- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1818 Nov. 19, Cherokee Agency [to] Daniel Graham / Jos[eph] McMinn of an image
- Creator:
- Tennessee. Governor (1815-1821 : McMinn)
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the Special Collections Library, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, McMinn letters, box 10, folder 59, document tl011.
- Date of Original:
- 1818-11-19
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Relocation
Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Indian land transfers - Location:
- United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027
- Medium:
- official reports
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document was written by Tennessee Governor Joseph McMinn (1815-1821) to Secretary of State Daniel Graham on November 19, 1818. He discusses his part in negotiations with the Cherokees for their land east of the Mississippi River, and McMinn is confident that he will be successful in convincing the Cherokees to surrender their title to the land. He also mentions preparations that are underway for the Cherokee emigrants.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- gml011
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gml011
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gml011#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gml011/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], McMinn letters, Special Collections Library, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Holding Institution:
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
cherokee agency
19 Nov 1818
Dear Secretary
I have arisen this morning at 4 oclock to avail my self [myself] of the pleasure of advising you that, we are still engaged here in the business of exchanging Countries, with brightened [added text: prospects ] every day, and its now confidently believed by my friends that I will effect a total extinguishment of Cherokee tittle [title] to all thier [their] land, east of the Mississippi For my self [myself] when I reflect upon the importance of such an event, and that I have to continue Single handed with an opposition as formidable as the one in question, I can Scarcely be as Sanguine as my friends, but if I Should succeed which God grant I may, I Shall [deleted text: always ] live and Die under the pleasing belief that his hand led to the victory
I occupied their attention for nearly three hours on yesterday in reading and explaining, and to day [today] I have promised to Send them a long written Talk, in which I Shall come
Page: [2]
[added text: to a point ] where I will halt, they will learn this day, that, if the Boon is to be theirs, they must Surrender their [deleted text: Possessission ] Possession & claim to the United States within [text omitted] years, this course will lead to a conclusion in a few days, and inable [enable] me to return to the more retired walks of life, which I assure you will be no less pleasing to my mind, than beneficial to my health, which I have not yet recovered, nor is it possible I can while I remain here, amidst the hurry, bustle & noise of a disorderly multitude, who can only be kept in bound, by [deleted text: the ] military force, and [deleted text: at ] [added text: add ] to that the immense weight of business in purchasing, Boats, Stores andequiping [equipping] vast numbers to Sail for the west -- not less than $30,000 will [added text: have ] Passed thro [through] my hand Since I came here, and before I can depart for all which duplicate receipts
Page: [3]
must be taken, the greater part of those are in my own hand writing [handwriting], In fact there is next to nothing done here unless I am present, night and day, hot & Cold weather forms no excuse, nor evan [even] sickness -- so perfictly [perfectly] are they Satisfied with my possessing all requisite power, that they are opposed to its being exerised [exercised] by any other person --
This letter will be handed you by a mr. Gamble Mercht. [Merchant] of Richmond V.A. [Virginia] who I presume you will conceive to be very worthy of your attention -- He has only [deleted text: been ] [added text: tarried ] here 2 days and I have been so much engaged that I fear he will think I have neglected him -- Remember Me as usual and believe me to be your friend
[Signed] Jos. [Joseph] McMinn
Honb [Honorable] Daniel Graham
Page: [4]
Honorable Daniel Graham Secretary of State Murfreesborough
politeness
Colonel Gamble
Gov [Governor] McMinn
19 N [November] 1818