The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1791-06-03 00:00:00, page 2

LAWS OF THE UNITED
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 4.
The following statement of the trarifaftions
of the general government, relative to
the Indian Tribes, is the result of the
roft diligent enquiry <we have been able
to make into the fabfa. %Te doubt not
it will prove fatisfaa^ry, at it contain,
faas, and such general information as
'the public have a right to receive ; it
quill also farnifl, the means of forming
just ideas df theprefent posture of Indi
an Affairs. ~
THE measures adopted by the gene
ra! government, Relative to the
Indian bribes, within the limits of the
United States, are replete dith moder
ation, justice and humanity. Philofo
phm, and the intelligent part of the
THIRD SESSION.
Begun and held at the city of Philadel
phia, on Monday the fix th of Decem
ber, one iboujaad Je^'en hundred and
ninety.
CONGRESS of the U. STATES :
An ACT to continue in force
the Adt therein mentioned,
and to make further pro
vision for the payment of
Pensions to Invalids, and
for the support of Light-
Houses, Beacons, Buoys
and Public Piers.
BE i/m^^,^S^ATE& House
of REPRESENT A T I v. s ofthe Uni
ted Gratis of America in Congress affemhled.
That the aft, entitled, "An aft to
provide for mitigating or remitting
the forfeitures anl penalties accruing
under the revenue laws,in certain cases
therein mentioned," shall be and is
hereby continued in force until, the end
of the next session of Congress, and no
longer.
And he it further erased. That the
yearly pensions which have been allow
ed by or in ptirfuance of any aft or law
of the United Suites,to persons who were
wounded and disabled during the late
war, mould for the fplce of one year
from the fourth day of March next, be
paid out of the treafur, of the United
States, under such regulations as the
President of the United States may di-
And be it further enaAed, That all ex
fences which shall accrue from the firft
day of July next, inclusively for the ne
chffary fop port, maintenance and repairs
of all light-houses, beacons, buoys and
public piers, shall be defrayed by: the-
United States,until the firft day bf July,
in the year one thousand seven hundred
arid ninety-two, notwithstanding such
light-houses, beacons, buoys, or pub
lic piers, with the lands and tenements
thereto belonging, and the jurifdidion
of the fame, fliall not in the mean time
be ceded to ar vested in the, United
States, by the Race or Rates refpeftive
ly, io which the fame may be, and that
the said time may be further, allowed
to the Rates refpedively, to make such
cession. Provided, that nothing in the
said aft be construed to limit or restrain
the power of the President of the United
States.
Frederick- A. -Muhlenberg,
Sneakerof the House of Representatives.
JOHN ADAMS, Vice-President ofthe
U. States,and President of the Senate.
Approved, March the third, 1791.
Prelident of the United States,
bepoftted among the Rolls in the Office
of the Secretary of State. .
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
• Secretary of State.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Columbian Intelligence.
G. WASHINGTON,
STATES.
But, the enlightened citizens of Ame
rica, highly approved the treaty, as the
ground work of attaching the Creeks,
and the whole body of Southern Indians
to the interests of the United States, up
on principles entitled to the appro
bation of the difiriterefted part of man
kind.
human race, approve the wisdom of such
conduct, while its oppofers will consist
entirely 6f people of a different descrip
tion.
In order therefore to prevent the for
mer, and to establish the latter, mea
sures, honorable to the government,
were devised, and Executed with great
ability, to induce the Chiefs of the
Creeks, to repair to the residence of the
general government, ?s the only means
by which they could avoid the ruin im
pending over their nation.
The treaty with the Creeks at New
york, on" the 7th of August 1790, was
the consequence of the visit of the Chiefs.
1 his treaty has been reprobated by land
jobbers, interested individuals, arid some
of the inhabitants of Georgia.
Instead of an oppressive ffftem, having
for its objed, the extirpation of a race
of men more finned agaioft,, than fin
ning, it appears to be the design of the
general government, to 'mpart to the
Indians, who were the original lords
ofthe foil, all he blessings of lift, of
which their iituation will admit, and
to lead them, by degree-, to a more fet
tled and civilized mode of existence.
The treaty had been broken off rather
abruptly, on the part of the Creeks,
and under circumffances which indica
ted'averfion to an intimate connection
with the United states. Had the Creeks
committed hostilities either before or
after the expiration of the truce,it would
have been, difficult to have found the
colour of an excuse, for the United States
not entering into an immediate war
with that nation. .
While on the one hand such a war, in
which neither honor net profit could be
obtained, was to be avoided jf possible,
so on the other, the United States were
bound to protect all their citizens from
violence.
