Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-23

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'ermined,tbat whatever given the price OF the
iand should appear on the face OF the treaty. lis
distributions at their instance, is considered no
ah'ir OF this Government, except far as humani-
~ was concerned in preventing disturbance. To
my advice, they replied, their authority as repre
senting their tribe had not been questioned as TO
the sale OF their lands and they could no. see the
propriety OF its being doubted 10 the receipt of
the purchase money, end that they are willing 10
be responsible for all consequences.
Your obedent servant,
JAMES BARBOUR.
The Hon. THOMAS ii. BENTON,
The Hon. LOUIS McLANE.
DEPARTMENT. OF WAN,
Office Indian -4.Gairs, May 18th, 1896.
To the Hon. JAnKs BARBOUR,
Secretary Of IPdr.
SIR: have the honor, in compliance with your
directions, to'' state what know of the pro1res
sive steps taken by you in regard to the late Creek
Treaty, and Immediately preceding The opening of
the negotiation, and which led TO its execution
| and particularly as it respects list Of the money.
which the Chiefs prepared containing the sums
which they requested should be paid over to them.
| individually and in this city, 10 state that the
first step, immediately preceding the opening OF the
negotiation, was 10 impress the delegation with
your own apprehensions in regard TO the difficulties
which would accompany the execution of ann
Treaty, the provisions of which might fall short Of
| those contained in that concluded a: the Indian
Springs, on the 18th February last; end that. to re-
conciie them TO the provisions of that Treaty ,ou
were prepared TO consult their happiness in a loca-
ton upon lands West of the mississippi which
they themselves might select; and TO add TO the
moned stipulations of that Treaty so as To rpal,e
them comfortable in their new homes This the
delegation promptly rejected; nor would they
listen 10 any proposition short of one " hch should
have for lis basis the absolute Gnnuinient of that
| Treaty, as preliminary TO the formation of any
Treaty, and of any kind. The basis was then sub
United, and embraced cession of all the lands
owned by the Creek nation within the chart cred
limits of Georgia. This was also rejected, and the
Chatahoochy proposed by the Delegation as
the boundary, accompaniedby an explicit declaia-
tion that they had no power 10 go further Here
a discussion took place, in which You urged the.r
to consider the extreme peril of their present situa
ton, and REQUIRED again 10 your fears that should
they; by refusing to accept the basis which you had
submitted, that the negotiations might end ard the
treaty Of the Indian Springs be sustained and
enforced. in which event their situation would be
truly deploiable. You assured them that Won
were consulting their happiness, and that no
other object cherished but 10 secure to then,
future security and repose. You illustrated the re-
ation in which the United States stand 10 Georgia.
and the difficulties which they had il in their
power TO remove, by prompt acquiescence in
| The views of their Great Father the President
| Frequent interviews had, beside resort 10
the agency OF Governor CasS to produce in them
decision favorable 10 the basis you had proposed
and which had been urged from the bec.inning.
In this stage of the discussion and when at last
the Chatahoochy was agreed 10 rs the basis, with
a fIagmen, Of land north of it, as defined in the
treaty, and before the treaty was put in form
Ridge and Vann made known the intentions Of
the Chiefs TO require reservations for them This
was promptly rejected. They were told by YOU.
that no locations of the sort would De allowed,
but that fair equivalent in money nigh, be added
F.. They replied, money was TO object. They finally
agreed to ten thousand dollars, meaning, on their
part, they afterwards explained. ten thousand
dollars each, bur Were pat right by the as-iran &c
that such sum ntended nor could he ihounh h,
of; and that five thousand dolla.s each was The
extent that could be allowed. They assented
The treaty was then drawn, (as it appears in lis
present form, without is supplemental article, )
and submitted to them and agreed to-
At this period, and after the signing, Ridge and
Vann brought paper to me, saying the Chiefs had
agreed to the payments the persons whose
names were upon it, and in the sums opposite each
respectively. told them it was their own alT, ;
the treaty provided for payment of tie whole
$2l7,O0O " to the ChitfS of the nation" i,nrne-
diately after its ratification; and it would be for
them to make whatever disposition OF the money
they might esteem proper; but suggested that il
might not be the best mode, as the nation was
interested in the distribution, and might except to it,
then took the paper you, and explained these
views. You were much engaged at the time, and
answered, you presumed it was their own affair
and however proper it light be TO see more gener
al equalization OF it through the nation, vet YOU
supposed il must rest with them.
/ returned and asked Ridge and Vann their oJject
for having the appointments made here? Thcy
answer ed they wanted it counted here and sealed
/ up, and given 10 each person, a. preferable 10
ha' ing it done in the nation. / told them it could
not I've done here, but the Cashier OF the Branch
Bank would, no doubt, obiige them by seeing Il 80
| counted ard sealed.
Ibls, afterwards, became subject Of consdera-
ton with you. YOU spoke TO me 1T regard 80 +.
and having been intiioa,ed that probably the in
ieror and less intelligent OF ibe Chiefs might not
know what arrangement made IS 10 the sums 4
and The manner Of applying them, I sent for Ridge
and Yam, and asked them to state distinctly wht-
| her every member of the Delegation knew, as
well they did, the mode which they ha3 adopicd
| for the distribution OF the money? Ridge frankly
| answered 8" no but that Opoihe-K oholo and
Charles Cornneli5 knew, and that was enough"
reported this TO you, when you directed me 10 send
FOR the Delegation. This was after TIE supplement
tai article Of the treaty was agreed to- and sent 10
/ the Senate They came You then repiesenied
10 them the danger that might arise from 20 partial
a distribution OF their money; as their peopic an
home might not submit 10 IL. You wore ansyy cred
they knew what they were doing. you then direc-
ted The Interpreter to say that you had no desire 10
control that over which the treaty bad given them
| the power, but that as the paper had been handed
/ 10 you, you wished 70 read IL, and know whether
they had al agreed to have tie disposition made o.
The money which was therein indicated They an
swered each, and individually, Yes"- Repeat
/ futr hat ff.s-