to Indian pacification and Boundary, because the specific views and objects with which Great Britain brought forward that proposition, were not made known to them, we lost no time upon the receipt of Your Lordship's dispatch in communicating the general principles offered by Great Britain as the proper basis of such a provisional Article. In calling upon the American Plenipotentiaries to state how far their general instructions warranted them in acceding to the principles so laid down, we conceived that it was incumbent upon us, under our instructions, to state at the same time with precision the views with which His Majesty's Government had proposed a revision of the frontier between the North American Possessions of Great Britain and those of the United States. We accordingly made on this subject also an explicit communication to the American Plenipotentiaries at a Conference which took place on the 19th Instt. at which the American Plenipotentiaries confined themselves to requiring from us mere explanations upon some incidental points connected with the subject of our verbal communications to them. In conformity with a wish expressed by them to receive a written statement on the subject, we addressed to them the Note of which a copy is inclosed. To that Note we beg leave to refer Your Lordship, as containing the substance of what fell from us at the different conferences to which it refers. A. B. ment. We received yesterday afternoon the answer of the American Plenipotentiaries, which we have also the honour of enclosing for the information of His Majesty's Govern We have, &c. GAMBIER, HENRY GOULBURN, The Right Honble. Viscount Castlereagh, K. G. Draft. EXHIBIT 376. Lord Bathurst to the Commissioners.1 No. 6. F. O., Oct. 5th, 1814. I have the honor to enclose to you a Projet of an Article respecting the Indian Pacification. You will consider yourselves at liberty to alter any word or even phrase, if by so doing you can make it more acceptable to the American Plenipotentiaries provided that such modifications do not alter the substance or spirit of the Article. If the American Plenipotentiaries shall propose that there shall be inserted in the same article or contemporaneously in another an Amnesty to the disaffected subjects of the two contracting parties, you will answer that you are instructed to confine yourselves entirely to the Question of Indian Pacification, & that untill an Article, providing for this Important object be settled you are not authorized to enter on any other Subject. If the American Plenipotentiaries shall propose to sign the Article sub sperali you will consent so to accept it, altho' the Government of the Prince Regent do not disguise from themselves that the Article becomes in that case an unilateral Engagement. If they shall propose to suspend the Negociation either to apply for, or in expectation of receiving further Instructions you will consent to do so. If neither of these Propositions shall be made by the American Plenipotentiaries, you will make them separately yourselves in order to have on record that no expedient was omitted to prevent the breaking off, of the negociation. If after trying every means in your power to induce the American Plenipotentiaries to accept the Article, or to suspend the negociation for the purpose abovementioned, it shall appear that they are determined to refuse the acceptance of it, you will announce to them that the negociation is closed & you will return home. Enclosure. The United States of America engage to put an end to hostilities with the Tribes or nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of the ratification of the present treaty, and to restore to such tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights & privileges, which they may have enjoyed in 1811, or were entitled to, previous to the existing hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America upon the ratification of the present treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, & shall continue at peace with the Government & People of the United States. And His Britannick Majesty engages to put an end to the hostilities with the Tribes or Nations of Indians, with whom he may be at war at the time of the ratification of the present treaty, and to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the Possessions, rights and privileges which they may have enjoyed in 1811, or were entitled to, previous to the existing hostilities. Provided allways that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against His Britannick Majesty upon the ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations & shall continue at Peace with his Britannick Majesty. EXHIBIT 377. The Commissioners to Lord Castlereagh.1 No. 8. GHENT, October 9, 1814. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of two dispatches signed by Earl Bathurst of the dates and number specified in the No. 5. Sept. 27, Margin. The dispatch No. 5 did not reach us until some days after we had transmitted for the information Oct. 5. of His Majesty's Government the answer given by the American Plenipotentiaries to our proposition on the subject of Indian pacification. Under these circumstances we considered it adviseable to defer acting upon the instruction contained in it 'Foreign Office, America, Vol. 102. until we should be in possession of the sentiments of His Majesty's Government with respect to the Note which we had so recently transmitted. We trust that our conduct in this respect will meet with the approbation of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent. Upon the receipt of No. 6 we lost no time in forwarding to the American Plenipotentiaries in reply to their last Note, the Note of which a Copy is enclosed. We have, &c. GAMBIER, HENRY GOULBURN, EXHIBIT 378. Henry Goulburn to Lord Bathurst.1 Ground of alterations made in the draft of the Article. (Private Enclosure.) No period was assigned when the hostilities should be put an end to. Nor any period after the ratification, within which the Indian Nations should be restored to the condition of 1811. 'Foreign Office, America, Vol. 102. GHENT, October 10, 1824. The United States of America engage to put an end [immediately after the ratification of the present treaty] to hostilities with [all] the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of [such] ratification (of the present Treaty,) & [forthwith] to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectfully all the[possessions]rights & privileges & [possessions] which they may have enjoyed (in 1811) or were been entitled to [in 1811] previous to (the existing) [such] hostilities. 'Matter enclosed in parenthesis is canceled in original copy. It was left indefinite how long the Indian Nations were to continue at Peace with the U. S. after agreeing to desist from hostilities.-The Article, as drawn would seem to take from the Indians the privileges of the Treaty, even if a new war soon afterwards arose, upon other grounds between them and the U.S.; tho'the Interest which Great Britain, had in this matter, ought not to be affected by such new war. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America [their Citizens and Subjects] upon the ratification of the present Treaty being Notified to such Tribes or Nations & shall (continue at peace with the Government & People of the United States.) [so desist accordingly]. And his Britannick Majesty engages on his part to put an end [immediately after the ratification of the present treaty] to hostilities with [all] the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom he may be at war at the time of (the) [such] ratification (of the present treaty) & [forthwith] to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively, all the Possessions rights & privileges which they may have enjoyed (in 1811) or (were) [been] entitled to [in 1811]; previous to (the existing) [such] hostilities. Provided allways that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against his Britannick Majesty [and his Subjects] upon the ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, or shall (continue at peace with His Britannick Majesty) [so desist accordingly]. 'Matter enclosed in parenthesis is canceled in original copy. |