Altho' these Commiffioneh were cha
takers of high reputation, and repaired
to the place appointed in due season,
yet they failed of eff^ing a treaty at
that time, owing to causes which are
here unnecessary to be detailed.
But, although no permanent Trea
ty was concluded, an informal truce
was agreed to until the spring of the
year 179'0.
The issue of this buftnefs placed the
United States in a new and critical si
tuation: Before, it seemed a contest a
rising out of disputes between Georgia
arid the Creeks, relative to local boun
daries. But, the United States having
interpofed,they became interested there
in, and responsible for all the consequen
ces..
The fopreme executive of the United
States, has also taken measures to secure
Waving the confederation of civiliz
ing the Indians, which by many is
deemed impracticable, the policy of ob
serving a liberal and humane conduct
towards them cannot well be denied.
At the commencement of the present
constitution, the affairs upon the south
western frontiers, presented a gloomy
afpe&.
The Rate of Georgia had been involv
ed. for a number of years in serious hos
tilities with the Creek nation of Indi
ans. In this contest the Rate of Geor
gia had been greatly diftteffed, its fron
tier inhabitants compelled to abandon
their plantations, and guards were
mounted, even in the city of Savannah
itfelf, to prevent a furp'tife. . # f,
Congress early took this fubjeß into
confidefatioh, and voted the sum of
twenty thousand dollars., for the purpose
of defraying the expences of negociati
ons or treaties with the Indian tribes.
Three commissioners were accordingly
appointed for the purpose of holding a
treaty with the Creek nation, in Sep
tember, 1789, who were about to assem
ble at that time by virtue ofa previous
arrinlenient made under the directions
of the old Congress.,
It may be faiely affirmed, that <hc
expence of conciliating, and attaching
all the neighbouring Indians to the in
terests of the United States, for a period
cf fifty years would not be so great as
the expences of one campaign against
either the Creeks, or the Choctaws.
And the arrangements made, and
which are in train of execution, will in
all probability be entirely adequate to
the full conviftion of the hostile Indians,
that they have abundantly more to hope
from the mercy, than to expe& from
the weakness of the United States.
'I he general government took early
measures for this purpose—Treaties had
been rorm'ed, under the old government,
with the fix nations, the 4 Wyandots, and
Delawars, and some of the more weftern
Indians—but, the Wabash Indians al
ways declined 10 attend at the nego
ciations of those treaties, not withitand
ing they were invited thereto.
In order, if possible to bring, those de
luded people o a.juft sense of their fitu
atidn,the President of the United States,
directed that they fhou!d be invited a
new, to treat of peace, and that the
consequence of their rcfufal and persist
ing in hostilities fhouid be fully placed
before .tocm; —and at the lame time, the
people, of Kentucky were prohibited
from making any further incurfi ns into
the Indian country.
This invitation was executed early in
the last year, to all the tribes inhabiting
the river Wabath, from Post Vincennes,
up to the Miami village. The invita
tion was not only refufed by the Indians,
but their hostilities were renewed with
greater violence than ever.
The campaign therefore of the last
year .was a measure of necessity—The
Indians had been invading our frontiers,
and had killed many hundred innocent
men, women and children.
the Chocktaws and Chickefaws, in their
attach ment to the United States, by as
suring them cf the full performance of
the treaties cf Hopewell.
And, a treaty is tc be held by Gover
nor Blount, of the territory of the Uni
ted States fouth of the Ohio, during
the present year with the Cherokees.
Indeed there is the faireft profpea, of
mot only making a permanent peace
with all the Southern nations oflndians,
but of attaching them in such a manner
to the intereUs es th© United Spates, as
to command their aCtive services, if nc
ceTary. .;;
The Yazous company, so called, who
have purchased of the State cf Georgia,
the pre-emption, to almost the entire
lands of the Chodaws, Chickefaws, and
part of the Cherokees, are dwindling
away, and the boasted plans of Mr.
O'Fallon and his aflociages, are far from
being realized. The general govern
ment will never be so loft to sentiments
of justice and virtue as to fuffer a num
ber of land-jobbers to dispossess the In
dians of their country, against exiting
laws and treaties, and thereby to plunge
the United States in war with those
powerful tribes, who are otherwise zea
loufiy disposed to be our firm and inti
mate friends.
It were devoutly to be wished, that
in turning our eyes to the regions north
west of the Ohio, that the fame profpeas
of peace appeared.
It became just and highly proper, to
manifeft the power of the United States
over these blood-thirsty tribes. That
the expedition did not entirely succeed,
is to be much regretted, but it is unne
cessary in this place to investigate the
causes of its failure.
