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340 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
made. A large number of the Creeks were known to be friendly, but
exact knowledge of the attitude of each village could not be obtained."
Georgia was not represented at the New York conference, to which
treatment she was inclined to demur. Gen. Elijah Clark, of Revolution
ary fame, resented so strongly this guarantee to the Indians that he
illegally crossed the Oconee and sought to establish a settlement, but was
forced to desist by the state authorities.*
Since the Tallassee country still remained a bone of contention, the
flames of war soon burst forth anew. Marauding expeditions against the
white settlements increased in number to such an extent that Governor
Telfair, then occupying the executive chair, proposed a chain of block
houses reaching from Florida to North Carolina as a necessary means
of defense to insure the safety of white settlers. Gen. John Twiggs,
at the head of a militia force, 700 strong, was dispatched against the
Creeks, but failure of supplies made the expedition abortive. Wash
ington was urged to intervene; but he opposed a national declaration of
war against the Creeks many of whom.1 were anxious for peace. Besides,
such a course was more than likely to stir up strife among the Cherokees
and bring on trouble with Spain.
But the death of Alexander McGillivray, in February, 1793, caused an
unexpected rift in the clouds which had long drooped heavily over the
white settlements. The Creeks became disorganized. James Seagrove,
an Indian agent, representing the United States Government, took up his
residence in Georgia for the purpose of tranquilizing conditions. He suc
ceeded in bringing about a friendly interview between Governor Mathews
and a delegation of Creek chiefs, all of which may have had its effect in
causing the Legislature to approach the Federal Government on the sub
ject of treaty negotiations.
On June 25, 1795, Washington appointed three commissioners to
treat with the Creek Indians, in the hope of a satisfactory settlement.
These commissioners were: Benjamin Hawkins, George Clymer and
Andrew Pickens.t Coleraine, an Indian post, on the St. Mary's River,
forty-five miles above St. Mary's, afterwards the site of Fort Piekering,
was selected as the place for this important conference; and here, on
June 29, 1796, a treaty of peace and friendship between the President
of the United States and the Creek Nation of Indians was negotiated.
This solemn document was signed by numerous kings, head-men and
warriors of the Creek Nation and by all the commissioners representing
the Federal Government. There were commissioners present from Geor
gia, but they took no formal part in these proceedings. As soon as all
was over, they protested in a formal manner against certain items. It
was merely as onlookers delegated to keep a watchful eye upon the
state's interests that they were present at these negotiations; but they
typified a sentiment which was steadily growing more and more power
ful in Georgia, a sentiment partial to extreme State Rights. Georgia's
conservatism in the Federal Convention of 1787 was pronounced, as we
shall see in a succeeding chapter. She needed the protection which
only a strong central Government could give to her exposed borders.
* See Chapter 5, Section III.
t "Marbury and Crawford's Digest, Treaty of Coleraine," pp. 632-637.