CHAP. IV. repair to New York, where negotiations were 1790 immediately opened which terminated in a treaty Treaty with of peace* signed on the seventh day of August.† the Creek Indians. The pacific overtures made to the Indians of the Wabash and the Miamis had not been equally successful. The western frontiers were still exposed to their destructive incursions; and there was much reason to apprehend, that the inhabitants of Kentucky, and of the western counties of the middle states, could only be relieved from the horrors of the tomahawk and the scalping knife, by a vigorous exertion of the military strength of the union. With the president, a long course of experience had confirmed the opinion, that on the failure of negotiation, sound policy and true economy, not less than humanity, required the immediate employment of a force which should be certainly competent to the object, and which should carry terror and destruction into the heart of the hostile settlements. Either not feeling the same impressions, or disposed to indulge the wishes of the western people, who declared openly their preference for desultory militia expeditions, congress did not adopt measures corresponding with the wishes of the executive, and the military * On the first information at St. Augustine that M'Gillivray was about to repair to New York, the intelligence was com. municated to the governor at the Havanna, and the secretary of E. Florida came to New York, with a large sum of money to purchase flour, as it was said, but to embarrass the negotia. tions with the Creeks was believed to be his real design. He was closely watched, and measures were taken to render any attempts he might make abortive. ↑ See Note, No. II. at the end of the volume. establishment* was not equal to the exigence. CHAP. IV. The distresses of the frontier inhabitants therefore still continued, and the hostility they had originally manifested to the constitution sustained no diminution. in relations Britain and In adjusting the points of controversy with United States Spain and Britain, no progress had been made, with Great With the former power, the question of boundary Spain. remained unsettled: nor did the cabinet of Madrid manifest any disposition to relax the rigor of its pretensions respecting the navigation of the Mississippi. Its general conduct furnished no foundation for a hope that its dispositions towards the United States were friendly, or that it could view without jealousy their growing power. The non-execution of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th articles of the treaty of peace, still furnished the United States and Great Britain with matter for reciprocal crimination, which there was the more difficulty in removing because no diplomatic intercourse was kept up between them. The cabinet of St. James having never appointed a minister to the United States, and Mr. Adams having returned from London without effecting the object of his * On giving his assent to the bill" regulating the military establishment of the United States," the president subjoined to the entry in his diary the remark, that although he gave it his sanction" he did not conceive that the military establishment was adequate to the exigencies of the government, and to the protection it was intended to afford." It consisted of one regiment of infantry, and one battalion of artillery, amounting in the total, exclusive of commissioned officers, to twelve hundred and sixteen men CHAP. IV. mission, the American government felt some 1790. difficulty in repeating advances which had been treated with neglect. Although the imbecility of congress under the confederation might in some measure account for not interchanging a minister, the present administration was not inclined hastily to expose itself to a similar mark of disrespect. Yet there was much reason to desire complete explanations with the English government, and to understand perfectly its views and intentions. The subjects for discussion were delicate in their nature, and could not be permitted to remain in their present state, without hazarding the most serious consequences. The detention of a part of the territory of the United States, was a circumstance of much importance to the honour, as well as to the interests of the nation; and the commercial intercourse between the two countries was so extensive as to require amicable and permanent regulations. To these subjects, the early attention of the president had been directed; and in October 1789, he had resolved on taking informal measures to sound the British cabinet, and to ascertain its views respecting them. To Mr. Gouverneur Morris, who had been carried by private business to Europe, this negotiation was intrusted; and he conducted it with ability and address, but was unable to bring it to a happy conclusion. The result of his conferences with the duke of Leeds, and with Mr. Pitt, was a conviction that the British government, considering the posts they occupied on the southern side of the great lakes as essential to their monopoly of the fur trade, would surrender them reluctantly, and was not desirous CHAP. IV. of entering into a commercial treaty. Those 1790. ministers expressed a wish to be on the best terms with America; but repeated the complaints which had been previously made by lord Carmarthen, of the non-execution of the treaty of peace on the part of the United States. To the observations made by Mr. Morris, that the constitution lately adopted, and the judicial courts established under it, amounted to a full compliance with that treaty on the part of the American government, it was answered, that losses had already been sustained in consequence of the obstructions given by the states to the fair operation of that instrument, which rendered a faithful observance of it at present impossible; and in a note, the duke of Leeds expressly avowed the intention, if the delay on the part of the American government to fulfil its engagements made in the treaty should have rendered their final completion impracticable, to retard the fulfilment of those which depended entirely on Great Britain, until redress should be granted to the subjects of his majesty on the specific points of the treaty itself, or a fair and just compensation obtained for the non performance of those stipu lations which the United States had failed to observe. Though urged by Mr. Morris to state explicitly in what respects, and to what degree, he considered the final completion of those engagements to which the United States were bound, as having been rendered impracticable, no such statement was given; and the British government seemed inclined to avoid for the present those full CHAP. IV. and satisfactory explanations which were sought 1790. on the part of America. After detailing the motives which in his opinion influenced the English cabinet in wishing to suspend for a time all discussions with America, Mr. Morris observed, "perhaps there never was a moment in which this country felt herself greater, and consequently, it is the most unfavourable moment to obtain advantageous terms from her in any bargain." Whilst these negotiations were depending, intelligence was received at London of the attack made on the British settlement at Nootka Sound; and preparations were instantly made to resent the insult alleged to have been offered to the nation. The high ground taken on this occasion by the government, and the vigour with which it armed in support of its pretensions, furnished strong reasons for the opinion that a war with Spain, and probably with France, would soon be commenced. In America, this was considered as a favour. able juncture for urging the claims of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi. Mr. Carmichael, their charge d'affaires at the court of Madrid, was instructed not only to press this point with earnestness, but to use his utmost endeavours to secure the unmolested use of that river in future, by obtaining a cession of the island of New Orleans, and of the Floridas. In the sincere friendship of the United States, and in the security which would be given to the terri tories of Spain, west of the Mississippi, would be |