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Letter to William Charles Coles
Claiborne, May 30, 1797 |
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TRANSCRIPT GLC 4877
George Washington. Autograph letter signed: Mount Vernon, to
William Charles Coles Claiborne, 1797 May 30. 2 p.
Mount Vernon 30 May 1797
Sir,
Your letter of the 22d Ult has been duly received, and I pray
you to accept my thanks for the favourable sentiments you have
been pleased to express for me, and of my Administration of
the Government. If all our Citizens were actuated by the principles
you profess, it would much promote the happiness and prosperity
of our Country.
I have not unpacked the Papers yet, which I brought from Philadelphia;
but I may venture before hand to pronounce, that the letters
you enquire after were left with others of a similar nature
for the information of my Successor; If, however, I should be
mistaken in this, they shall, when found, be transmitted to
you; as it is my determination not to interfere – directly
or indirectly – in recommendations to Office.
[2] It is very pleasing to me to learn from such good authority,
that the People of the State of Tennessee are [strikeout] well
affected to the General Government, and that your prospect of
Peace with the Indians is not likely to be seriously interrupted.
For the other information contained in your letter I feel myself
indebted to your goodness – and am
Sir
Your most Obedt. Hble Ser
Go: Washington
Mr. William. C.C. Claiborne.
Notes: Unpublished. Claiborne (1775-1817) was born in Sussex
County, Virginia and moved to Tennessee where he helped framed
the state’s constitution in 1796. Under the new state government,
he was appointed to the state’s Supreme Court. The “prospect
of peace with the Indians” refers to the culmination and
final success of years of patiently pursued policies of diplomacy
and military action laid out by Washington during his presidency.
Washington’s administration had spent years negotiating
fruitlessly with the tribes in the old Northwest Territory from
1789-93. In 1794 General “Mad” Anthony Wayne defeated
the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) and started
pacifying the tribes. Finally, American negotiators convinced
the British to withdraw from the northwest in June 1796 and
end secret aid to the Indians within U.S. borders. With that
news settlers began pouring into Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Michigan.
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