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Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

"Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3"

This was particularly
the case with the Creeks. They complained of an inconvenient cession of
lands on their part, and by persons not duly representing their nation.
They were therefore desired to appoint a proper deputation to revise
their treaty; and that there might be no danger of any unfair practices,
they were invited to come to the seat of the General Government, and
to treat with that directly. They accordingly came. A considerable
proportion of what had been ceded, was on the revision yielded back to
them, and nothing required in lieu of it: and though they would have
been better satisfied to have had the whole restored, yet they had
obtained enough to satisfy them well. Their nation, too, would have
been satisfied, for they were conscious of their aggression, and of the
moderation of the indemnity with which we had been contented. But at
that time came among them an adventurer of the name of Bowles, who,
acting from an impulse with which we are unacquainted, flattered them
with the hope of some foreign interference, which should undo what had
been done, and force us to consider the naked grant of their peace as
a sufficient satisfaction for their having made war on us. Of this
adventurer the Spanish government rid us: but not of his principles,
his practices, and his excitements against us.


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