville Recorder of one hundred and one years ago, many papers
bearing on the question laid before the Legislature by Governor Troup, are
presented here. You can read General McIntosh's
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letters, McGillivray's summary of the Creek's complaints, and many other papers
that rival "Lear" and "Macbeth" in their tragic revelations.

                                    "CREEK NATION, COWETA,
                                              "January 25th, 1825.

  "We, the Chiefs of Coweta, Talladega, Cuseta, Broken Arrow and Hitchitas
towns, in Council met, do take this method to lay before our Father, the
President of the United States, the most distressing difficulties that are
existing in our Nation, and have been for sometime past, owing entirely to the
existence of two parties, in the Nation, known and designated by the Red Sticks
(or hostile party) and the other party friendly to the United States, and who
were warm supporters of the American war against said party of Indians, and
also, against the British. For further particulars we must respectfully refer
our Father, the President, to General Jackson, who can testify to the characters
of the present bearers of this remonstrance. It is painful to us to acknowledge
that there is an actual necessity for our calling upon our Father, the
President, for protection. Inasmuch as Big Warrior, who is influenced by the
hostile party, with the exception of a few, is calling his chiefs together, of
which consists such Indians as were particularly opposed to the United States
during the last American war (1812). One of the most conspicuous chiefs of this
council is Gun Boy, whom we took prisoner before Fort Gains during Jackson's
campaign against the Seminole Indians; who is passing orders and decrees without
the consent of any of our towns, apparently for the destruction of our people,
who are the friendly party. Inasmuch as it certainly will create an internal war
amongst ourselves; we hope our Father, the President, will never admit that his
red children, who took his white children by the hand in defense of the United
States in the late war with Great Britain, should be excluded from having any
voice in the nation; or, in other words, excluded from the benefits of their
country, and for the Big Warrior and his party to have the entire prerogative of
the nation. We are informed that the Big Warrior and his chiefs are now in
council, and we expect are passing such decrees as are derogatory to the safety
of McIntosh and the rest of his chiefs; for instance, it has been but a short
time since, when they met in the grand council square and passed an order for
the execution of McIntosh and any other of his chiefs who would make any proper-
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sitions to the United States, in favor of selling any part of the country which
we now claim, therefore we have been compelled to guard General McIntosh since
the Treaty at Broken Arrow, for his safety. This is not all; there is no doubt
but what said council, at the present meeting, will pass an order for the
dismission of General McIntosh and many other of his adherents, and in all
probability they have, or will, send on a delegation from the council to that
amount; although knowing at the same time that McIntosh and his chiefs have the
superiority in the grand council of the nation; for reason why, they were the
only supporters and defenders of the nation in the last war; and that a number
of the Big Warrior's Chiefs forfeited their rights to the country which they
previously had, by their hostility to the United States during the last war.

  "We do therefore, deny that the Warrior's party have any right to enter into
any such arrangements; and we also deny that Gun Boy, and several others of the
Warrior's Chiefs, has any privilege in the national council-although we have
heretofore permitted them to do so; for they did not defend our country from the
foreign or domestic foes, but used their utmost exertions against the United
States, and in favor of their enemies. We, therefore, head men of the nation, or
of the aforesaid towns, assure our father, the President, that we have much
trouble in our country, and much too in consequence of our Agent's partiality to
the Big Warrior's party, inasmuch as it appears to create a jealousy with us,
that the United States is failing to comply with what they once promised us,
that is protection. But we are conscious that it is unknown to our Father, the
President.

  "But hoping that our Father will make the necessary inquiries of our
delegation, and to advise accordingly for his red children's welfare, of which
we ever pray, etc.

                             COWETAS.
                      "Tome Tuskenuggee, his x mark.
                      "Hothemarte Tuskenuggee, his x mark.
                      "James Island, his x mark.
                      "Colonel Blue, his x mark.
                      "Cuskee Tuskenuggee, his x mark.
                      "James Driso, his x mark.
                      "Tulsa Haijo, his x mark.
                      "Arpifka Tuskenuggee, his x mark.
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                      "Efau Tuskeenahar, his x mark.
                      "Fusuch Emarin, his x mark.
                      "Thlato Haiju, his x mark.
                      "Neharnin, his x mark.
                      "Coweta Tuskeenchar, his x mark.
                      "Yeacuskee, his x mark.
                      "Farna Micn, his x mark.
                      "Joseph Marshall.
                      "Benj. Marshall.
                      "John Shuman.
                      "Captain Canard, his x mark.
                      "Jacob Beaver, his x mark.
                      "Fushunk Tuskenuggee, his x mark.
                      "Walthocco Hargo (Taladaga) his x mark.
                      "Tuckelas Emarin, his x mark.
                      "Duck, his x mark.
                      "Oakfuskee Tuskanuggee, his x mark.
                      "Rubin Gaison, his x mark.

