September 7, 1783 – George Washington Advocates Peaceful Resolution of Indian Affairs

James Duane (1733-1797) was a member of the Continental Congress from New York, representing Congress as an Indian Commissioner.

On this day in history, George Washington sent a letter to Duane in response to papers submitted by Duane to Washington relating to Indian Affairs.

James Duane

Washington made a number of points. First, he castigated the “speculators” and “avaricious Men” among the colonists who wanted to take land from Native Americans, especially combined with their reluctance to contribute monetarily in support of the Government. (Washington, it should be noted, had been one of these land grabbers earlier in his life.)

He also noted with displeasure that many Native Americans supported the British in the war for independence.

Nevertheless, he said:

. . . as we prefer Peace to a state of Warfare, as we consider them as a deluded People; as we perswade ourselves that they are convinced, from experience, of their error in taking up the Hatchet against us, and that their true Interest and safety must now depend upon our friendship. As the Country, is large enough to contain us all; and as we are disposed to be kind to them and to partake of their Trade, we will from these considerations and from motives of Compn, draw a veil over what is past and establish a boundary line between them and us beyond which we will endeavor to restrain our People from Hunting or Settling, and within which they shall not come, but for the purposes of Trading, Treating, or other business unexceptionable in its nature.”

He added that [non-Native] Americans should:

. . . endeavor to impress the Indians with an idea of the generosity of our disposition to accommodate them, and with the necessity we are under, of providing for our Warriors, our Young People who are growing up, and strangers who are coming from other Countries to live among us. and if they should make a point of it, or appear dissatisfied at the line we may find it necessary to establish, compensation should be made them for their claims within it.”

In other words, the new Americans were being more than generous regarding the people whose land they stole, and we should only compensate them if they make an issue of it.

George Washington

He makes clear that his main concern is to avoid another war by trying to expel Native Americans from what they saw as their own country. But he didn’t think that situation would arise: “That they would compromise for a part of it I have very little doubt, and that it would be the cheapest way of coming at it, I have no doubt at all.”

He suggested that New York make it a felony for any person to breach the boundary “between them and us.” Washington explained his concern:

. . . that the settling, or rather overspreading the Western Country will take place, by a parcel of Banditti, who will bid defiance to all Authority while they are skimming and disposing of the Cream of the Country at the expence of many suffering Officers and Soldiers who have fought and bled to obtain it, and are now waiting the decision of Congress to point them to the promised reward of their past dangers and toils, or a renewal of Hostilities with the Indians, brought about more than probably, by this very means.”

That is, those who fought for American Independence had a right to the land, as opposed to random “Banditti,” and certainly as opposed to Indians. (Calling them “Native Americans” would be acknowledging an unwelcome truth. Rather, Washington contends they are savages comparable to wolves, as seen in the close of his letter):

. . . .for I repeat it, again, and I am clear in my opinion, that policy and oeconomy point very strongly to the expediency of being upon good terms with the Indians, and the propriety of purchasing their Lands in preference to attempting to drive them by force of arms out of their Country; which as we have already experienced is like driving the Wild Beasts of the Forest which will return us soon as the pursuit is at an end and fall perhaps on those that are left there; when the gradual extension of our Settlements will as certainly cause the Savage as the Wolf to retire; both being beasts of prey tho’ they differ in shape. In a word there is nothing to be obtained by an Indian War but the Soil they live on and this can be had by purchase at less expence, and without that bloodshed, and those distresses which helpless Women and Children are made partakers of in all kinds of disputes with them.”

You can read the entire letter here.