Colonial SC Indian Trade

1755 Law regulating Indian Trade with the Creek Indians

FOR AS MUCH as by the latest accounts from the nation of Creek Indians, the subjects of the French King are incessantly labouring to seduce those Indians from the British interest; and
    for as much as the most likely means of preserving the friendship of the said Indians, and continuing them in amity with this Government, will be to supply them with British manufactures, and at as cheap and easy rates as can be afforded; and
    for as much as it is expected that several of the chiefs or head men of the said nation will soon be in Charlestown in order to have their trade settled and the prices of goods reduced;
we therefore humbly pray his most sacred Majesty that it may be ordained, And be it ordained, by his Excellency James Glen, Esq. Governour in-chief of the Province of South Carolina, by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's Council and the Commons House of Assembly of the said Province, and by the authority of the same, That  

- the Governour's Commander-in-chief of this Province for the time being, and his Majesty's Council, with the advice and consent of Benjamin Smith, Henry Middleton, James Michie, John Rattray, Charles Pinckney, junior, George Austin, John Savage, John Guerard, James Skirving, David Grame and the Creek Thomas Lamboll, Esquires, members of the General Assembly, or a majority of the said members, shall have power and authority, and they are hereby fully authorized and impowered, to  

- settle and regulate with the chiefs or head men of the Creek nation, when they shall come to Charles town, the trade to be carried on in the said nation by such of the traders is now have or hereafter shall have licences from this Province to trade in any part of the said nation; and also to  

- appoint, set and ascertain the rate or price, and rates or prices, of all and every article and articles of goods, wares and merchandize, that shall be carried to the said nation by the traders licenced from this Province; provided, that nothing herein conlined shall extend, or be construed to extend, to give any power or authoity for lessening or reducing the present number of traders unless it shall appear absolutely necessary for the peace and safety of this Province . . .  

And be it also ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the commissioner of Indian affairs shall be, and he is hereby obliged and required to price to be annex a list or schedule of the prices of the goods, wares and merchandize so to be appointed, set and ascertained as aforesaid, to every licence that shall be granted from his said office, for trading in any part of the said nation; and shall also make it an instruction to every trader, to deal, trade, traffic or barter with the said Indians, according to the rates and prices mentioned and comprised in the said list or schedule; and the said commissioner shall also make it part of the condition of the bond entered into by the trader upon obtaining his licence, that he will deal, trade, traffick or barter with the said Indians conformably to the said instruction; and upon breach of such instruction, the penalty of such bond shall be, and is hereby declared to be, forfeited;