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Sale 86
Lot 264
McHenry, James (1753-1816) American statesman. McHenry was a signer of the U.S. Constitution from Maryland and the namesake of Fort McHenry. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and Secretary of War (1796-1800), under George Washington and John Adams. Manuscript speech signed ("James McHenry / Secy. of War"), 3 pages, 13 x 8 1/8 in., "War department" [Philadelphia], Feb. 7, 1799. Titled "Speech of the Secretary of War to George Colbert a Chickasaw Chief," the speech is written in a fine clerical hand on fine wove paper watermarked "G & EP 1794," with blindstamp seal of the United States War Office. Repairs and reinforcement to folds affect legibility of two words of text, else fine.
George Colbert was one of several sons of Scots trader James Logan Colbert and his three Chickasaw wives. The sons were important tribal leaders leaders and George, in particular, would prove to be a valuable ally to the Americans during the War of 1812. In 1799, Chief Colbert traveled to Philadelphia from his home near Tupelo, Mississippi, for an audience with President Adams. McHenry writes to Colbert responding to questions the chief had raised regarding certain expenses and government reimbursement for the visit. McHenry explains that "when any Indian Chief or great Warrior comes on business from his nation to the seat of Government, at the desire of the Superintendant of Indian Affairs or person having power to authorize the Journey, it has always been the practice to bear the expences of the said Chief or Warrior to and from the seat of Government, at the same time it is understood that no expence is to be incurred, by the public, should he stop upon the road, to settle any private business…."
McHenry mentions fifty dollars which was given to Colbert "to be disposed of at your pleasure" and which could have been used for private business, as well as another fifty dollars which "the President sent you…in gold coin of the United States….if you have not yet received it, get it upon applying to the Commandant of the Garrison."
Addressing a perceived slight to Colbert's wife, McHenry writes, "Colonel Mentges has been directed to procure certain articles of dress for your wife and a piece of callico….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." He continues, " 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 explains that no alteration has been made to the annual sum of three thousand dollars which was promised to Colbert's people, but it was possible that "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 establishment of the post at the Chickasw 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 certainly was never meant to give the nation any expectations that the annuity would be increased." McHenry will fix with the Commandant of the Garrison at the Bluff a precise day for the distribution of the annuity and the Chickasaws will be notified beforehand "to prevent complaints & any unnecessary delay…."
In closing, McHenry assures Colbert, "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."
Reference: Not recorded in The Papers of the War Department 1784 to 1800.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500.
Frank T. Siebert, Sotheby's, Oct. 28, 1999, lot 602.
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