(18th-Century Southern Borderlands) [Collection of manuscript letters to Secretary of War James McHenry from confidential U.S. agent John McKee, relating to southern borderlands, Native Americans and Panton, Leslie & Co.; a letter from John McKee written from Mobile, Alabama, to William Blount of Blount's Conspiracy fame; a letter from William Panton concerning John McKee; and letters from Felix D. St. Hilaire, concerning General Victor Collot]

McKee - St. Hilaire - McHenry - Panton - Tillary

Verlag: McKee - St. Hilaire - McHenry - Panton - Tillary, 1797

Beschreibung

McKee - St. Hilaire - McHenry - Panton - Tillary / 1797 / (18th-Century Southern Borderlands) [Collection of manuscript letters to Secretary of War James McHenry from confidential U.S. agent John McKee, relating to southern borderlands, Native Americans and Panton, Leslie & Co.; a letter from John McKee written from Mobile, Alabama, to William Blount of Blount's Conspiracy fame; a letter from William Panton concerning John McKee; and letters from Felix D. St. Hilaire, concerning General Victor Collot] (Safe 1, 90005) 10 manuscript letters, mostly on bifolia of laid paper (though some on wove paper), many with remnants of wax seals. Usual folds. Paper generally fine and crisp. Southern Borderlands in 1797 Letters from John McKee (Confidential U.S. Agent in the Southwest and Associate of William Blount): Eyeing Southern Native American Lands: Panton, Leslie & Company and Back Channel U.S. Expansionism Letters to Secretary of War James McHenry from French-born Spy in Service of United States (Felix de St. Hilaire) Concerning General Victor Collot Evidence of Collot's Seized Maps Dispatched to U.S. Government A superb group of manuscript source material illuminating the beginnings of American expansionism in the Southwestern borderlands of 1797, including a plan by agents of the United States to dispossess southern tribes of their lands. Nine of the ten letters are addressed to Secretary of War James McHenry, who served under both George Washington and John Adams. A staunch early proponent of American territorial expansion, McHenry clearly kept a close eye on the situation in the southern borderlands, primarily through specially appointed agents that communicated directly with him. Outstanding here are letters from John McKee, one of the agents, to McHenry, concerning the powerful position of the trading firm of Panton, Leslie among the southern Native tribes. Through their dealings with the southern tribes Panton, Leslie wielded great influence over tribal lands in South - leverage which McKee and McHenry were seemingly keen to exploit for the benefit of the United States. A companion letter present here relating to McKee is from William Panton himself, written from Pensacola. Panton expresses his suspicions concerning McKee's representations as an agent of the United States, particularly in regard to his ability to treat on matters concerning Native Tribes in Spanish Florida on behalf of the government. Another fascinating McKee letter, written from Mobile, is addressed to William Blount - of Blount's Conspiracy fame - in which McKee candidly shares details about Panton, Leslie & Co as a conduit to access southern lands through debts owed by Native tribes to the trading firm. A key passage from McKee's May 29, 1797 letter to McHeny, also written from Mobile, summarizes his thinking about Panton, Leslie: The House of Panton, Leslie & Co. which I mentioned to you in Philadelphia is the only channel thro' which this Government has ever been able to influence the Indians. That house has supplied the four southern tribes with goods since the revolution and its members possess all the influence with the Indians which their situation of being almost the only persons who for many years supplied them with the necessaries of life would necessarily give. They feel themselves a little uneasy under the jealous eye of the Spanish Government, and would I think avail themselves of any opportunity that would not materially affect their interests of leaving this quarter and transferring the trade and consequently the affections of the Indians to the United States. A Guarantee for such quantity of Land equal to their outstanding debts as they could obtain from the Indians would be expected. . Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 90005

Bibliografische Details

Titel: (18th-Century Southern Borderlands) [...

Verlag: McKee - St. Hilaire - McHenry - Panton - Tillary

Erscheinungsdatum: 1797

Einband: No Binding

Zustand: VG+

Art des Buches: Map