McHenry, James, as Secretary of War

Manuscript speech signed ("James McHenry | Secy. of War"), written in a fine clerical hand, "War department" [Philadelphia], 3 pages (13 x 8 1/8 in.; 328 x 206 mm) on a bifolium of wove paper (watermarked g & ep 1794), titled "Speech of the Secretary of War to George Colbert a Chickasaw Chief," with blindstamp seal of the United States War Office; fold separations repaired and reinforced.

Frank T. Siebert (Sotheby's, 28 October 1999, lot 602)

Not recorded in The Papers of the War Department 1784 to 1800

Manuscript speech signed ("James McHenry | Secy. of War"), written in a fine clerical hand, "War department" [Philadelphia], 3 pages (13 x 8 1/8 in.; 328 x 206 mm) on a bifolium of wove paper (watermarked g & ep 1794), titled "Speech of the Secretary of War to George Colbert a Chickasaw Chief," with blindstamp seal of the United States War Office; fold separations repaired and reinforced.
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Secretary of War James McHenry discusses the expenses and government reimbursement of Chief Colbert's visit to Philadelphia to meet President John Adams.

George Colbert was the son of James Logan Colbert, a Scots trader who took three Chickasaw wives. The Scotsman's several sons were among the most important tribal leaders of their time, and George, in particular, proved a valuable American ally during the War of 1812. In 1799, Chief Colbert travelled from his home near Tupelo, Mississippi, for an audience with the President. In the present address, McHenry responds to some accounting questions the Chief had raised.

McHenry begins by explaining to Colbert that while the Superintendent of Indian Affairs would pay the travel expenses of any Indian Chief or great Warrior on his way to, or home from, the federal capital, "no expense is to be incurred, by the public, should he stop upon the road, to settle any private business, instead of proeceeding on his Journey. In all his private transactions the Government considers itself as having no concern."

The Chief had evidently also complained of some perceived slight to his wife, for McHenry told him that "Colonel Mentges has been directed to procure certain articles of dress for your wife and piece of Callico for her to take home. I hope what she will receive will remove all cause of Jealousy from her mind. You may assure her that the President has been well pleased to see her at the seat of Government."

Secretary McHenry is more dismissive of Colbert's inquiries on behalf of one of his five brothers, perhaps Pittman, who was later to establish a large cotton plantation. "It is out of my power to do any thing for your Brother. This claim against Chisolm must be settled by the Courts of law. It cannot be admitted by the accounting officers and paid by the public. ... It is also not in my power to allow any thing whatever to your Brother for his Negro, which he represents to have been killed by the Creeks. The Congress have made no provision to meet such cases, or to compensate the people of the respective red nations for losses, they may sustain by depredations from each other."

McHenry further clarifies that the War Office's annual stipend of $3,000 to the Chickasaw people has remained consistent, even though "more goods may have been delivered in one year, than in another, because more goods will be obtained for the same money at one time than another. ..." The Secretary concludes by assuring Colbert of the advantages to be gained by the new establishment of Fort Pickering at Chickasaw Bluff—and by pledging the aid of the United States in defending Chickasaw sovereignty. "The establishment of the post at the Chickasaw Bluff cannot fail to be beneficial to the Chickasaws. This is explained in the talk to the Wolfs friend. But it will be further useful as affording a market for many little articles which your people can raise, and which will readily be bought up by the Garrison. ... It is by no means the intention of the President to countenance any intrusions on the land belonging to your nation. Should any such be made, measures will be taken, as soon as the fact is known, to turn off the intruders."