THE TREATY OF GREENE VILLE
For hundreds of years Native People struggled to
retain their independence and way of life. Nevertheless, no matter what the
alliance, entanglement, or treaty, the result for them was always the same:
they would lose their homes, much of their freedom, and their land.
The Indians started to arrive for the treaty council
at Greene Ville in March of 1795. General Wayne, as the chief representative
for the United States, had to exercise a significant degree of diplomatic skill
and understanding of Indian protocol.
A few unexpected events took place in July that
would need special attention. The first was an explosion of some fire-works
that were in storage for an Independence Day celebration. This had to be
explained to calm suspicions and fears.
On the Fourth itself, Little Turtle’s wife died, out of respect for the
great chief, Wayne ordered that she be buried with military honors.
Accommodations and food allowances had to be
provided. The tribes needed to be addressed by their position such as “Grandfather”, “Uncle” and “Younger Brother.” The proper “wampum”
had to be given upon the arrival of the various groups to gain a favorable
reception.
Wampum belts were the closest thing the Indians had
to a written language. They were made up
of beads strung into strings that were woven into bands three to six inches
wide. The beads were cut from shells, a process that was very labor intense and
required a high level of skill. White traders were able to make large profits
trading manufactured European beads to the Indians for furs.
The belt would use figures of trees, houses,
animals, people, parallel lines and geometric shapes formed by the beads to
convey messages of friendship, hostility, disaster, war and death. A belt might
be six feet long and if the message it conveyed was accepted by the negotiators
it would be preserved as a record of the agreement.
Those who think the Indians dumb for placing so such
value on a bunch of beads might want to consider the value we place and the
fees we pay today to have lawyers inscribe ink symbols on pieces of cheap paper
for essentially the same purpose.
The Quakers who had a history of good relations with
the Indians going back to the time of William Penn sent gifts to help promote
the peace.
On August 3, 1795, after 48 days of talks, a treaty
was signed between the United States and the confederated Indian Nations of the
Northwest Territory. The representatives at the treaty negotiations and the
signing included Wayne, his officers, 1,130 Indians from the various tribes and
French Canadians most of whom were traders or had married Indian women. Also
present were interpreters, including various “whites” who had been taken as
captives when young and later adopted.
A breakdown of the number of representatives and
signers from the Indian Nations that attended the treaty negotiations at Greene
Ville are as follows:
Nation Representatives Signers
Delaware
381 17
Miami tribes 95 12
Ojibwa 46 11
Ottawa 45 7
Potawatomi 240 24
Shawnee 143 9
Wyandotte 180 10
Wyandotte 180 10
THE TEXT OF THE TREATY
Gentlemen of the Senate
I lay before you, for your
consideration, a treaty of peace, which has been negotiated by General Wayne,
on behalf of the United States, with all the late hostile tribes of Indians,
northwest of the river Ohio; together with the instructions which were given to
General Wayne, and the proceedings at the place of treaty.
George
Washington
United
States, December 9, 1795
A treaty of peace between the
United States of America and the tribes of Indians called Wyandots, Delawares,
Shawanese, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawatamies, Miamis, Eel Rivers, Weas,
Kickapoos, Plankeshaws, and Kaskaskias.
To put an end to a destructive war,
to settle all controversies, and to restore harmony and friendly intercourse
between the said United States and Indian tribes, Anthony Wayne, Major General,
commanding the army of the United States and sole commissioner for the good
purposes above mentioned; and the said tribes of Indians, by their sachems,
chiefs and warriors met together at Greenville, the headquarters of the said
army, have agreed on the following articles, which, when ratified by the
President, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States,
shall be binding on them and the said Indian tribes.
ARTICLE 1. Henceforth, all
hostilities shall cease; peace is hereby established, and shall be perpetual;
and a friendly intercourse shall take place between the said United States and
Indian tribes.
ARTICLE 2. All prisoners shall, on
both sides, be restored. The Indians, prisoners to the United States, shall be
immediately set at liberty. The people of the United States, still remaining
prisoners among the Indians, shall be delivered up in ninety days from the date
hereof, to the General or commanding officer at Greenville, Fort Wayne, or Fort
Defiance, and the ten chiefs of the said tribes shall remain at Greenville as
hostages, until the delivery of the prisoners shall be effected.
