1 6 The Winning of the West 



Soon after the Constitution went into effect the 

 National Government made a vigorous effort to 

 conclude peace on a stable basis. Commissioners 

 were sent to the Southern Indians. Under their 

 persuasion McGillivray and the leading kings and 

 chiefs of the Muscogee confederacy came to New 

 York and there entered into a solemn treaty. In 

 this treaty the Creeks acknowledged the United 

 States, to the exclusion of Spain, as the sole power 

 with which they could treat ; they covenanted to keep 

 faith and friendship with the Americans ; and in re- 

 turn for substantial payments and guarantees they 

 agreed to cede some land to the Georgians, though 

 less than was claimed under the treaty of Galphinton. 



This treaty was solemnly entered into by the 

 recognized chiefs and leaders of the Creeks; 

 and the Americans fondly hoped that it would 

 end hostilities. It did nothing of the kind. Though 

 the terms were very favorable to the Indians,/ 

 so much so as to make the frontiersmen grum- 

 ble, the Creeks scornfully repudiated the promises 

 made on their behalf by their authorized represen- 

 tatives. Their motive in going to war, and keep- 

 ing up the war, was not so much anger at the en- 

 croachments of the whites, as the eager thirst for 

 glory, scalps, and plunder, to be won at the expense 

 of the settlers. The war parties raided the frontier 

 as freely as ever. 18 The simple truth was that the 



18 Robertson MSS., Williamson to Robertson, Aug. 2, 1789, 

 and Aug. 7, 1790. American State Papers, Indian Affairs, I, 

 81. Milfort, 131, 142. 



