Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05984 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph document Date: circa 10 November 1793 Pagination: 7 p. : docket ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Knox's draft, written in the president's voice, for a portion of Washington's December 3, 1793 annual message (State of the Union address) to Congress. Discusses negotiations for peace between the U.S. and hostile Indians in the Ohio Territory. Says if the negotiations falter, "it appears to be incumbent upon the United States to use decisively such degrees of their force as shall be competent, as well to the immediate protection of their exposed citizens, as to the exemplary punishment of those tribes, which, obstinately persevere in their cruel depredations upon our frontiers." Says Congress will have to examine the facts and make a decision on how to proceed. Believes that on the southwestern frontiers "our own violators of the peace, and of existing treaties, should not escape with impunity, and thereby bring down upon innocent women and children, the horrors of retaliation, and involve the U.S. in an unjust war." States that the Secretary of War (Knox) will submit a report on the arsenals of the U.S., noting that "large augmentations" of them should be made. Says the U.S. should be prepared because of the European War, but stresses the nation should avoid getting involved. Also mentions that seaports need to be upgraded. Asserts the importance of a well organized militia to address events "for which being unprepared the happiness and liberty of Societies have so frequently been overturned and ruined."
The date listed on the docket appears to be 10 November 1793, but the 10 is slightly illegible. The date could also be interpreted as 18 November 1793.
The efforts which have been made without [inserted: [desired]] effect, to adjust by an amicable negociation all causes of difference with the hostile Indians north of the Ohio will I trust be found demonstrative of the sincere [struck: desires] [inserted: dispositions] of the United States for peace upon moderate and equitable terms; and also of their liberal intentions of rendering [struck: better] [inserted: more comfortable] the condition of their ignorant and barbarous neighbours.
I have directed that all the papers relatively to the pacific overtures [struck: which have been made] to the said Indians, together with the result thereof, should be laid before you for your [struck: full] information upon the subject.
[struck: If] After the [fairest] experiments, peace [struck: being] [inserted: is] [struck: [thus]] unattainable upon reasonable grounds, it appears to be incumbent upon the United States to use decisively such degrees of their force as shall be competent [2] competent, as well to the immediate protection of their exposed citizens, as to [inserted: the] exemplary punishment of those tribes, which, obstinately persevere in their cruel depredations upon our frontiers -
The Season for military operations having [struck: necessarily] [struck: necessarily] been occupied [struck: by] [inserted: by] negociations, the [struck: troops] [inserted: public] [force will now] [inserted: probably] be able to undertake any considerable enterprizes [inserted: in [a wilderness]] during the remainder of the [struck: autumn] [inserted: year]. [struck: A Statement of their] [strikeout] [inserted: Return [text loss]] will be laid before you, by which it [will] [inserted: A return of the troops [illegible] will be laid before you] [strikeout] be perceived that the numbers [struck: of troops] authorized by law, are [struck: far from being] [inserted: materially deficient] [struck: completely] [inserted: not withstanding the [recently] [strikeout] has been combined [illegible]] It will be a subject of consideration whether the establishment shall be completed by additional encouragements, or whether powerful aids of militia shall be afforded to accomplish the public objects.
The Situation of the South western frontiers [3] will also claim the serious attention of Congress A statement upon this subject, together with the papers on which it is founded will be laid before you in order that you may be enabled to judge of the measures which it may be proper to adopt on the occasion. At the same time means may [inserted: be] devised for the prompt punishment of [illegible] Indians belonging to tribes in peace with us, it would appear [struck: proper] [inserted: to be [punishable]] that [struck: some made should be] [strikeout] [illegible] the laws, [struck: by which] [inserted: should be so strengthed that] our own violators of the peace, and of existing treaties [should not] escape with impunity, and thereby bring down upon innocent women and children, [inserted and struck: upon the frontiers] the horrors of retaliation and [struck: upon strikeout] involve the [struck: Country] [inserted: US] in an unsafe war -
I have directed the Secretary of War also to lay before you, a report of the present situation of the Arsenals of the United States - Although [4] [inserted: it will appear that] the warlike apparatus [inserted: and stores] contained therein are [struck: comparable] [inserted: respectable], yet motives of prudence require, that large augmentations should be made thereto. During the recess of Congress I conceived it to be my duty to direct that some essential articles should be provided, and some repairs made, which might be required at a time and under circumstances, when they could not be obtained. [strikeout] The expences incurred [struck: on this subject] [inserted: for these] [strikeout] [inserted: [illegible] objects] will be [struck: illegible out] [inserted: laid] in the illegible for the ensuing year, for when appropriations will be requisite.
Although it be [struck: considered] [inserted: deemed] that neither our interest, nor any other circumstances should require us to become parties to the [inserted: existing] War [struck: at present existing] among the European powers, yet it is an [inserted: obligation of the highest nature] [struck: [indeffensible] obligation] which every nation owes to itself, to be provide at all times, in full abundance with the means necessary for its own security and defence [5] [struck: It is for this reason that I conceive that Wisdom dictates that not only our arsenals and magazines should be well provided but also that is important, that definitive arrangements should be taken for the [inserted: purpose of] the fortifying [struck: of] some of our principal [struck: harbo] Seaports. Applications have been [inserted: recently] made to me [inserted and struck: in illegible] for this purpose by Several of the executives of the individual States, but [struck: then] [inserted and struck: there] [inserted: the measure unauthorized by law it] being [struck: neither law nor appropriately] for [inserted: could not be undertaken] [struck: for the measure it could not be undertaken] But the [strikeout] [inserted: Its] propriety [struck: of the] [illegible] is too apparent to [illegible] any [struck: elucidates] arguments to enforce it.
Being upon the subject of our national defence, [struck: I take the occasion] [inserted: I feel my self [impeted] by a love to my country, and by a solemn conviction of the importance] again to suggest the propriety [struck: and importance] [inserted: of establishing] of [struck: that] [inserted: a that] bulwark of liberty [6] and safety, an energetic [struck: and powerful] militia, [struck: which in] [inserted: To act in] all emergencies [struck: should act] as the advanced guard, of their [struck: nation] [inserted: Country] behind which [struck: the body of the nation then in [illegible]] [inserted and struck: the great body of the people by the representation] time and opportunity should be offered [inserted: to the great body of the people by the representation] to take such measures as the nature of the case [struck: might require] [inserted: might demand] With an adequate body of free Citizenry properly organized the United States [illegible] in a militia to meet and dissipate events, which [struck: too often] [inserted: sometimes] arise in the affairs of men, and for which being unprepared the happiness and liberty of Societies have so frequently been overturned and ruined -
[docket]
illegible
Submitted the President
of the US
Nov [10], 1793 -
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