Historical Collections of Georgia
Rev. George White, New York 1855

Creek Delegation to the Governor, 1811

Indian Talk - On Saturday, the 19th of July, 1811, a company of fifty-seven of our red brethren of the lower Creeks, of whom twenty-two are of distinction, encamped on the banks of Fishing Creek, about a mile from the State-House.

On Sunday, about twenty attended Divine service at the Methodist Meeting-House, and their deportment was such to evince they were disposed to be orderly and attentive.

On Monday, at 10 a.m., thirty-eight assembled in the Representative Chamber in order to have a talk with his Excellency the Governor; they were attended by Colonel Hawkins, the United States Agent for Indian Affairs, and Mr. Timothy Barnard, as interpreter.

A numerous concourse of ladies and gentlemen were present. About 11, the talk commenced. The principal speakers were Tustunnuggee Hopoie, or Little Prince, Micco Thlucco of Cusseta, (known in the treaty of New-York by Birdtail King,) and Tustunnuggee Hutkee - known by the whites as Wm. McIntosh, who was one of the deputation that made the last treaty at Washington City.

The purport of the talk was a reciprocal assurance of amity and friendship, and a desire to cultivate a more close attachment and friendly intercourse between the white and red men - to be of one house and one fire.

Tustunnuggee Hutkee, among other things said, he was pleased to see so many white men, because they could hear what they had to say, and tell others. That whenever persons were intoxicated, they looked upon them as beside themselves, and took no notice of what they said or did - this was their manner of treating white men, and they expected the same treatment in return. That the old people would soon be gone, and this talk was intended for the rising generation, and to envince to them that their young men would as anxiously cultivate a good understanding with their white brethren as their fathers had done.

They informed Governor Mitchell that they had some other matters to mention, but would make him acquainted with them through Colonel Hawkins.

After the talk was concluded, about twenty of them, Colonel Hawkins, Mr. Barnard, &c., dined with the Governor.

It affords us pleasure to state that not the least complaint of irregularity or riotous behaviour occured; and brotherly love and harmony mutually subsisted whenever the white and red men were together.

"It thus appears that rude and uncultivated minds are susceptible of the finest sensibility, of the warmest attachments, of the most inviolable friendship, and that they sometimes practise virtues which would do credit to a people the most refined and enlightened."

 

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