At a meeting of a very
considerable number of the citizens of the county of Knox
at the seminary in Vincennes, on Wednesday the 31st of
July 1811; when colonel Ephraim Jordan was appointed
president, and capt. James Smith, secretary. Thereupon Gen
W. Johnston, addressed the meeting, in which he informed
them of the present situation of the inhabitants of not
only the town, but country, in regard to the Shawanoe
[Shawnee] prophet, his Brother Tecumseh, and their
confederacy of Indians, and advised, that for the safety
of the citizens, some resolution should be fallen into;
and therefore adjt. Daniel Sullivan, introduced the
following resolutions, which being read and explained in
an audable voice, both in the English and French
languages, were unanimously adopted, as follows, viz.
1st.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this
meeting, that the safety of the persons and property of
this frontier, can never be effectually secured, but by
the breaking up of the combination formed by the Shawanoe
Prophet on the Wabash.
2d.
Reselved, That we consider it highly impolitic
and injurious as well to the inhabitants of the United
States, as that of the territory, to permit a formidable
banditti, which is constantly increasing in number, to
occupy a situation which enables them to strike our
settlements without the least warning.
3rd.
Resolved, That we are fully convinced that
the formation of the combination headed by the Shawanoe
Prophet, is a British Scheme and that the agents of that
power are constantly exciting the Indians to hostility
against the United States.
4th.
Resolved, [Illegible] time, and under
the circumstances which attended it; was calculated to
excite the most serious alarm and but for the energetic
measures, which have been adopted by our executive, it is
highly probable that the threatened [destruction?] of this
place, and the massacre of the inhabitants, would have
been the consequence.
5th.
Resolved, That a temporising policy is not
calculated to answer any benificial [purpose with savages,
who are only to be controlled by prompt and decisive
measures.?]
6th.
Resolved, That we approve highly of the
prompt and decisive measures adopted [and approved by?]
the governor of the territory. We are convinced that
the situation in which we [stand?], with [the?] Prophet
and his adherents, rendered them necessary for our safety,
and, from them we confidently expect such a termination of
the presumptous pretentions of this daring chief, as must
be pleasing to every patriot, and honorable to himself.
7th
Resolved, That a committee to consist of the
Rev. Samuel T. Scott, the Rev. Alexander Devin, col. Luke
Decker, col. E. Jordan, Daniel M'Clure, & Walter
Wilson esqrs. col. Francois Vigo, or a majority of them,
be, and they are hereby appointed to, prepare and forward
to the executive of the United States, a respectful
address on the behalf of this meeting, assuring him of our
attachment to his person and administration, and
requesting him to take such measures, as his wisdom may
dictate, to free the territories in this quarter from
future apprehensions from the Prophet and his party; and
that he be also requested to insist upon the surrender, by
the Indian tribes, of those who have murdered our fellow
citizens, and provide compensation for such as have lost
their property.
Resolved that these resolutions be printed in the Western
Sun, & also the address which may be prepared, and
forwarded to the president in pursuance of them.
E. Jordan, President.
Jas. Smith, Secretary
- - -
To James Madison
President of the United States.
Sir,
In obedience to the wishes of a numerous meeting of our
fellow citizens assembled for the purpose of taking into
consideration the state of this country in relation to
Indian affairs, we have the honor to address you. In
approaching the chief magistrate of our country, who is so
deservedly celebrated for the talents, which distinguish
the statesman & the virtues which adorn the man, we
should not do justice to our own feelings, and the
feelings of those whom we represent, if we neglected to
express our confidence in his administration and our
sincere respect and esteem for his person.
In fulfilling the duty which has been assigned [illegible]
scarcely necessary [illegible] should do more than to
refer you to the resolutions [illegible] feelings of the
[citizens?] of this part of the [illegible] country. [It
is impossible?] to doubt [illegible] that the combination
which [illegible] on the Wabash is a British scheme; &
it is equally certain that this banditti is now prepared
to be let loose upon us & that nothing but vigorous
measures will [prevent?] it. [illegible] almost daily
occur.
[illegible] impunity with which these savages have been
so long suffered to commit [illegible] has [illegible]
their insolence to a pitch that is no longer
supportable. We are not sir, [illegible] for unnecessary
rigor towards our Indian neighbors. The character which
some of us sustain as ministers of the gospel of Christ
will shield us from the supposition that we wish to
plunge our country in an unnecessary war -- our object
is peace but we are fully pursuaded that that blessing
can now only be secured to us by the exertion of some
vigor.
Let the savages be made sensible that every aggression
from them will meet with a correspondent punishment, and
Indian depredations will seldom be heard of.
Since the adoption of the Resolutions under which we act,
we have listened to the speech delivered by the brother of
the Prophet to governor Harrison, and if a doubt remained
upon our minds as to the designs of the Confederacy he has
formed, it has beem completely removed. Shall we
then quietly wait the stroke, when we see the weapon is
suspended over us; we hope and trust that this will not be
expected and that the general Government will take
effectual measures to avert the danger; what these
measures shall be we will not presume to dictate, but we
beg leave most respectfully to observe, that we conceive
that the country will forever be exposed to those alarms
which are at once so injurious to its settlement, and the
interest of the United States, as long as the banditti
under the Prophet, are suffered to remain where they now
are. The people have become highly irritated and alarmed,
and if the government will not direct their energies, we
fear that the innocent will feel the effects of their
resentment, and a general war be the consequence. The
western country, sir, is indebted to your predecessor for
an undeviating attention to its prosperity, and the
gratitude and attachment which they feel towards that
distinguished patriot can never be effaced -- with equal
confidence they look up to his successor, who, persuing
the same course of politics with regard to the European
powers, is, to them sufficient proof of coincidence of
sentiment in that which relates to the continent.
That you may be the means under providence of establishing
the affairs of your country, & settling its interest
in every quarter of the [globe upon?] a secure &
lasting foundation, and that you may long live to [enjoy
the blessings of your?] countrymen for [the happiness?]
you procure for them is the sincere prayer of your Fellow
Citizens,
Samuel T. Scott
Alexander Devin
Luke Decker
Ephrain Jordan
Daniel [McClure?]
[illegible]