ARTICLE 3. The general boundary
line between the lands of the United States and the lands of the said Indian
tribes, shall begin at the mouth of Cuyahoga river, and run thence, up the
same, to the portage between that the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum;
thence, down that branch to the crossing place, above Fort Lawrence; thence
westerly, to a fork of that branch of the great Miami river running into the
Ohio, at or near which fork stood Loromie’s store, and where commences the
portage between the Miami of the Ohio and St. Mary’s river, which is a branch
of the Miami, which runs into Lake Erie; thence, a westerly course to Fort
Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wabash; thence, southwesterly in a
direct line to the Ohio, so as to intersect that river opposite the mouth of
Kentucky or Cuttawa River. And, in consideration of the peace now established,
of the goods formerly received from the United States, of those now to be
delivered, and of the yearly delivery of goods now stipulated to. We made
hereafter, and to indemnify the United States for the injuries and expenses
they have sustained during the war, the said Indian tribes do hereby cede and
relinquish, forever, all their claims to the lands lying eastwardly and
southwardly of the general boundary line, now described, and these lands, or
any part of them, shall never hereafter be made a cause or pretence, on the
part of the said tribes, or any of them, of war or injury to the United States,
or any of the people thereof.
And for the same considerations,
and as an evidence of the returning friendship of the said Indian tribes, of
their confidence in the United States, and desire to provide for their
accommodation, and for that convenient intercourse which will be beneficial to
both parties, the said Indian tribes do also cede to the United States, the
following pieces of land, to wit: 1. One piece of land, six miles square, at or
near Loromie’s store, before mentioned. 2. One piece two miles square, at the
head of the navigable water or landing, on the st. Mary’s river, near Girty’s
town. 3. One piece six miles square, at the head of the navigable water of the
Auglaize river. 4. One piece six miles square, at the confluence of the
Auglaize and Miami Rivers, where Fort Defiance now stands. 5. One piece six
miles square, at or near the confluence of the rivers St. Mary’s and St.
Joseph’s where Fort Wayne now stands, or near it. 6. One piece two miles
square, on the Wabash River, at the end of the portage from the Miami of the
Lake, and about eight miles westward from Fort Wayne. 7. One piece six miles
square at the Oquiatanon, or old Wea towns, on the Wabash River. 8. One piece
twelve miles square at the British fort, on the Miami of the Lake, at the foot
of the Rapids. 9. One piece six miles square, at the mouth of the said river,
where it empties into the lake. 10. One piece six miles square, upon Sandusky
Lake, where a fort formerly stood. 11. One piece two miles square, at the lower
rapids of Sandusky river. 12. The post of Detroit, and all the lands to the
north, the west, and the south of it, of which the Indian title has been
extinguished by gifts or grants to the French or English governments: and so
much more land, to be annexed to the district of Detroit as shall be
comprehended between the river Rosine, on the south, Lake St. Clair, on the
north, and a line, the general course whereof shall be six miles distant from
the west end of Lake Erie and Detroit River. 13. The post of Michili-mackinac,
and all the land on the island on which that post stands and the main land
adjacent, of which the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or grants to
the French or English governments; and a piece of land on the main, to the
north of the island to measure six miles on Lake Huron, or the strait between
lakes Huron and Michigan, and to extend three miles back from the water of the
lake or strait; and, also, the island De Pois Blanc, being an extra and
voluntary gift of the Chippewa nation. 14. One piece of land six miles square,
at the mouth of the Chicago river, emptying into the southwest end of Lake
Michigan, where a fort formerly stood. 15. One piece twelve miles square, at or
near the mouth of the Illinois River, emptying into the Mississippi. 16. One
piece six miles square at the old Peorias fort and village, near the south end
of the Illinois Lake, on said Illinois River. And whenever the United States
shall think proper to survey and mark the boundaries of the lands hereby ceded
to them, they shall give timely notice thereof to the said tribes of Indians,
that they may appoint some of their wise chiefs, to attend and see that the
lines are run according to the terms of this treaty.