                         "BROKEN ARROW.
                      "Arpifkee Tuskanuggee, his x mark.
                      "Samuel Miller, his.x mark.
                      "C. W. Miller, his x mark.
                      "Charles Miller, his x mark.
                      "Andy Lovet, his x mark.
                      "Harper Lovett, his x mark.
                      "John Harvard, his x mark.

                            "CUSETAS.
                      "Tuckeepacchee Hajo.

                           "HITCHETAU.
                      "Seaoh Gray.
                      "William McIntosh, Speaker Nat. Council.
                            "Samule Hawkins,  Interpreter."
"Chilly McIntosh, Clerk."

                           "CREEK NATION, 25th January, 1825.
  "We, the principal Chiefs of Coweta, Taladaga, Broken Arrow, and Hitchita
towns, in council met, agreeable to previous notice by Gen. 
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William McIntosh, whom we acknowledge to be our principal protector and Chief,
having full confidence in his patriotism, integrity and great regard for his
people, whom he represents, have unanimously nominated and appointed him, with
seven others of the national council,. (to wit:) Tume Tuskenuggee, Othlee
Tuskeenuggee, Benjamin Deriso, Siah Gray, Arpifkee Tuskenuggee, Tuckeeparchee
Haijo, Coweta Emarlo and Samuel Hawkins, Interpreter, to meet the President of
the United States, our Father, and to make such arrangements as will be most
conducive to the welfare of our people, and to recive such advice, as our
Father, the President, may think proper to give; and should our Father, the
President, give it, as his opinion, and the claim of the State of Georgia to the
land within her limits, would prevent a fee simple title from vesting in our
people, then, in that event, General William McIntosh, with other delegates of
our Chiefs, are duly authorized, in behalf of our people, to make such
arrangements with our Father, the President, or his Commissioners for that
purpose, in an exchange for lands west of the Mississippi, such as have been
referred to by the United States' Commissioners, lately at the Broken Arrow,
assuring the President, our Father, at the same time, that anything the said
delegates may do on the occasion, will meet the approbation of the national
council in general, inasmuch as there are six of our principal council, with
Gen. Wm. McIntosh, who are authorized to sign any treaty of that kind, which our
Father the President and our delegates may make upon the subject."

  Signed in open council the day and date above written.

  (The signatures are omitted as they are the same that are signed to the other
paper.)

Before the Council at Indian Springs.

  The following letter is given because of its indication of the attitude of the
President of the United States and his advisers to the purpose of that council.

                           "COLUMBIA, S. C., 31st Jan. 1825.
  "SIR: My return to Georgia has been protracted to a much later period than I
intended, or had any reason to expect. The delay at the City was occasioned by
the course taken by the Executive of the U. S. upon the subject of the
negotiation pending with the Creeks. This course made it necessary that I should
hold a correspondence with the Secretary of War, preparatory to a special
message which the
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President proposed making to Congress in relation to this exigency in
particular, and to Indian emigration generally.

  "The application which I submitted, for authority to hold a treaty- with a
divided council of the Creeks, was not expressly granted; such course by
decision of the Cabinet, was held to be incompatible with the laws of Nation and
Indian usage (Italics by the editor). Every other facility was promptly
afforded. The Sub-Agent had been removed-the Agent himself placed completely
under our control, and our instructions so extended and liberalized, as to
authorize the most sanguine expectations of success. The negotiations will be
renewed at the Indian Springs on the 7th February. Orders to this effect were
issued and forwarded from Washington City.

  "I should have reached Georgia five days earlier, but for a snow storm in
Virginia, the heaviest I ever encountered.

  "I now write under the most disadvantageous circumstances to which a stage
passenger can be subjected.

"With great consideration, I have the honor to be your obedient
servant.
    (Signed)                        "DUNCAN G. CAMPBELL."
  His Excellency G. M. Troup.

                             "INDIAN SPRINGS, 9th Feb. 1825.
  "DEAR SIR:   It affords us much pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of yours
of yesterday.
                    *   *   *   *
  "The Chiefs of the Nation are coming in, in considerable numbers. We discover
distinctly the decided hostility of a large deputation from Took-au-batchee, but
are of opinion that in Council, we have the ascendancy in numbers and in grade.
We cannot admit the possibility of defeat, yet such may be the result. Our
expectations are founded upon facts which amount to the strongest assurance of
success, and we must indulge the gratification that even while "Troup is
Governor" the policy and obligations of the United States will be effected and
the rights of Georgia obtained.

