_Ordered_, That the message lie for consideration.
WEDNESDAY, June 2.
_Resolved_, That the Senate will attend the funeral of
Colonel Bland, late a member of the House of
Representatives of the United States, at five o'clock this
afternoon.[30]
The Senate then entered on Executive business, and consented to the
nomination of M. De Poiery to be a Captain by Brevet, in the service of
the United States.
WEDNESDAY, August 4.
The Senate then entered on Executive business, and the following message
from the President of the United States was read:[31]
UNITED STATES, August 4th, 1790.
_Gentlemen of the Senate:_
In consequence of the general principles agreed to by the
Senate in August, 1789, the adjustment of the terms of a
treaty is far advanced between the United States and the
Chiefs of the Creek Indians now in this city, in behalf of
themselves and the whole Creek Nation.
In preparing the articles of this treaty, the present
arrangements of the trade with the Creeks have caused much
embarrassment. It seems to be well ascertained, that the
trade is almost exclusively in the hands of a company of
British merchants, who by agreement, make their
importations of goods from England into the Spanish ports.
As the trade of the Indians is a main means of their
political management, it is therefore obvious, that the
United States cannot possess any security for the
performance of treaties with the Creeks, while their trade
is liable to be interrupted, or withheld, at the caprice of
two foreign powers.
Hence it becomes an object of real importance to form new
channels for the commerce of the Creeks through the United
States. But this operation will require time, as the
present arrangements cannot be suddenly broken without the
greatest violation of faith and morals.
It therefore appears to be important to form a secret
article of a treaty, similar to the one which accompanies
this message.
If the Senate should require any further explanation, the
Secretary of War will attend them for that purpose.