And the said Indian tribes will
allow to the people of the United States a free passage by land and by water, as
one and the other shall be found convenient through their country, along the
chain of posts herein-before mentioned; that is to say, from the commencement
of the portage aforesaid, at or near Loromie’s store, thence, along said
portage to the St. Mary’s and down the same to Fort Wayne, and then down the
Miami to Lake Erie; again from the commencement of the portage at or near
Loromie’s store, along the portage; from thence to the river Auglaize, and down
the same to its junction with the Miami, at Fort Defiance; again, from the
commencement of the portage aforesaid, to Sandusky River, and down the same to
Sandusky bay and Lake Erie, and from Sandusky to the post which shall be taken
at or near the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the lake; and from thence to
Detroit. Again, from the mouth of Chicago, to the commencement of the portage,
between the river and the Illinois, and down the Illinois River to the
Mississippi; also from Fort Wayne, along the portage aforesaid, which leads to
the Wabash, and then down the Wabash to the Ohio. And the said Indian tribes
will, also, allow to the people of the United States, the free use of the
harbors and mouths of rivers along the lakes adjoining the Indian lands, for
sheltering vessels and boats, and liberty to land their cargos where necessary
for their safety.
ARTICLE 4. In consideration of the
peace, now established, and of the cessions and relinquishments of lands made
in the preceding article by the said tribes Indians, and to manifest the
liberality of the United States, as the great means of rendering this peace
strong and perpetual, the United States relinquish their claims to all other
Indian lands, northward of the river, Ohio, eastward of the Mississippi, and
westward and southward of the Great Lakes, and the waters uniting them,
according to the boundary line agreed on by the United States and the King of
Great Britain, in the treaty of peace, made between them in the year 1783. But,
from this relinquishment by the United States, the following tracts of land are
explicitly excepted. 1st. The tract of one hundred and fifty
thousand acres, near the rapids of the river Ohio, which has been assigned to
General Clark, for the use of himself and his warriors. 2d.. The post of St.
Vincennes, on the river Wabash, and the lands adjacent, of which the Indian
title has been extinguished. 3d. The lands at all other places in possession of
the French people, and other white settlers among them, of which the Indian
title has been extinguished, as mentioned in the 3d article; and 4th.
The post of Fort Massac, towards the mouth of the Ohio, to which several
parcels of lands, so excepted, the said tribes relinquish all the title and
claim which they or any of them may have.
And for the same considerations,
and with the same views as above mentioned, the United States now deliver to
the said Indian tribes, a quantity of goods, to the value of twenty thousand
dollars, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge; and henceforward,
every year, forever, the United States will deliver, at some convenient place
northward of the river Ohio, like useful goods, suited to the circumstances of
the Indians, of the value of nine thousand five hundred dollars; reckoning that
value at the first cost of the goods in the city or place, in the United
States, where they shall be procured. The tribes to which those goods are to be
annually delivered, and the proportions in which they are to be delivered, are
the following:
1st. To the Wyandots,
the amount of one thousand dollars. 2d. To the Delawares, the amount of one
thousand dollars. 3d. To the Shawanese, the amount of one thousand dollars. 4th.
To the Miamies, the amount of one thousand dollars. 5th. To the
Ottawas, the amount of one thousand dollars. 6th. To the Chippewas,
the amount of one thousand dollars. 7th. To the Pattawatamies, the
amount of one thousand dollars. 8th. And to the Kickapoo, Wea, Eel
River, Piankeshaw, and Kaskaskia tribes, the amount of five hundred dollars,
each.
Provided, that if either of the
said tribes shall, hereafter, at an annual delivery of their share of the
goods, aforesaid, desire that a part of their annuity should be furnished in
domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and other utensils convenient for
them, and in compensation to useful artificers, who may reside with, or near
them, and be employed for their benefit, the same shall, at the subsequent
annual deliveries, be furnished accordingly.