  "With great consideration, we are sir, your obedient servants.
  (Signed)                        "DUNCAN G. CAMPBELL,
                                  "JAMES MERRIWETHER.
  "His Excellency G. M. Troup."
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  Knight's "Georgia Landmarks, Memorials and Legends," has this interesting
account of the adversary of McIntosh at the Indian Springs meeting:

  "Hop-o-eth-le-yo-ho-lo, as the representative of Big Warrior, the Chief of the
Upper Creeks, attended the council meeting at Indian Springs. He was the
silver-tongued orator of the tribe, and, on this occasion, was aroused to the
highest pitch of eloquence, in opposition to the proposed relinquishment of the
Creek lands. Several speeches were made by him in the course of the proceedings;
and, when the treaty was finally signed, he leaped upon the large rock to the
south of the Varner House, and gave vent to the following fiery outburst:

  " 'Brothers-The Great Spirit has met here with his painted children of the
woods and with our pale-faced brethren. I see his golden locks in the sunbeams.
He fans the warriors brow with his wings and whispers sweet music in the winds.
The beetle joins his hymn and the mockingbird his song. You are charmed.
Brothers, you have been deceived. A snake has coiled in the shade, and you are
running into his mouth, deceived by the double-tongue of the pale-face chief
McIntosh and drunk with the firewater of the pale-face. Brothers, the
hunting-grounds of our fathers have been stolen by our chief and sold to the
pale-face, whose gold is in his pouch. Brothers, our grounds are gone, and the
plow of the pale-face will soon upturn the bones of our fathers. Brothers, are
you tame? Will you submit? Hop-oeth-le-yo-ho-lo says no!" Then turning to
McIntosh who was standing with the commissioners at a window, some few feet
distant, he exclaimed: "As for you, double-tongued snake, whom I see through the
window of the pale-face, before many moons have waned, your blood shall wash out
the memory of this hated treaty.   Brothers, I have spoken.' "

                                 "INDIAN SPRINGS, 13th Feb. 1825.
  "SIR: Your express has this moment reached us, and delivered your
communication covering the proceedings of Congress on the Indian question. We
are happy to inform you that the "long agony is over," and that we concluded a
treaty yesterday, with what we consider the Nation, for nearly the whole
country. We inclose you a copy, also dispatches for the government. These last
are addressed to your care to secure their certain transmission by to-morrow's
mail. The original treaty will be conveyed by our Secretary to Washington City,
by the
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stage leaving Wilkes on Thursday next. We are still in time for ratification by
the present Senate, and beg to offer you our sincere congratulations upon the
more than successful issue of a negotiation in which you have been an ardent
co-worker.

  "With great consideration and respect,
  (Signed)                         "DUNCAN G. CAMPBELL.
                                   "JAMES MERRIWETHER."
  "His Excellency G. M. Troup."

                                  "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEO.
                                  "MILLEDGEVILLE, 17th Feb. 1825.
  "GENTLEMEN: What was stated in my letter of the 15th in relation to the
conduct of the Agent at the Indian Springs as rumor, is confirmed as matter of
fact. Professing good dispositions and tendering hearty co-operation to the
Commissioners, he was secretly engaged in undermining them.

  "The Chiefs were all, the Tookaubatchies excepted, ready to sign the Treaty,
and whilst the Commissioners were occupied in the preparation of it, the Agent
ordered a portion of them to depart by night. When the Commissioners to their
astonishment discovered this secession, they dispatched Colonel Williamson in
persuit and to advise them to return-but their resolution was fixed, and when it
was asked why they had thus precipitately turned their backs on the
Commissioners on the very eve of the signature, their answer was, one and all
"by order of the Agent." You see therefore, that but for this perfidious
interference the Treaty would have been concluded by the entire Nation, and with
a unanimity almost unexampled.

  "This last act of the Agent proves that he is yet animated by the same
inveterate hostility to the interest of Georgia, which signalized his conduct
and defeated the Treaty at Broken Arrow.

  "It is the interest of Georgia, as I believe it is the wish of her people,
that the territory be organized as speedily as possible, consistently with the
treaty, and as in expediting the removal of the Indians, much will depend on the
facilities afforded by the Agent, it is presumable that he will not fail to take
the necessary,measures to detain them to the last hour limited by the Treaty.

  "I understand further that those of the Tribe who refused assent to the
Treaty, threaten injury to McIntosh and his Chiefs-should 
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the execution of those threats be attempted (the Treaty having been ratified) I
will feel it to be my duty to punish in the most summary manner and with the
utmost severity every such attempt as an act of hostility committed within the
actual territory and acknowledged jurisdiction of Georgia, and thus whether the
Agent of the United States may think proper to deport himself as a neutral or a
partisan.

  "With great respect and consideration,
                                      G. M. TROUP."
  "The Hon. Senators and Representatives in
  Congress from Georgia-Washington City.

                                  "CHATTAHOCHIE, 29th March, 1825.
  "To His Excellency George M. Troup.

  "SIR: I take the liberty of sending Saml. Hawkins to you, seeing in the
newspapers your proclamation stating that the Treaty was ratified by the
President and Senate,-We see in the papers also where Crowell had wrote to the
Department that chiefs of the lowest grade had signed the Treaty, and we see
where he says there will be hostilities with us if the United States signed the
Treaty. We are not any ways in danger until he comes home and commences
hostility and urges it himself on us, if the treaty is ratified, if you can let
Saml. Hawkins have two thousand dollars, or stand his security in the Bank to
that amount, we will send men on now to look the country over to try to move
away this fall-the money if loaned to us will be paid back as soon as the money
comes on to pay the first payment of the Treaty. Any information that you can
give him will be satisfactory to me.

