Notes from Knox for Presidential speech
Item
Type
Draft Document
Title
Notes from Knox for Presidential speech
Description
Document, draft suggestions for President's speech on National Defense; discusses hostile Indians on frontier; establishment of energetic militia; and fortification of seaports.
short description
Doc, dr spch Indians & seaport defense
year created
1793
month created
11
day created
10
author
in collection
in image
note
document is written in the hand of Knox
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Congress
Secretary of War.
notable location
Ohio River
United States.
notable item/thing
efforts
adjust by an amicable negotiation all causes of difference with the hostile Indians north of the Ohio
sound demonstration of the sincere disposition of the United States for peace upon moderate and equitable terms and also of their liberal intentions at rendering more comfortable the condition of their ignorant and barbarous neighbors
pacific overtures
to the said Indians together with the result thereof
laid before you for your information
after the fairest experiments, peace is unattainable upon reasonable grounds
incumbent upon the United States to use decisively such degrees of their force as shall be competent
immediate protection of their exposed citizens
punishment of the tribes
depredations
military operations have been occupied by negotiation
force will not probably be able to undertake any considerable enterprises during the remainder of the autumn
a return of the troops is service will be
number authorized by law are materially deficient
a subject of consideration whether the establishment shall be completed by additional encouragement's or whether powerful aids of militia shall be afforded to accomplish the public objects
situation on the south western frontiers will also claim the serious attention of Congress
a statement upon the subject together with the papers on which it is founded will be laid before you
measures which it may be proper to adopt
measures may be devised for the prompt punishment of bandittei Indians belonging to tribes in peace with us
laws should be so strengthened that our own violators of the peace and existing treaties should not escape with impunity and thereby bring down upon innocent women and children the horrors of retaliation and involve the country in an unjust war
directed the Secretary of War also to lay before you reports of the present situation of the arsenals of the United States
although it would appear that the warlike apparatus and stores contained therein are respectable, yet motives of prudence require that large augmentations should be make thereto
during the recess of Congress
direct that some essential articles should be provided and some repairs made which might be required at a time and under circumstances which they could not be obtained
expenses incurred in this public object will be stated in the estimates for the ensuring year for which appropriations will be requisite
neither our interest nor any other circumstances should require us to become parties to the existing war among the European powers, every nation owes itself to be provided at all times in full abundance with the secures necessary for its own security and defense
not only our arsenals and magazines would be will provided but also
defensive arrangements should be taken
fortifying some of our principal seaports
application have been recently made to me for this purpose by several of the executives of the individual states
propriety is too apparent to require any arguments to enforce it
being upon thew subject of our national defense
suggest the propriety of
bulwark of liberty and safety
an energetic militia
all emergencies
to take such measures as the nature of the cast might require
adequate body of free citizens properly organized the United States would be on a condition to meet and dispute events which sometimes arise in the affairs of men and for which being unprepared the happiness and liberty etc societies have so frequently been overturned and ruined
submitted to your wisdom whether the exposed situation of some of the principal seaports of the US require
fortification which would secure them from insult or surprize
applications have been made to me for this purpose.
document number
1793111090001
page start
1
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (8 pages) | AKS10 (8 pages) | Collection: Henry Knox Papers. [microfilm] | R: 34, P: 149 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |