The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-08

eminent Of the United States, in forming in
structions fer this negotiation, than they seem
to have been contemplated by that Of Great
Britain in November last, in proposing it
Id Castlereagh's note makes the termination
OF the war to depend on conciliatory adjust
ment of the differences then subsisting be-
tween the two states, and on no other condi-
ton whatever.
Nor could the American government have
foresecn that e.. Britain, in order to obtain
peace for the Indians, residing within the do
nin'ons OF the Uhited States, whom she had
induced to take part with her in the war,
would demand that they should be made par
ties TO the treaty between thetwo nations, or
that the boundaries Of heir lands should be
permanently and irevocably fixed by that
treaty. Such a proposition is contrary to the
acknowledged principles of public law, and to
the practice of all civilized nations, particu-
y OF u. Britain & Of the u. States. l. is not
founded, onIecprocity. 1t is unnecessary for
the attainment of the object which it profess
es to have in view.
No maxim of public law has hitherto been
more universally established among the pow
ers OF Europe possessing territories in Amer-
ca, ana there is none to which G.. Britain has
more unitormly and infexibiy adhered. than
| that OF suffering no interposition of foreign
power III tao relations between the acknowl-
edged sovereign of the territory, and the In
| OF this principle, there would be no intelligi
| BILE meaning attached to stipulations esta5-
| iishing boundaries between the dominions in
| America OF civilized nations possessing terri
torres inhabited by Indian tribes. Whatever
| may be the relations OF In5ians to the nation
IN whose territory they are slus acknowled-
| gcd to reside, they cannot be considered as
| an independent power by the ration which
has made such acknowledgment. -.
That the territory of which e. britain
| wishes now to dispose, is within the domin-
ions OF the y. States, was so!emly acknowle led
ged by herself IL the treaty of peace of 1888,
which established their boundaries, and by
winch che reiinquished all claims TO the gov
ernmeht, propriety, and territorial rights
within those boundaries. No condition res
Pecting the Indians residing therein, was in
serted in that treaty. No stipulation similar
TO mat now proposed is to be found in any
treaty made by q. Britain, or within the
knowledge OF the undersigned, by any other
nation. .,., .. ~. 49,
The Indian tribes for which, &. Britain pro-
poses now to stipulate, have, themselves, &C
knowledged this principle. BY the Green
vile treaty of 1795, to which the British pie
nipotentiaries have alluded, it is expressly
stipulated, and the condition has been Confir-
med by every subsequent treaty, so late as
the year 1910, THAT the Indian tribes shall
quietly enjoy their lands, hunting, planting and
dwelling thereon, SO long as they please, with
out any molestation from the U. States bu,
that when those tribes, or any Of them, shall
DC disposed to sell their lands, they are TO be
sold only to the u. States that until such
sale, the U.'States will protect all the said
indian tribes IN the quiet enjoyment of their
lands against all the citizens of the u. s. and
against all other white persons vino Atrudc
ON the same, and that the said Indian tribes
again acknowledge themselves TO be under the
protection OF the U. States, and Of no other
power whatever
That there Is nc reciprocity in the propo-
sed stipulation, Is evident. In prohibiting q
Britain and the u. States from purchasing
Lands within part of the dominions of the
| latter power, while it processes to take from
u. Britain privilege which she had not, i,
actually deprvcs the u. States of right ex-
clusively belonging to them. .i. .,
The proposition is also utterly unnecessary
tor the purpose OF obtaining paciication Eel
the Indians residing within the territories Of
the U. States. The undersigned have alrea-
dy had the honor Of informing the British
pleMpotentiaries that under the system of Ii
oeral policy adopted by the u. States III their
relations with the Indians within their terrific
RES, an uninterrupted peace had subsisted
from the year 1875, not only between the u
States and all those tribes, but also amongst
those tribes themselves for longer period OF
tlpe than ever had been known since the
first settlement of n. America. Against those
Indians the u. States have neither interest
nor inclination to continue the war. They
nave nothing to ask If them but peace
Commissioners on their part have been APP
| pointed to conclude it, and an armistice was
actually made last autumn with most of those
tribes. The British government may again
have induced some of them to take their side
in the war, but peace with them will necess-
arlly follow Immediately peace with G. Bri-
| tain.
| To provisional article, similar to what
has been stipulated i'll some former treaties,
engaging that each party will treat for the
Indians within its territories, include them in
the peace, and use itSbest en6eavors to pre-
vent them from committing hostilities against
the citizens or subjects of the other party,
the undersigned might assent, and rely or
the appreciation and ratification OF their 20
vernment They would also, for the purpose
OF securing the duration of peace, and TO pre-
vent collisions which might interrupt it, pro-
pose stipulation which should preclude the
subjects o. citizens of each naticn, respect
lVeiy from trading with the Indians residing
in the territory of The other. But to surrcn-
der both the rights of sovereignty and of soil
| over nearly one third ofthe territorial domi-
| mons OF tue u. States to number of Indians
not probably exceeding twenty thousand, the
| undersigned are 50 far from being instructed
| aittlOrIze1 that ti JN,..t.