                                   "Your dear friend, &c,
  (Signed)                                 "WILLIAM McINTOSH."

                               "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
                           "MILLEDGEVILLE, 29th March, 1825.
  "DEAR GENERAL: You will have seen by my proclamation of the 21st inst that I
have resolved in fulfillment of the stipulations of the treaty, to maintain,
inviolate all your rights reserved by it, so that you suffer no detriment or
loss by the trespasses or incursions of the whites, as long as you continue to
occupy the country.
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  It is important that the territory acquired by the late Treaty, should be
organized as speedily as possible consistently with the provisions of that
instrument, and not doubting that your time will be given to the survey of it
before your removal, I have dispatched a messenger to you that your resolution
may be communicated to me without delay. It is not presumed that the least
inconvenience can result to you from this measure. Besides my own determination
to cause the rights of the Indians to be respected in their persons and property
at all times, there will be a further and ample protection and security in the
selection of the officers who shall be charged with the duty of running the
lines, who shall be responsible, not only that no depredations are committed by
themselves, but that none shall be committed by others without their giving
prompt notice to the lawful authorities so that the offenders may be brought to
justice.

  "You will understand that there is no intention on my part to hasten your
departure, the period of this will be left to your own considerations of
interest and convenience under the Treaty, but as the survey is a work of time,
this time can be saved to us so that having completed it, nothing will remain
but to occupy and settle the country after you shall have left it. I wish you,
by all means to give me your final answer by this express, that I may know what
measures it will become my duty to adopt.

                                  "Your friend,
                                           "G. M. TROUP."
  "Gen. Wm. McIntosh, Creek Nation.

  Governor Troup arranged for the money, $2,000, McIntosh asked for. Several
letters are omitted, but the next is given to show the feeling of security and
confidence held by Governor Troup, that, you will notice by the third paragraph
of the letter dated April 12th, was not shared by McIntosh. It seems that the
chiefs who left the night before the council to make void, by virtue of their
Indian custom requiring the consent of all the chiefs to any treaty for it to be
binding, the action of the morrow's meeting, as had been the case at Broken
Arrow, must have counted on the Washington authorities refusing to ratify a
treaty that the Indians did not consider valid, else they would not have waited
so long to kill McIntosh. It was several weeks before the treaty was ratified
and a few more before the news reached the scattered Indian towns, and then the
surveying parties, or word of their coming, may have added the final evidence
that their lands were gone.
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  Do not Troup's sweet assurances and promises and highhandedness, make you
sick? When he wrote, "It is not presumed that the least inconvenience can result
to you from this measure," he had evidently forgotten the bitter speech to
McIntosh of Ho-po-eth-le-yo-ho-lo, at Indian Springs.

  The land-greed of our ancestors! With millions of acres in the portions of the
state already acquired from the Indians uncleared, and thousands of acres
cleared but not half cultivated, they yet clamored for more.

                                            "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
                                        "MILLEDGEVILLE, 4th April, 1825.
  "DEAR GENERAL: I have received your letter of the 29th ultimo by Col. Hawkins.
There will be no danger of any hostility in consequence of the ratification of
the Treaty. You will find every thing going on peaceably and quietly. If bad
white men intermeddle to stir up strifes and excite bad passions among the
Indians, I will have them punished. The President will do the same. My Agent has
reported that the Indians opposed to the treaty are quite friendly-that they
think of no mischief-that they love you and will do whatever their father the
President advises. The Senate ratified the Treaty without any difficulty,
although the Agent was opposed to it.

  "I write this morning to the United States Commissioners to furnish you with
the necessary funds to enable your Commissioners to explore the country west of
the Mississippi, so that you may make your arrangements to move during the next
fall, as soon as I hear from them you shall know it. I wish you to inform me as
early as possible of your resolution about the running and survey of the country
as mentioned in my letter by express.

  "You will have seen by my Proclamation, that I have determined that the
Indians shall suffer no loss or injury from our white people if I can help it-it
is intended to guard them against those people whom they will themsleves
consider trespassers and intruders, and not to prevent white people from going
into the Nation with honest intentions to make purchase of stock or property of
any kind which you can lawfully dispose of-all such persons will be suffered to
pass and repass without molestation. We will endeavor too to appoint good and
honest
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men for our surveyors, so that they will do no harm themselves and suffer none
done to the Indians.

                                  "Your friend,
  (Signed)                              "G. M. TROUP."
  Gen. Wm. McIntosh, Creek Nation.

  "On April 12, McIntosh wrote Governor Troup of the ominous conditions and
replying to that official's confident prediction, in his letter of April 4,
that: "There will be no danger of any hostility in consequence of the
ratification of the Treaty. You will find everything going on peaceably and
quietly," "I trust your excellency's sanguine expectations will he realized,"
but assuring him the evidences all indicated something else.