ARTICLE 5. To prevent any
misunderstanding about the Indian lands relinquished by the United States in
the fourth article, it is now explicitly declared, that the meaning of that
relinquishment, is this the: Indian tribes who have a right to those lands, are
quietly to enjoy them, hunting, planting, and dwelling thereon, so long as they
please, without any molestation from the United States; but when those tribes,
or any of them, shall be disposed to sell their lands, or any part of them,
they are to be sold only to the United States; and until such sale, the United
States will protect all the said Indian tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their
lands, against all citizens of the United States, and against all other white
persons who intrude upon the same. And the said Indian tribes again acknowledge
themselves to be under the protection of the said United States, and no other
power whatever.
ARTICLE 6. If any citizen of the
United States, or any white person or persons, shall presume to settle upon the
lands, now relinquished by the United States, such citizen or other person
shall be out of the protection of the United States; and the Indian tribe, on
whose land the settlement shall be made, may drive off the settler, or punish
him in such manner as they shall think fit; and because such settlements, made
without the consent of the United States, will be injurious to them, as well as
to the Indians, the United States shall be at liberty to break them up, and
remove and punish the
settlers as they shall think
proper, and so effect that protection of the Indian lands herein before
stipulated.
ARTICLE 7. The said tribes of
Indians, parties to this treaty, shall be at liberty to hunt within the
territory and lands which they have now ceded to the United States, without
hindrance or molestation, so long as they demean themselves peaceably, and
offer no injury to the people of the United States.
ARTICLE 8. Trade shall be opened
with the said Indian tribes; and they do hereby respectively engage, to afford
protection to such persons, with their property, as shall be duly licensed to
reside among them, for the purpose of trade, and to their agents and servants;
but no person shall be permitted to reside at any of their towns or hunting
camps, as a trader, who is not furnished with a license for that purpose, under
the hand and seal of the superintendent of the department northwest of the
Ohio, or such other person as the President of the United States shall
authorize to grant such licences, to the end, that the said Indians may not be
imposed on in their trade. And, if any licensed trader shall abuse his
privilege by unfair dealing, upon complaint and proof thereof his licence shall
be taken from him, and he shall be further punished according to the laws of
the United States. And if any person
shall intrude himself as a trader, without such licence, and said
Indians shall take and bring him before the superintendent, or his deputy, to
be dealt with according to law. And, to prevent impositions by forged licences,
the said Indians shall, at least once a year, give information to the
superintendent, or his deputies, of the names of the traders residing among
them.
ARTICLE 9. Lest the firm peace and
friendship now established should be interrupted by the misconduct of the
individuals, the United States and the said Indian tribes agree, that, for
injuries done by individuals, on either side, no private revenge or retaliation
shall take place; but, instead thereof, complaint shall be made by the party
injured, to the other: by the said Indian tribes, or any of them to the
President of the United States, or the superintendent by said Indian tribes, or
of the tribe to which the offender belongs: and such prudent measures shall
then be pursued, as shall be necessary to preserve the said peace and
friendship unbroken, until the Legislature (or great council) of Indian tribes
meditate a war against the United States, or either of them, and the same shall
come to the knowledge of the before mentioned tribes, or either of them, they
do hereby engage to give immediate notice thereof to the general or officer
commanding the troops of the United States, at the nearest post. And should any
tribe, with hostile intentions against the United States, or either of them,
attempt to pass through their country, they will endeavor to prevent the same,
and in like manner give information of such attempt, to the general, or officer
commanding, as soon as possible, that all causes of mistrust and suspicion may
be avoided between them and the United States. In like manner, the United
States shall give notice to the said Indian tribes of any harm that may be meditated
against them, or either of them, that shall come to their knowledge, and do all
in their power to hinder and prevent the same, that the friendship between them
may be uninterrupted.
ARTICLE 10. All other treaties
heretofore made between the United States and the said Indian tribes, or any of
them, since the treaty of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain,
that come within the purview of this treaty, shall henceforth cease, and become
void.
In testimony whereof, the said
Anthony Wayne, and the sachems and war chiefs of the before mentioned nations
and tribes of Indians, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals.
Done at Greenville, in the
territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, on the third day of
August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
Anthony Wayne
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