Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-09-11
HAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
GcoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. !

intimate that their territorial limits
towards Georgia included the greater
part of the Greek Nation. and that the
boundary of their territory was sew
eral degrees north of latitude thirty
one. Whilst these States were in the
childhood of independence, the con
duct of the Spaniards towards them
implied that they had not yet acquired
any knowledge of International law, or
were too weak to resent the infraction
of its rules. 1t is an obvious law
amongst nations, that one sovereignty
shall not treat with inhabitants resid
ing upon the territories of another, nor
take them under protection, much less
receive from them stipulation, that
its governmental orders and municipal
laws shall be obeyed by them. Yet
now such was the conduct of Spain to-
wards the State of Georgia. On the
first of June, l774, in the fort of Pensa-
cola. the capital of West Florida, Gov.
Nero, Gov. Oneille, and Don Navarro,
on behalf of the Spanish crown, on
one side, and Alexander McGillivary,
for the Greek Nation, on the other,
made and signed a treaty, by which
the Creek Nation engaged to maintain
invioable peace with the Spaniards;
to expose their lives and fortunes for
the King of Spain; to obey the orders
which should be received from the
Governor of Louisiana or Florida, and
the laws of the Kingof Spain, in points
compatible with the character and cir.
cumstances of the Creeks, who should
conform themselves to the municipal
usages and customs established or to
be established in Louisiana and both
Floridas. The treaty speaks of the
Talapuche Nation. who were on the
lands conquered by the arms of the
King of Spain, and engages to estab b.
lish permanent commerce for them.
The Creeks were to establish general
peace with the Chickasaws and Choc-
taws, and others of the hecontinent. They
engaged also. to arrest all strangers
coming into their country, advising
them to take up arms against the King
of Spain. and not to admit into their
towns any white persons without q
Spanish passport. They engage further
to desist from the practice of taking
scalps and OF making slaves of the
whites. And in case of war again st
the enemies of the King of Spain such
persons as they should make prisoners,
should be well treated until they should
be exchanged. They agreed to deliver
up all white prisoners who were citi.
zens of the United States of America.
They were not to admit deserters OF
fugitive slaves from Louisiana or Flor.
ida, into their country, and were to
prevent thefts by the Creeks as much
as possible.
The King of Spain guaranteed to
them all the lands which they DOS.
sessed within his limits. And in case
of dispossession of their lands by his
enemies, he engaged to give them other
equivalent lands. All the regulations
applicable to state of war. and the
provision to take effect in case of the
expulsion of the Indians from theil
country, seemed to look forward to a
contest with some neigL boring people
whom the Creeks might kill or capture
or by whom they might be driven from
their country. The people who was
thus in contemplation, having no such
anticipations, had not yet thought oI
any counteracting plan. Whether a,
the date of this treaty or soon after
wards, any mischievous designs were
infused into the minds of the Indians
will be deistood by their posteriol
conduct. AS they promised in all things
to obey the Spanish authorities, they
would certainly have obeyed the ordel
for them to be at peace with the people
of Cumberland, if any such they hat
received. And as 1t was not stipulated
that the Creeks should be at peac,
with them, as we'll as with the Chicka
saws and Choctaws, it is evident tha
their conduct towards the people O.
Cumberland was to be regarded b,
orders which the Spanish government
should issue. Although these Spanish
transactions were kept secret from tn,
people OF Cumberland, Col. Robertson
entertained the suspicion that Spanish
jealousy was the cause Of Indian hos
tilities, and accordingly he pursued al
such measures as were best calculated
to inspire the Spanish officers with
con fidence, in the amicabie inclina
tions towards them Of the new settler
on Cumberland. Colbert and some o
his people for some cause had mad
seizures of Spanish property, which tn,
spaniards called robbery. Robertson
Immediately wrote to Mr. Portell, il
October, 1884, to convince him tha
none of the people of Cumberland hac
any share in these violences, and offer
ed, If he could be furnished with proc
to identify the heproperty, and could fin,
it in tho possession of the Chickasaws
to cause it to be restored to its owners
Portell in reply, was very sensible o
the high character which the American
people had, and justly deserved, for in
tegrity. And was perfectly satisfie,
that the people of Cumberland neve
had any cooperation with thos