  Having warnings of contemplated acts of violence by the unfriendly Creeks,
Governor Troup sent Henry G. Lamar to investigate all the conditions, interview
the disaffected chiefs, and warn them of the consequences of any acts of
violence on their part. The following extracts are taken from his report:

  "MY FRIENDS AND BROTHERS-I am sent here by the Governor of Georgia to
reconcile difficulties which he has understood exist among you, and in doing
this I shall talk plain and tell you the truth; if you are deceived, it will be
your own fault.

  "We love you and wish to live in peace. We wish you to love one another and
live in peace also. We have understood that in consequence of McIntosh and
others having signed the late treaty you are angry, and wish to stain your hands
in their blood; we hope, for the honor of your nation, for your own peace,
happiness and safety, that these reports are untrue. If they be true, check the
mad career of your feelings. If you do not, it will involve you in calamities
ten-fold greater than these from which you have narrowly escaped in the late
war. McIntosh and his party have acted as dutiful children, in obeying the
advice of our wise and good father, the President. This I shall show you by
documents from his own hand:-Then having acted in obedience to the will of our
father, if you should murder him, or any of his men, or suffer the same to be
done, your white brothers will revenge their death, if in the burning of your
houses, or at the expense of the life of every red man in your town. But in all
this, the innocent would not be punished with the guilty.-Let me ask you a
question-You have a rifle that has long procured you food, and subdued your
enemies;
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it never fails to kill when properly directed. Suppose you level it at a deer;
it snaps or fires and fails to kill; do you on that account break or throw away
a weapon so necessary to your existence and security? And why should you wish to
treat McIntosh less kindly than your gun? Has he not been your friend in peace
and in war? The treaty was made with the advice and wishes of your father and
will ultimately work the independence, and the happiness of the red people,- And
shall this be requited with the gun and the rope? We have heard so. We have
heard that you have listened to the counsel of bad men, that they have wrought
among you an angry excitement, and that McIntosh and his chiefs, are to be the
victims to appease your exasperated feelings. You are warned to turn from such
wicked counsel. If you should attempt it, your nation would be divided.-Take a
number of reeds, bind them close, you cannot break them; separate them or divide
the bunch and the weakest of you can break them to pieces. This would be the
case with your people-divided you would fall without the power to make one manly
struggle. You would be surrounded by white men. They outnumber the trees in your
forest. I have said that McIntosh and those who signed the treaty, acted in
strict obedience to the request of your father-listen and learn his will, and in
future let it guide your determination. (Here the documents showing the views of
the President, as to their removal, were read, but they are not given in the
newspaper, the "Georgia Journal," of Millidgeville, June 14th, 1825, lent by
Mrs. Birdie Varner Saunders, from which are copied these very interesting
papers, so the Lamar speech to the Indians, continued after those papers were
read, is taken up again.)

  "Now you see what bad men have told you is untrue. It was the wish of your
father that the treaty should be held, the land ceded, and that all of you
should move beyond the Mississippi, where you in future could not be disturbed
in the titles to your land; where the buffalo, the bear and the deer could be
chased by your young men, or what would be more desirable, they could settle
down permanently and before long enjoy all the comforts of civilized life.-These
are the wishes of your father. He is wise and good. He studies to promote your
happiness." Then why do you not say, "Father, they will be done." By so doing,
you can select your country, and make a choice before the Cherokees or any other
nation; the President will give you the titles to the land you acquire in the
exchange.-No Nation,
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not even your father, could then take it from you. No disputes could then exist
about land. I wish you now to inform me what I must say to the Governor of
Georgia, and what must he say to the President? Must I tell him the news he has
heard of your wishing to kill McIntosh and his men is false? Must I say you love
them and love their peace, and that you are reconciled to what they have done?
Must I say you will punish the bad men who attempt to harm those who signed the
treaty? I hope you will place it in my power to tell good news, so that in
future there will be no disturbance between our red brothers, or between the
white and the red man.

  "I then read your communication, and Little Prince replied in a few words, by
unequivocally denying any contemplated hostilities to those who signed the treaty.
                       *    *    *    *
  "My own opinion, which is partly conjectural, and in part formed from
observation and conversations with some of the Indians, is this- leave them to
themselves-if they clearly understand what are the wishes of the President, they
will conform to them. I speak of them collectively as a people. They have no
correct notions of the government and their relative connection with it. Their
conclusion is, that the powers of the President are absolute, and that he has an
unquestionable right to coerce obedience. But independent of this notion of
fear, the unlimited confidence reposed in the wisdom and virtue of the
President, is a sure guarantee of the successful accomplishment of his wishes.
In order to destroy the effects of this influence, I discover that the belief
has been imposed upon them (at least to some extent) that the Commissioners
being Georgians, were only subserving the wishes and interest of Georgia. There
are a number of white men settled among them, who heretofore looked with
pleasure on their prospects of enjoying the benefits of a permanent location,
who have acquired their confidence by the connections they have formed, and I
have no doubt that their influence is secretly exerted to excite discontent and
inculcate opinions adverse to the interest of Georgia. There is another
prevailing feeling among them-They indulge the belief, should they move beyond
the Mississippi, that a perpetual warfare with the tribes inhabitating that
country would be the inevitable consequence. You will discover in my Talk to
them, with the view to produce a complete reconciliation, I endeavored to refute
that
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opinion. If the treaty is ratified I have no doubt that all clamor will cease.
                       *    *    *   *
  "I am, sir your obedient servant,
                                      "HENRY G. LAMAR."

