| American
The Creeks
Andrew Jackson's Call for Volunteers in March 1812
The American South in 1814 |
Part of Andrew Jackson's speech to the Creek Nation in 1816
Andrew Jackson was well-aware of the resentment his 1814 Treaty of Fort
Jackson created. The following speech from 1816 is part warning/part threat
to the Creeks in an effort to force an agreement to a land settlement once
and for all. In what the U.S. government considered a fair gesture, the
Creek Nation was eventually compensated $25,200 for war damages.
"Friends and Brothers. You know me to be your friend, you remember when your nation listened to the advise of bad men, and became crazy by the prophecies of your, wicked prophets raised by the machinations of great Britain and Spain... You remember I destroyed your enemies, put those wicked prophets to death and to flight, and by the Capitulation and Treaty at Fort Jackson gave peace to your nation....
Brothers Listen, did I not send my men warriors... and destroyed upwards of two hundred of the Hostile Indians and did the British dare to land any men to protect them. Listen, did not the British after exciting them to war, after promising them protection flee like cowards and leave the Indians to perish, and is there any of your nation after all this so crazy as to Listen to their wicked talks again.
Friends and Brothers I hear with sorrow that some of your people has been listening to the wicked Talks of Colonel Nicholls again, and that he has directed you to oppose the running of the line agreeable to the Treaty of Fort Jackson...
Brothers Listen did I ever tell you a lie. Listen I now tell you that line must and will be run, and the least opposition brings down instant destruction on the heads of the opposers. Brothers Listen, My men are ready to crush all the enemies of the United States...I am your friend and Brother.” |
