This report is based on the American State Papers published in 1832 “under the authority of Congress.” The American State Papers are an official record of the United States government in the early years of the United States from 1789 to 1815. Volume IV of these American State Papers is entitled Indian Affairs. Thus the quotes discussed in this report are the official words of the United States government.
As the first U.S. President, George Washington made substantial promises to the Haudenosaunee in government-to-government negotiations, promises that today would be known as “foreign aid.”
The quotations given below clearly demonstrate that Washington’s promises were NOT based on the amounts of money to be expended by the United States. Instead, these quotations prove that, consistently over the years, the intent of President Washington was secure land cessions and, above all, perpetual peace. To secure these goals, Washington — in both an “article” defined in 1792 and in the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua — promised to provide material goods and white personnel (“artificers”). Because the U.S. government wanted continual peace, and not simply peace for a brief period of time, the promises of material goods and personnel were defined in both the 1792 “article” and the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua in terms of the future: 1792: President George Washington, in his speech “to the chiefs and representatives of the Five Nations of Indians, in Philadelphia – 23rd March, 1792” noted that:
“You have been invited to this place by Colonel [Timothy] Pickering, at my special request, in order to remove all causes of discontent, to devise and adopt plans to promote your welfare, and firmly to cement the peace between the United States and you, so as that, in future, we shall consider ourselves as brothers indeed.”
1794: The purpose of the Treaty of Canandaigua, November 11, 1794, Article VI, was:
“to render the peace and friendship hereby established, strong and perpetual.”
The basis for this “perpetual” peace is evident in the following promises:
1790. On December 29, 1790, President George Washington promised “every assistance” so that the Haudenosaunee could both prosper and increase their population:
“The reply of the President of the United States to the speech of the Cornplanter, Half-Town, and Great-Tree, Chiefs and Councillors of the Seneca nation of Indians….”
“The United States will be happy in affording you every assistance, in the only business [white methods of agriculture] which will add to your numbers [a population increase] and happiness.”
1791. On January 19, 1791, President Washington’s speech to Cornplanter, Half-Town, and Big Tree, chiefs of the Seneca Nation, declared that
…You may, when you return from this city to your own country, mention to your nation my desire to promote their prosperity, by teaching them the use of domestic animals, and the manner that the white people plough, and raise so much corn. And if, upon consideration, it would be agreeable to the nation at large to learn these valuable arts, I will find some means of teaching them, at such places within your country as shall be agreed upon.
1792. On March 23, 1792, President Washington declared
“You have been invited to this place by Colonel [Timothy] Pickering, at my special request, in order to remove all causes of discontent, to devise and adopt plans to promote your welfare, and firmly to cement the peace between the United States and you, so as that, in future, we shall consider ourselves as brothers indeed.
“I assure you that I am desirous ….
“That you may partake of all the comforts of this earth, which can be derived from civilized life, enriched by the possession of industry, virtue, and knowledge; and I trust that such judicious measures will now be concerted to secure to you, and your children, these invaluable objects, as will afford you just cause of rejoicing while you live.
“That these are the strong and sincere desires of my heart.”
1792. On April 23, 1792, President Washington stated that
“MY CHILDREN OF THE FIVE NATIONS! You were invited here at my request, in order that measures should be concerted with you, to impart such of the blessings of civilization as may at present suit your condition, and give you further desires to improve your own happiness.
“Colonel Pickering has made the particular arrangements with you, to carry into execution these objects, all of which I hereby approve and confirm.
“And in order that the money necessary to defray the annual expenses of the arrangements which have been made, should be provided permanently, I now ratify an article which will secure the yearly appropriation of the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars, for the use and benefit of the Five Nations – the Stockbridge Indians included.
“The United States having received and provided for you as for a part of themselves, will, I am persuaded, be strongly and gratefully impressed on your minds, and those of all your tribes.
“Let it be spread abroad among all your villages, and throughout your land, that the United States are desirous not only of a general peace with all the Indian tribes, but of being their friends and protectors.”
To carry out the above promise, the Secretary of War, Henry Knox, formally announced a statement by President Washington defining an article that was confirmed by the Senate, and then affirmed by the President on April 23, 1792. The article was then formally issued as a document by the Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson.
“GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
“To all who shall see these presents, greetings:
“Whereas an article has been stipulated with the Five Nations of Indians, by, and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, which article is in the words following, to wit:
“‘The President of the United States, by [via the authority of] Henry Knox, Secretary for the Department of War, stipulates, on behalf of the United States, the following article, with the Five Nations of Indians, so called, being the Senecas, Oneidas, and the Stockbridge Indians, incorporated with them the Tuscaroras, Cayugas, and Onondagas, to wit: the United States, in order to promote the happiness of the Five Nations of Indians, will cause to be expended, annually, the amount of one thousand five hundred dollars, in purchasing for them clothing, domestic animals, and implements of husbandry, and for encouraging useful artificers to reside in their villages.
“‘ In [sic] behalf of the United States:
H. Knox,
Secretary for the Department of War,
“‘Done in the presence of Tobias Lear [George Washington’s secretary],
Nathan Jones.’
“NOW, KNOW YE, That I, having seen and considered the said article, do accept, ratify, and confirm the same.
“In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and signed the same with my hand. Given at the City of Philadelphia, the twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, and in the sixteenth year of the sovereignty and independence of the United States.