                              "CREEK NATION, 25th April, 1825.
  "DEAR SIR: I received your Excellency's request yesterday, dated the 18th
inst. and hereby state to you that my only meaning was not to act contrary to
stipulations made between our Nation and the United States Government, and we do
hereby absolutely, freely and fully give our consent to the State of Georgia, to
have the boundary belonging to said State, surveyed at any time the Legislature
of Georgia may think proper, which was ceded at the late treaty at the Indian
Springs. Signed in behalf of the Nation, and by the consent of the Chiefs of the
same.

  "I have the honor to be, sir, with great esteem, yours respectfully,
  (Signed)                              WILLIAM McINTOSH."

  On the night of April 30, 1825, a band of Indians, that had watched and
waited, trusting that the United States Senate would refuse to ratify the
treaty, now that their hopes were blasted, surrounded the home of McIntosh on
the Reserve, set fire to the buildings and, in spite of McIntosh's brave efforts
to defend himself, killed him, at the doorway, and his son-in-law Hawkins,
though they spared their wives and children and the travelers-always there were
travelers-at his house for the night.

                                        "HEAD QUARTERS
                                 , "MILLEDGEVILLE, May 5, 1825.
                                       "ORDERS.
  "The Commander-in-Chief having received information of the existence among the
Creeks, of the most frightful anarchy and disorder, and of the recent massacre
of General McIntosh, and the old Chief of Coweta within the actual limits of
Georgia, has thought proper to adopt precautionary measures without delay, so
that if the United States, bound by the constitution and the treaty, to repress
and punish hostility among the Indians and maintain peace upon our borders,
shall by any means fail in their duty in these respects, a competent force
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may be held in readiness to march at a moments warning either to repel
invasions, suppress insurrection among the Indians within our own territory, or
give protection to the friendly Creeks, and avenge the death of McIntosh who
always a firm friend to Georgia fell a sacrifice in her cause.

  "Ordered, That Major General Wimberly, Major General Shorter, Major General
Miller, of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Divisions, fortwith proceed to take the
necessary measures to hold in readiness their respective Divisions to march at a
moments warning, either by detachments or otherwise, as they may be commanded by
authority of the Legislature, or of the Commander-in-Chief.
  By the Commander-in-Chief.
  (Signed)                      "SEABORN JONES, Aid-de-Camp."

                                        "HEAD QUARTERS,
                                  "MILLEDGEVILLE, 5th May, 1825.
  "SIR-In carrying into effect the inclosed General Orders, you will keep a
watchful eye to the frontier of our white settlements, so that you may be able
without communicating with me, to repress on its first occurrence any commotion
which may happen there in consequence of the state of things prevailing in the
Nation. These infuriated misguided people may have the temerity before the
general government can interpose, to persue the friendly Indians within our
organized limits. You will therefore in the spirit of these instructions give
your orders corresponding with them to your most confidential officers resident
near the frontiers, who on any sudden emergency of this character, may without
consulting you proceed instantly to their execution. A copy of Gen. Ware's
letter received, after my general orders were issued will assure you of the
nature and extent of the danger to be apprehended and of the promptitude with
which they are to be carried into effect.

  "With great consideration and respect,
                                          "G. M. TROUP."
  "A copy-addressed to
  "Maj. Gens. Wimberly, Shorter & Miller."

                                        "HEAD QUARTERS,
                                "MILLEDGEVILLE, 5th May, 1825.
  "DEAR SIR-I wish you in the distribution of your orders to instruct
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the different Quarter Masters, particularly of the frontier counties where the
Indians are most likely to take refuge under the protection of our arms, to look
to their comfortable support by contracts, which you will be pleased to instruct
them to form with strict regard to economy. The funds will be advanced by the
State on the credit of the U. S. or the Indians, and will be reimbursed by one
or the other.

  "Very respectfully and sincerely,
                                          "G. M. TROUP."
  "Addressed to-
  "Gens. Wimberly & Miller."

                                          "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
                                         "MILLEDGEVILLE, 5th May,
  "Sir-I lose no time in communicating for the information of the President a
copy of a letter received this morning from Brig. Gen. Ware commanding the 2nd
Brigade of the 5th Division of the militia of this state, and to advise you that
measures have been adopted for the adequate protection of the frontiers and for
the safety of the friendly Indians, seeking refuge within our limits until the
authority of the United States can be effectually interposed for these purposes,
and that therefore the expenses incurred in the meantime, will be considered
chargeable to the United States. In due time the measures referred to will be
laid before you in extenso.

