The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-31
Romantic Story of Alexander McGuzvray

Panton, Leslie and Company, while
Panton was quick to see that by the
management of the Grand Chief the
firm could secure a monopoly of the
entire Indian trade.
The war in Georgia and South Car
DINA had cut off the Creek trade
with the Atlantic coast; and conse-
quently, McGillivray had no difficulty
IN directing the whole of it to Pen
sacola. But after peace was estab-
lished, the Atlantic traders were
again ready with their pack ponies, to
take the trails that led to Georgia
and eastern Alabama. Panton at
once saw that the monopoly of his
house was in danger and that, to
avert it he must bring about an un-
derstanding between the Spanish
government, himself, and McGilli-
vray, like that he had previously eff
fected with the British. He accord
ingly entered into the treaty with
the Spaniards. To be effective, how
ever, he knew that that treaty must
be supplemented between the Indians
and the Spaniards.
Accordingly, treaty between the
Greeks and the Seminoles represented
by McGillivray and Spain by Gov
ernor Miro, of New Orleans, assisted
by O'Neill, governor of West Flor
ida, and Don Martin Navarro, intend
ent general of Florida, was entered
into on the first of June, 1874, at
Pensacola. The relations created by
that treaty between the Indians and
the Spaniards were close and init
mate, and seem to have been OBJ
served substantially, although not al
ways in form, up to the last day of
Spanish rule in Florida.
Its conclusion was followed by Nc
Gillivray obtaining a commission
with the pay of Colonel in the Span
ish army.
His treaty with the Spaniards was
but card which he proposed to
use, to give his nation the imposing
aspect of one to be courted rather
than despised. To render its attitude
still more imposing, he announced his
determination to prevent any further
entertainments by the whites upon
the Indian Territory in Georgia.
These cards won the game, accord
ing to the sagacious brain which con-
ceived them. The United States met
the threatening aspect of affairs in
Georgia, by appointing commissioners
in 1875, to treat with the Indians.
Matters between McGillivray and
the United States continued in an un-
satisfactory condition, until General
Washington became president of the
United States.
President Washington appointed a
new set of commissioners to effect a
settlement, but these, like the others,
failed to reach a favorable result. 1t
occurred to the president that a per-
sonal interview between him and Nc
Gillivray might be attended by re-
suits which commissioners had failed
to reach. Acting upon this, he sent
an agent to the Creek nation, in the
person of Colonel Marius Willet, to
induce McGillivray to visit New York.
The mission was successful. Nc
Gillivray in June, 1870, at the head
of thirty of the principal chiefs of the
Indian confederacy, set out on their
long journey mounted on horses.
He was received with distinguished
consideration in Richmond and Fred
ericksburg. Philadelphia honored him
and his company with three days en-
ter'tainment. Colonel Willet, who ac-
companied them, tells us that upon
their landing in New York, the Tam
many Society, in full regalia, received
them, attended them to Congress
Hall, and thence to the residence of
General Washington.
A treaty was speedily negotiated
between the Creeks and the United
States, by which the Oconee lands
were coded for an annual payment of
fifteen hundred dollars, and a distri-
button of merchandise. Questions of
boundary were settled, the Indian
territory was guaranteed against fur
Their encroachment, a permanent
peace was provided for, and the
Creeks and Seminoles placed them
selves under the jurisdiction of the
United States, and renowned the
rights to make treaties with any
other nation.
The New York treaty was an OBJ
ject of suspicion both to Panton and
the Spaniards but this suspicion re-
suited profitably to McGillivray. Be
fore he went to New York he COM
planned to Panton Of the parsimonious
conduct of the Spanish government to
him, from whom it expected and OBJ
tanned so much care and labor. Be-
Eeving this supposed slight on their
Tart was the cause of the favor he
manifested for the Americans, that
government at once took steps to re-
move it. He was appointed the Span
ish slperintandent- general of fbe