I have directed letters to be written to the executives of Virginia and Pennsylvania informing them of the before-recited act of Congress and that I have given you these conditional directions, so that there may not be any obstructions to such measures as shall be necessary to be taken by you for calling forth the militia agreeably to the instructions herein contained.
The said militia to act in conjunction with the Federal troops in such operations, offensive or defensive, as you and the commanding officer of the troops conjointly shall judge necessary for the public service and the protection of the inhabitants and the posts.
The said militia while in actual service to be on the continental establishment of pay and rations. They are to arm and equip themselves, but to be furnished with public ammunition if necessary; and no charge for the pay of said militia will be valid unless supported by regular musters, made by a field or other officer of the Federal troops, to be appointed by the commanding officer of the troops.
I would have it observed forcibly that a war with the Wabash Indians ought to be avoided by all means consistently with the security of the frontier inhabitants, the security of the troops, and the national dignity. In the exercise of the present indiscriminate hostilities it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to say that a war without further measures would be just on the part of the United States.
But if, after manifesting clearly to the Indians the dispositions of the General Government for the preservation of peace and the extension of a just protection to the said Indians, they should continue their incursions, the United States will be constrained to punish them with severity.
You will also proceed, as soon as you can with safety, to execute the orders of the late Congress respecting the inhabitants at St. Vincennes and at the Kaskaskias and the other villages on the Mississippi. It is a circumstance of some importance that the said inhabitants should as soon as possible possess the lands to which they are entitled by some known and fixed principles.
I have directed a number of copies of the treaty made by you at Fort Harmar with the Wyandots, etc., on the 9th of January last to be printed and forwarded to you, together with the ratification and my proclamation enjoining the observance thereof.
As it may be of high importance to obtain a precise and accurate knowledge of the several waters which empty into the Ohio on the northwest and of those which discharge themselves in the Lakes Erie and Michigan, the length of the portages between, and nature of the ground, an early and pointed attention thereto is earnestly recommended.
Given under my hand, in the city of New York, this 6th day of October, A.D. 1789, and in the thirteenth year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States.
Go. WASHINGTON.