Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-10-15

the Consent of Great Britain I And wheth>
er It was understood to operate as a restric
ton upon the Indians from selling by. such
amicable treaties. lands TO the United States.
as has been hitherto practiseis
They answered. that It was understood,
that the Indian territories should be bar
rier between the British possessions and
those of the United States that the United
StatqDnd Great Britain should both be re
stricee1 from such purchases of lands but
that the1ladans would not be restricted from
selling toany third party.
The meeting was adjourned to Wednes>
day 10th August.
IS True copy
c. HUGHES. Jr.
Sec. to the Mission Extraordinary.
Messrs. Adams. Bayard, Clay. Russell, and
Gaiiatin, to Mr. Monroe. Secretary OF
|Sir, ''''. 80 y.
Mr.. Baker, Secretary to the British mis-
sion, called upon US to day, at fo'clcck. and
invited US TO conference to be held at 8. -
Ibis was agreed to, & the British Con mis-
sioners opened it, by saying that they had
received their further instructions this NOR.
ming. and had not lost moment, in reaues~
/ ting a meeting for,the purpose of coalmu-
nicating the decisionof their Government.--.
1 1t is proper 20 notice that Lord Castlereagh
1 had arrived last night in this city. whence.
it is said, he will depart tomorrow on his
wav to Brussels and Vienna.
The British Comm sscners stated trat
their government had felt some surprise.
that we were not Instructed respecting the
l Indians, az It could not have been expected
l that they would leave their Allies, in their
I comparatively weak situation, exposed to
our resentment. Great Britain might lust
] " have supposed that the American Co.
I vernment would have furnished Us with in.
! structions, authorizing as to agree to a pos
tive article on the subject but, the lcass
she could demand was that we should sign
provisionatartici admitting the principle,
! subject to the ratification of our govern
ment so that, if it should be ratified, the
treaty should take effect; and, il not, that i,
should be nall and void on our assent or
refusal to such an article would depend the
continuance or suspension Of the pegocia
ton.
as we had represented that the PROPOSE !.
ton made by them. on that subject, was
not sufficiently explicit, their Government
had directed them to give US every necessa,
ny explanation, and to state distinctly the
basis which must be considered as an indis
pensable preliminary.
1t was sine 9na non that the Indi-
ans should be included in the pacifcaton.
and as incident thereto, that the boundaries
of their territory should be permanently es.
tahlished Peace with the Indians was
\ subject SO simple, as to require no comment
With respect to the boundaries which were
to divide theirterritory from that of the u
nited States, the object Of the British gov.
eminent was, that the Indians should re.
main AS permanent barrier between our
western settlements, and the adjacent Bri.
tsh provinces, TO prevent them from being
conterminous to each other: and that nei
i Their the United States, nor Great Britain,
shosld ever hereafter have the right to bur.
chase, or acquire any part of the territory
| thus recognized. as belonging to the Indians.
With regard to the extent Of the Indian
| territory, and the boundary line, the British
government would propose the lines of the
Greenville treaty, as proper basis, subject,
I however, 10 discussion and notifications
l We stated that the Indian territory. &C
/ cording to these lines. would comprehend a
great NUMBER Of American citizens not
/ less perhaps than hundred thousand. and
asked, what was the intention of the British
government, respecting them, and under
whose government they would faIf 1t was
I answered that those settlements would be
taken into consideration, when the line be-
came SUBJECT OF discussion: but that such
Tot the inhabitants. as would ultimately be
! included within the Indian territory, must
make their own arrangements and provide
1 for themselves.
Tie British Commissioners here said thar.
considering the importance of the question
we had to decide, Gina. of agreeing to pro.
visional articls) their Government had tho't
1t right, that we should also be fully infor a,
ed OF its views, with respect to the proposed
revision Of the boundary line, between the
dominions If Great Britain and the United
States.
LIST. Experience had proved that the Joint
possession ofthe Lakes, and right common
to both nations to keep up naval force on
them, necessarily produced collisions, and
rendered peace insecure.
AS Great Britain could not be supposed N
expect TO make conquests in that Quarter.
and as that province was essentially weak
er than the United States, and exposed 20
Invasion, II was necessary, for its security.
mat Great Britain should require that the
United States should hereafter keep no arm.
ed naval force on the Western Lakes. from
Lake Ontario &c. Lake Superior, both inclu.
sive; that they should not erect any fortified
or military post or establishment on the
shores OF those Lakes; and that they should