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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew Pickens, and Joseph Martin to Richard Caswell
Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816; Pickens, Andrew; Martin, Joseph, 1740-1808
June 19, 1785
Volume 17, Pages 473-475

MESSRS. HAWKINS, PICKENS AND MARTIN TO GOV. CASWELL.
(From Gov. Caswell's Letter Book.)

Charleston, 19th June, 1785.

Sir:

The Commissioners appointed by the United States in Congress assembled, to treat with the Cherokee and all other Indians Southward of them, within the limits of the United States, are instructed

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previous to their holding any treaty to give due notice of the time, and place, where it is to be held to the Supreme Executive of your State, in order that they may appoint one or more persons, to attend during the treaty, if they think proper.

In consequence thereof, we have the honor to inform your Excellency that the Commissioners have agreed to hold a treaty with all the Creeks on the third Monday in September next, at Galphinton, on the Ogechee, in the State of Georgia. And with the Cherokees, Choctaws and Chickasaws, the second Monday in October, at or near where Fort Rutlege stood on the Keeowee, in the State of South Carolina.

The Commissioners are also authorized to draw on either of the States of North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina or Georgia, for a sum not exceeding thirteen thousand dollars to discharge the expenses of holding the treaties, and to be expended in making presents to the Indians.

They have had a Conference with the Supreme Executive of this State on this subject, and they find them seriously desirous of concurring with the views of the United States. But from some particular imperfection in their laws, or rather the unexpectedness of the application they are unable to do as much as they are desirous of. They have granted us two hundred pounds, a sum hardly sufficient to send proper notifications to the nations and tribes concerned, and to pay some immediate contingencies. And we shall apply for some men perhaps one hundred, for the purpose of protecting the Commissioners whilst engaged in concluding the treaties.

We must be explicit to your Excellency, and declare that altho' we have appointed the place for holding the treaties, and shall give due notice thereof to the nations and tribes concerned, it will be impossible for us to hold them without some pecuniary aid from your State. And therefore we give you this early information, and we request to know whether our drafts for one-third or more of the sum can be paid by your State on sight or so secured that the last payment shall not exceed the second Monday in October.

The Commissioners are sensible that it is of importance to the peace of the Union, and the safety of the frontier settlements that the whole of the duties of their commission be executed as soon as possible, and while they are taking proper steps, they feel a particular

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pleasure in communicating to the States on whom they are to rely for protection and support anything that may interest their Citizens, and therefore we take the liberty to assure your Excellency that the Creeks have offered their assistance to the Cherokees, to repel any attempt that may be made by the disorderly Citizens of the United States on their property. And that the disaffected, disorderly white people among them, who have been inimical to us during the last war, are now industrious in their endeavors to prevail on the Indians to commence hostilities against us, for some real and some imaginary causes.

We request an answer may be forwarded to the Postoffice in this city as early as possible.

We have the honor to be with sincere esteem Sir,
Your Excellency's mo. ob. and humb. servts.,
BENJ. HAWKINS,
AND'W PICKENS,
JOS. MARTIN.