  "With great consideration and respect,
                                       "G. M. TROUP."

"The Secretary of War."

  Col. Hawkins, the Interpreter, and friend of McIntosh has shared his fate.

  A long letter of heresay news to the Governor, closes with this short and
illuminating paragraph:

  "There is one circumstance more strongly indicative of the hostile design of
the Indians towards the whites generally, than their warlike exhibitions. It is
this-The whites who have been residents among them and who are acquainted with
their habits and character, are sending their families from the Nation.

  "The Indians hold a talk on Monday next, for what purpose is not known.
                                  "Yours, respectfully,
                                         "CHARLES J. MCDONALD."
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"To THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. FRIENDS AND BROTHERS:

  "We the Chiefs of the Creek Nation, who have sold to the United States a part
of the country, and intending shortly to remove to a new country, have thought
it our duty to lay before you this our last and farewell address.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: We believe you and your state have always been our true
friends-ever since we took hold of one another's hands in friendship, we have
been as neighbors inhabitating the same country-a country which the great spirit
made to be a home and habitation of his children, the Red and White men are all
from the same Father, and each of them are entitled to a share in this world of
the works of his hands, and of the good things which he has made for the use of
men. The country which you now possess, and that which we now remain on, was by
the great spirit originally given to his Red children. Our brothers, the white
men, visited us when we were like the trees of the forest-Our forefathers smoked
the pipe of peace and friendship with the forefathers of the white men-and when
the white men said we wish to live with the Red men and inhabit the same
country, we received your presents and said welcome-We will give you land for
yourselves and for your children. We took the white man by the hand and held
fast to it. We became neighbors and the children of the white man grew up, and
the children of the Red man grew up in the same country, and we were brothers.
The white men became numerous as the trees of the forest, and the Red men like
the Buffalo.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: YOU are like the mighty storm, we are like the tender
and bending tree. We must bow before you; you have torn us up by the roots, but
still you are our brothers and friends. You have promised to replant, us in a
better soil, and to watch over us, and nurse us.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: The day is come when we surrender the country of our
forefathers land of our nativity-our homes our places of our youthful
diversions. We surrender it to our brothers and friends, and our hearts are glad
that we are not forced to do so by our enemies. We go, our people will seek new
lands. Our hearts remain with you.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: In days of old, the years long passed, the Creek Nation
was strong as the Lion, and our warriors were like the
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trees in number. We were visited by a people that came over the great water. We
held talks with them, they offered to take us by the hand as friends and
brothers and as the children of one Father, the children of the Great Spirit, we
met them in friendship and smoked the pipe of peace with them like brothers of
one family. These white people were English, and their Head Chief lived over the
great water. We listened to the talks he sent us, he was our friend, and he made
our Nation many presents, and we loved his white children that he had sent to
live on this side of the great water, and we gave them lands and took hold of
their hands to hold in peace and friendship.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: In the days long passed the Head Warrior over the great
water sent our nation other talks, and told us his white children who we had
long held by the hand, had became bad men and wanted to destroy their Head
Warrier, over the water-that they had become our enemies, and that we must let
go their hands, and take up the tomahawk and dance the war dance, and help our
great father and friend, who had made us great by presents, and help our great
father over the water to chastise his disobedient children. Another Head Warrior
arose among the Virginia people, whose name was Washington, he sent our people
his talks and told us that the white people on this side of the great water had
long been friends and brothers, and that they were born in the same country, and
that we were children of the same land and that we must let go our old father
over the water who would ruin us, and that we must hold fast to the Virginians.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: We listened to our great father Washington and let go
of our friends, the English, and smoked the pipe of friendship and brotherly
love with our Virginia bretheren. We found the talks of our great father
Washington to be true, and that he was our true friend-and his people were our
friends. We have always taken the talks of the Presidents who came after our
beloved great friend Washington. We have considered the Presidents our
protectors and friends and the American people our brothers and neighbors. We
found the English deceitful and our real enemies, and we have long ago fought
them as the enemies of ourselves and our American brethren.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: Our nation have always met the talks of our great
father, the President of the United States. When his Agents and Commissioners
told us he wanted land for his people, we have
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always been willing to divide with them. We have had a great country and we
needed the assistance of our white friends-We give you land and you give us
presents and money, and you taught us the use of the loom, the plough and the
hoe, and you taught us the way to value the different kinds of property.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: When we were first acquainted with our white friends,
we were ignorant like a child-You are in knowledge, like a man in his* full
strength-We therefore have always listened to the President as our common father
and protector. We look up to him as a son would look up to his father.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: Our present chiefs remember the time when we possessed
the land to the bank of the Oconee river, some of our old men remember when
their hunting ground was the other side of the River. We however in our day have
attended the talks of the President when our nation have sold to our father, the
President, all the land between the limits of the late Treaty, and the Oconee.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: We have been for several years viewing with great
attention the advise of the President to make a Treaty with our Nation for all
the land, that lay within the boundary that the state of Georgia wanted or
claimed. We have paid great attention to all his talks through the Commissioners
and we are now satisfied that his advise is for our best interest, and that he
will not forsake his red children in the time of danger and trouble.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: We are satisfied that our claim to the land of our
fathers was before all others-the Great Spirit placed us upon it and give it to
us as our inheritance. But our neighbors and friends the people of Georgia
wanted more land-their children were growing up like the trees of the forest,
and they must have support.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: We who send you this our farewell talk have done
everything we could to satisfy our white brothers and friends, and to please the
President, our father. All have listened to our father, the President's talks
and have determined to make the trial of leaving forever the land of our
fore-fathers and surrendering it to the United States for the use of our long
beloved neighbors and friends, the people of Georgia.

