[Footnote: _Do_., Rinkin to Butler, July 2, 1788; St.Clair to Knox, September 4, 1788.] Under such circumstances the treaties of course came to naught.

After interminable delays the Indians either refused to treat at all, or else the acts of those who did were promptly repudiated by those who did not.
In consequence throughout this period even the treaties that were made were quite worthless, for they bound nobody.

Moreover, there were the usual clashes between the National and State authorities.

While Harmar was trying to treat, the Kentuckians were organizing retaliatory inroads; and while the United States Commissioners were trying to hold big peace councils on the Ohio, the New York and Massachusetts Commissioners were conducting independent negotiations at what is now Buffalo, to determine the western boundary of New York.

[Footnote: _Do_., Wilson and Rinkin to St.Clair, July 29, 1788.