GEO. WASHINGTON.
“By the President [that is, on behalf of the President]:
Thomas Jefferson [Secretary of State.”
Analyzing the sequence of the “article” described above, and especially noting the individuals involved in its creation, it is clear that this was not an obscure action by the United States government but a major policy declaration. This 1792 promise to the Haudenosaunee was so significant that it was: Created under the authority of President George Washington
Confirmed by the United States Senate
Declared to be in effect by the Secretary of War Henry Knox
Signed by two witnesses, the most important of the two being Tobias Lear, George Washington’s confidant and personal secretary
Affirmed by President Washington that the article had indeed been confirmed by the Senate
Recorded by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State
The $1,500 stipulated in this 1792 agreement was then incorporated into Article Six of the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua:
“In consideration of the peace and friendship hereby established, and of the engagements [including previous land cessions] entered into by the Six Nations; and because the United States desire, with humanity and kindness, to contribute to their comfortable support; and to render the peace and friendship herby established, strong and perpetual; the United States now deliver to the Six Nations, and the Indians of the other nations residing among and united with them, a quantity of goods of the value of ten thousand dollars. And for the same considerations [including previous land cessions], and with a view to promote the future welfare of the Six Nations, and of their Indian friends aforesaid, the United States will add the sum of three thousand dollars to the one thousand five hundred dollars, heretofore allowed them by an article ratified by the President, on the twenty-third day of April, 1792; making in the whole, four thousand five hundred dollars; which shall be expended yearly forever, in purchasing clothing, domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and other utensils suited to their circumstances, and in compensating useful artificers, who shall reside with or near them, and be employed for their benefit.”
In the centuries since President George Washington and the United States government made their significant promises, the United States has perpetually failed to adjust the support promised to the Haudenosaunee according to rates of inflation. The result is a heavily discounted, indeed ludicrously discounted, occupation of ceded lands and the enjoyment by U.S. citizens of continuous peace with the Haudenosaunee. Instead of basing foreign aid to the Haudenosaunee on the goal of perpetually securing peaceful cooperation, and on assisting the Haudenosaunee in their daily lives, the governments that came after President George Washington broke Washington’s promises, even to the point of attempting to remove the Haudenosaunee from their homelands and, failing that, attempting to force them to assimilate, an attempt that is still ongoing. Such reversals of President Washington’s policy began only after a declaration of war by the Haudenosaunee was no longer probable; after the potential Indian allies of the Haudenosaunee in the western Great Lakes area had been conquered; and after most of the desired lands within the Haudenosaunee influence had been acquired.
CONCLUSION. The U.S. courts have moved towards limiting a redress of past crimes against the Haudenosaunee to monetary compensation only. Thus it seems appropriate that the Haudenosaunee should demand that the United States adjust Washington’s promises according to inflation and fulfill the original intent of the first president of the United States. One of the precedents for such a demand by the Haudenosaunee is the fact that the Senecas’ Salamanca ninety-nine year lease was renegotiated.
******************************** References *****************************************
“Agreement with the Five Nations of Indians, April 23, 1792,” in Charles J. Kappler, ed. Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, Volume 2 (Treaties). (Reprint of the 1904 edition; New York: Interland Publishing, 1972), p. 1027.
“A Treaty between the United States of America, and the Tribes of Indians called the Six Nations” [Treaty of Canandaigua], November 11, 1794, in Charles J. Kappler, ed. Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, Volume 2 (Treaties). (Reprint of the 1904 edition; New York: Interland Publishing, 1972), p. 36.
“Lear, Tobias” entry in Frederick Burkhardt et al., eds, Concise Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1964), p. 552.
“Message from the President of the United States to the delegation from the Five Nations of Indians in Philadelphia,” April 23, 1792, in Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, eds. American State Papers. Class II. Indian Affairs. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, From the First Session of the First to the Third Session of the Thirteenth Congress, Inclusive: Commencing March 3, 1789, and Ending March 3, 1815. (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832), p. 231.
Speech of the President of the United States to the chiefs and representatives of the Five Nations of Indians, in Philadelphia,” March 23, 1792, in Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, eds. American State Papers. Class II. Indian Affairs. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, From the First Session of the First to the Third Session of the Thirteenth Congress, Inclusive: Commencing March 3, 1789, and Ending March 3, 1815. (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832), p. 229
“Speech of the President of the United States to the Cornplanter, Half-Town, and Big-Tree, chiefs of the Seneca nation of Indians,” January 19, 1791,” in Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, eds. American State Papers. Class II. Indian Affairs. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, From the First Session of the First to the Third Session of the Thirteenth Congress, Inclusive: Commencing March 3, 1789, and Ending March 3, 1815. (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832), 144.
Title Page, Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, eds. American State Papers. Class II. Indian Affairs. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, From the First Session of the First to the Third Session of the Thirteenth Congress, Inclusive: Commencing March 3, 1789, and Ending March 3, 1815. (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832).
“The reply of the President of the United States to the speech of the Cornplanter, Half-Town, and Great-Tree, Chiefs and Councillors of the Seneca nation of Indians,” December 29, 1790, in Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, eds. American State Papers. Class II. Indian Affairs. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, From the First Session of the First to the Third Session of the Thirteenth Congress, Inclusive: Commencing March 3, 1789, and Ending March 3, 1815. (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832), p. 142.