  "BROTHERS AND FRIENDS: We have to part with you. You are shortly to be
possessors of our land and our homes. Homes dear to us because we were raised
and nourished at them-Our habitations are
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simple and plain, but they afford us shelter from the rain and the storm, our
fare is plain and wholesome and affords to us support and health-Our people are
thinly clothed but our huts shelter them from the cold-We have enjoyed in a
considerable degree many of the comforts of life rendered familiar to us by our
intercourse with our white friends, and to a much greater extent than a people
like us, can again shortly expect when we were removed to the wilderness of the
West.

  "FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: All the comforts we now enjoy we abandon for your
sakes. Our wives and helpless children must experience fatigue, hunger and cold
every other incident that must unavoidably attend us in travel from our late
beloved country, to the vast wilderness full of dangers that we probably do not
foresee; but we put our trust in the Great Spirit and our father, the President,
for protection and aid-

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: In all of the Treaties with the United States for land
for your use, we have never asked your state to grant our Nation presents of any
description-We now for the first time, as we are about to take our final leave
of you, have thought proper to introduce ourselves to your notice, and hope that
the first and last request of a people long your neighbors and friends, will not
be passed unnoticed, by the people of the great and powerful state of Georgia,
always professing toward us the greatest friendship and brotherhood.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: To you as the representatives of our old neighbors and
friends, and as the children of the Great Spirit, and as our common relations
managing the affairs of the great state of Georgia we appeal in terms of
friendship, for such aid and assistance as the pleasure of your assembly in
behalf your people may think proper to afford us, previous our final departure
from you. The difficulties, wants and distresses which await us in our removal,
in a body of ten thousand of our people, consisting of men, women and children,
must be our apology for introducing ourselves to the consideration of your
humanity, charity and benevolence.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: In behalf of our people we desire of you, if it may
meet with our good pleasure and liberality, to make our nation or such part as
determine to remove, such a donation in presents of any kind as the character
and dignity of your state may warrant and the wants and distresses and long
attachment of our people to you may deserve.
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  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: If after you hear our request and consider it, you
should think that we are not entitled to your consideration, generosity and
liberality, and that as we are about to leave you forever, and that you now have
a legal claim and right to our late country and that you owe us nothing, still
we will remain strong in our former friendship to you. We do not ask of you
anything as a matter of right, or of any legal claim have on you, but merely
desire to recommend ourselves to your generosity and charity.

  "FRIENDS AND BROTHERS: We finally assure you that our attachment toward our
old friends and neighbors shall never cease, and that we will carry with us the
feelings of true and devoted friendship toward the state of Georgia, to the
United States and the Legislature of Georgia. If we should be so happy as to
experience any token of their regard, we will teach our children to remember it
with gratitude, and cause it to be handed down to the succeeding generations of
our Nation, that they may forever know that Georgia was the friend in the hour
of distress.

  (Signed)

                         "William McIntosh.
                         "Wm. Miller, his x mark.
                         "Ahlyhucky, his x mark.
                         "Aubickah, his x mark.
                         "Ispogormothe, his x mark.
                         "Hothe Marta Tustenuggee, his x mark.
                         "Tustenuggee, his x mark.
                         "Hogey McIntosh, his x mark.
                         "Jas. Derouson, his x mark.
                         "Chas. Miller, his x mark.
                         "Wolobock Hajo, his x mark.
                         "Micholhe Homothe, his x mark.
                         "Chawgle Mico, his x mark.
                         "Jno Harrold, his x mark.
                         "Muree Homettoge, his x mark.
                         "Samuel Hawkins."

  "April 12th, 1825.

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Additional Comments:
Citation:

COWETA COUNTY CHRONICLES FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH

An Account of the Indians from Whom the Land was Acquired

AND
Some Historical Papers Relating to its Acquisition by Georgia, with Lineage Pages.

EDITED AND COMPILED BY MARY G. JONES AND LILY REYNOLDS
FOR
SARAH DICKINSON CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 
OF NEWNAN, GEORGIA

THE STEIN PRINTING COMPANY
ATLANTA, GA.
1928


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/coweta/history/1928/cowetaco/chapteri735gms.txt

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