Knox, Henry (1750-1806) [Address to the Senate]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.09971 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph document Date: 1790 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 33.6 x 20.6 cm. Order a Copy
Appears to be responding to questions previously posed to him about a treaty made with the chiefs in the Creek nation. Date previously inferred, written in pencil. See GLC02437.09452 for related documents.
The Treaty of Commerce and Friendship was signed between the United States and France on 6 February 1778 and established a commercial alliance between the two nations.
[draft]
Gentlemen of the Senate
In consequence of the principle agreed upon by the senate in 1789 a treaty is far advanced between the [inserted and struck: the United States] the cheifs of the Creeks nation and which will soon [strikeout] be laid before the senate for their consideration
[struck paragraph: In preparing this business, the mode by which the creeks are supplied with articles of commerce the manner in which the trade of the creeks is at]
In preparing this [struck: business] treaty, the present arrangements of trade [struck: to] [inserted: to] the creek nation has been the cause of much embarrassment - It seems to be well ascertained that the said trade is [2] is almost exclusively in the hands of a british Company of Merchants [struck: with whom [Mr] and that the spaniards] who by agreement import their articles from England [strikeout] into the spanish ports [strikeout] [struck sentence: As trade the articles of trade necessary for the Indians, and [thus sold] are exchanged for their skins, it is easily easy to] [struck: As] [inserted: as] the commerce of the indians is a main mean of their political management; [strikeout] It is [struck: easy] therefore obvious that the United States can have no security for any treaty which may be formed with the Creeks while the [strikeout] articles necessary to [their] Comfort, are liable to be withheld by the [caprice] of two foreign powers
[3] Hence it becomes an object of real importance to [learn] [strikeout] [inserted: from] Channels for the [commerce] the Creeks through the United States - But these [struck: must be] [strikeout] [inserted: regulation will require] [struck: of] time as the present [struck: engagement] arrangements cannot be suddenly broken, without the greatest violation of [oath] and morals -
It therefore appears to be important to [strikeout] [inserted: form] a pact [added] [strikeout] [inserted: of] treaty, [struck: simil] similar to the one [strikeout] [inserted: which accompanies this message]. If the Senate should request by further explanations the Secretary of War will attend them for that purpose
[docket]
Draft of the
Message to the Senate
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