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Proclamation of 1763The British ignored the warnings, yet, at the same time they wanted to avoid conflict with the Indians and arrange an orderly administration of the new territories. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was designed to do just that by, among other things, fixing a line that ran from the "heads or sources of any of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean from the West or Northwest….." In the South the line ran along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. Beyond the line, where the waters ran west, settlers and speculators were forbidden to go. That was Indian country, "reserved for them…as their hunting grounds," by the Crown. Private purchases of Indian lands were also forbidden. Only the Crown could grant "special leave and license" for "purchases and settlements"…." The British government did not regard the line as permanent but, "for the present, and until our further pleasure be known," it was meant to regulate future expansion and to keep Indian relations firmly in control of the government (through the offices of the Indian Department). The Indian Congress of 1763In March of 1763 the Earl of Egremont sent a communication to the governors of the four colonies constituting the Southern Indian District in North America (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) and to John Stuart directing them to summon the Indian Nations of that region for a general congress. The purpose of this congress was to apprise the Indians of the reasons for the transfer of the land from the French and Spanish to the English, and to establish peace and confidence between those nations and the Crown by the assurance that "the English feel a particular Satisfaction in the Opportunity which their Successes afford them, of giving the Indians the most incontestable & substantial Proofs of their good Intentions & cordial Desire to maintain sincere & friendly Correspondence with them". Immediately after receipt of this instruction the Indians of the south were invited to the congress. It is likely due to this action, so fortunately suggested by the Crown and so promptly executed by Stuart and his colleagues that the effect of Pontiac's Rebellion did not extend into the south. After considerable delay in fixing upon a meeting-place, the congress assembled at Augusta, Georgia on November 3rd, 1763. Here Stuart addressed an assembly including the governors of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia as well as representatives from the southern nations - Creeks, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw - numbering in all about 700. During the following days the Indians presented their grievances; they complained of the excessive number of traders in their country and the encroachments of the British on their lands. The definitive acts of the congress consisted in the granting of a reservation to the Catawbas and in determining a boundary between the settlements in Georgia and the Indian hunting lands. In addition, assurances were given on the one side that the Indians should be given opportunities for trade, and on the other that the traders would be secured against attack The Creek Crisis 1763-1764Stuart was satisfied with the outcome of the Congress at Augusta and especially pleased with the solution that he had designed for dealing with the Creeks. They could be isolated and rendered less dangerous by fanning the ill will that already existed between the Creeks and their neighboring Tribes. As a result of the Congress at Augusta he believed that he could count on considerable moral support and even military aid from the other tribes if difficulties arose between the Creeks and the English. Stuart remained at Augusta until November 19 to cement friendships with the Chickasaws, Choctaws, and Cherokees and also to distribute presents (According to Stuart's records he distributed 59,808 lbs of beef, 1,868 bushels of corn, over 1,245 gallons of Rum, 1,077 guns, 36,500 gunflints, 7,216 lbs of powder and 952 mirrors during the period from 10 October to the 18th of November.) Stuart soon learned that the Creeks were likely to test his plans before they had been thoroughly worked out. In December, rumors began to come in that the Upper Creeks had murdered some traders; and these were quickly followed by authentic accounts of the murder of 14 whites in the Long Canes area on December 24. Seven Lower Creeks, acting on instigation of The Mortar, were responsible for the crime. Many in the Government of the Georgia and South Carolina Colonies pressed for the immediate "cut-off" of trade with the Creeks as well as military action. This "hot-headed" course of action was probably exactly what The Mortar was hoping for as it is likely that he was trying to instigate a response that would turn the Creek nation against the English and assist him in forming a southern confederacy to act against the English in unison with Pontiac in the north. Stuart feared that war would result if the trade was cut off but he also felt that justice and English prestige required retribution as set forth in the recently concluded Augusta Congress. He informed the southern Governors of the situation and he sent messages to the Creeks requesting the execution of the culprits. Fearing and unfavorable reply, he also sent "talks" to the other tribes to solicit their help if war broke out. Aware that it might be impossible to bring the Creeks into line without cutting off the trade, he asked the English military officers who had recently occupied Pensacola and Mobile to join in executing such a measure should necessity require it. While Stuart received conciliatory replies from several of the Creek Chieftains, he received no reply from the Creek Nation as a whole. In March 1764 Stuart sent Alexander Cameron to the Cherokees to secure a definite promise of help should the Creeks choose war - a mission in which Cameron was successful. Governor Boone of South Carolina was still advocating an immediate halt to the trade with the Creeks and was proposing it to the Governor of Georgia as well as the military commanders of Pensacola and Mobile. Stuart, on the other hand, felt that further negotiations should be attempted since the Creeks had not refused satisfaction and since there was an excellent chance they might be persuaded to give it. Even if such negotiations should fail, Stuart believed they would be valuable because they would give time to complete his alliances with the other tribes and to make military preparations. Stuart's arguments were well founded and received by the Governor of Georgia and the military commanders and Boone's plan was put on the back burners for the time being. Throughout March and April various delegations of Creeks came to Stuart speaking in very conciliatory manners. However, no action was taken to punish the murderers so preparations continued in case of war. Several forts were reinforced by troops from the Royal American Regiment. At the same time, correspondence was received from General Gage, Commander-in-Chief of British forces in North America, supporting Stuart's policy of moderation, caution, and negotiation. Gage's support of Stuart's policies compelled the southern governors to continue cooperating in executing that policy. While the English were debating the course they should follow, the Creeks were doing the same thing. The Lower Creeks were not unfriendly and the Upper Creeks were not unanimously for war. Because of the continued moderation of the English, the inconveniences from the interruption of trade caused by traders being fearful to venture into Creek territory, and the hostility of the other tribes, especially the Cherokee, the attitude of the Creek Nation as a whole slowly became more peaceful. Even The Mortar cooled of a bit when the Chickasaws killed two of his brothers. At length, the Creeks formally announced to Stuart that they desired peace. In August a "talk" from The Mortar himself declaring that he regretted joining the French against the English and that he desired the English King's forgiveness was delivered at Augusta. The Mortar also sent a string of white beads as a token that he desired peace, pledged himself to be friendly henceforth to the English, and asked that the traders return to his nation. The beads were accepted and the Creeks received the promise that the traders would return but were cautioned that they would not remain unless they were well treated. The settlement of the Creek crisis of 1763-64 was obviously not a permanent one, for the Creeks were neither appeased nor thoroughly cowed. Nevertheless, the prudent diplomacy displayed by Stuart and Gage, and, to a lesser extent, the southern governors in the closing weeks of 1763 and the early months of 1764 effectively blocked whatever hopes The Mortar and his clique may have had of forming a southern confederacy to act in unison with Pontiac.
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