Notwithstanding the provocations of
these Indians, it is said measures have
been taken to open their eyes to their
true situation, and if possible to induce
them "to peace without the neceflity of
an active campaign againtt them ; but,
if the measures taken for this purpcfe
should be in vain, the meekness ofchrif
tianity, will juftify the government in
taking effectual measures to prevent the
murder of its peaceable citizens.
ExtraQ of a letter from HarriJburgh, dated
May I.
“ A melancholy accident happened on
the river, just above the town, the night
before b ft,a batteau was funk with three
young men and two girls in it ; one of
the young men (which proves to b< poor
Penitch's son) and the two girls were
loft. The screams of those that reached
the shore were heard about ten o'clock,
by many people, but none seemed alarm
ed at it. We heard the noise very dif
tin&ly, and probably if the poor crea
tures could have had immediate assist
ance, they might have been saved, The
bodies are not yet found."
CONNECTICUT.
May 2J. Last Monday night, about
half past ten o'clock, an Earthquake was
felt in this town. The Chock was pre
ceded and accompanied with a rattling
rumbling noise, usual on such occasions.
The Ihock however followed the found
in a few ftconds, and was rather of the
jar ing than the waving kind. It sassed
but a few, perhaps eight or ten seconds.
After an interval of about four minutes,
a second, but feeble shock was felt. The
course of the second is differently de
scribed by different perlons ; but accor
ding to lie account of those who were
abroad ard most likely to know the
truth, the course was from a northerly
or weflerly to an easterly direction. The
night was perfectly serene, and the
moon shone with uncommon brightness.
Last Monday morning the following
horrible deed was perpetrated at Wirfor,
by Selah Sheldon, the father ofth r ee chil
dren,two ions and a daughter, the young
est aged 16 months. —Taking the oppor
tunity when his wife and her father were
withdrawn a few rods from the house,
leaving the eldest in the bed, the young
cß.in the cradle, and the fecend fitting
at its foot ; he came with an axe, and
laying the- head of his voungeß child
over the fide of the cradle, after two or
three ftiokes on his neck, as appeared
by tobfervadon, cut its throat in the
most awful manner. The second child
in her fright ran with the tidings to her
mother, who hastening into the house,
found her husband holding the weapon
of death over the elded son, whom he
had dragged from the bed to the floor
seized inßantly the axe, 2nd prevented
the uplifted stroke. A jury was called
who pronounced the babe to be murder
ed. lie unnatural father was imme
diately taken into cuftedy, and was per
mitted to attend the remains of the
flaughtrred babe to he meetinghouse,
where 3 Sermon adapted to the occasion
was delivered by the Rev. Henry A.
Rowland, from Eccles. ix. 3. The
heart of the fas of men is ,^ll ofroif, and
madnys is in their heart nubile they live,
and after that tky go to the dead. He
was afterwards fine on by authority to
be committed to the common goal to
await his trial.
Not long since a number of the Rev.
Mr. Willard's parishioners, of Meriden,
assembled at his house and very re
fpedtully presented Mrs. Willard with
134 runs of linen yarn, and zolb. of
flax, and what seems to add to the gra
tuity, is, that they brought in almost
a Efficiency to refrefh themselves with.
We hear that the body of a man by
the name of Gerry, was last week found
dead,' on the fide of a mountain in the
parish of Middlefield—it is foppofed he
died in a fit.
Last Thursday the anniversary Elec
tion of Supreme Magistrates, ard other
officers, for the government cf this State,
was held in this city, when his Excel
lency Samuel Huntington, Esq : was clo
fen Governour, and the Henau ble
Oliver Walcott, Esq; Lieutenant Go
vernour.
MASSACHUSETTS.
SPRINGFIELD, MAY 18.
On Thursday last, nearly two thou- •
sand dollars damage was done by fire,
on the plains, in this town, one small
dwelling house was confirmed—the da
mage confided principally in the de
ftru&ion of fences and a fine growth of
timber : A day or two before greater
damage was done by this raging ele
ment, on the plains between this town
and Wilbraham ; the last mentioned fire
(it is conjectured) was set with an evil
intention, the former arose from acci
dent, or from want of care and neceffar,
attention.
PORTLAND, MAY 12.
On Wednesday the 4th inst. arrived
at Wifcaffet, from Martinique, the Sul
ly, Capt. Campbell, who left that island
the loth ult. Before Capt. Campbell
left the Island, 17 (hips of the line and
five thousand troops from France, arri
ved there, with orders from the Nation
al Assembly, to put an end to the civil
war which had but too long distressed
the inhabitants of that divided island.
Such immense quantities of Corn had
MIDDLETOWN, MAY2T.
HARTFORD, MAY 16.