Governor Blount has indefatigably labored to keep these people in a pacific humor, but in vain.

War is unavoidable, however ruinous and calamitous it may be." [Footnote: State Dep.

MSS., Madison Papers, Sevier's letter, Oct.

30, 1792.] The Federal Government was most reluctant to look facts in the face and acknowledge that the hostilities were serious, and that they were unprovoked by the whites.
The Secretary of War reported to the President that the offenders were doubtless merely a small banditti of Creeks and Cherokees, with a few Shawnees who possessed no fixed residence; and in groping for a remedy he weakly suggested that inasmuch as many of the Cherokees seemed to be dissatisfied with the boundary line they had established by treaty it would perhaps be well to alter it.

[Footnote: State Dep.