- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1797 Jan. 12, Knoxville, [Tennessee to] Silas Dinsmore [i.e., Dinsmoor] / J[ohn] Sevier of an image
- Creator:
- Tennessee. Governor (1796-1801 : Sevier)
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the Special Collections Library, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, Governor Sevier, box 1, folder 3, document tl026.
- Date of Original:
- 1797-01-12
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Cherokee Indians--Claims against
Boundaries - Location:
- United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This letter, dated January 12,1797, is from Governor John Sevier of Tennessee (1796-1801) to Silas Dinsmoor, U.S. Agent to the Cherokees. The letter is written partly in response to inquiries made earlier by Dinsmoor regarding Indian land boundaries in the Cumberland area. Sevier explains that Americans can begin settling in areas as low as the Tennessee River and that the boundary line that the government is experimenting with is going to be extended. Sevier also discusses complaints made by white settlers against Indians, thought to be Cherokees. The Cherokees are accused of robbing and plundering families along the road to Cumberland, and Sevier asks Dinsmoor to deliver an enclosed letter (see gs027 of the Southeastern Native American Documents database) to the chiefs of that nation as well as reclaim the stolen property.
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:
- gs026
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs026
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs026#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs026/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Governor Sevier, 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]
Knoxville
12th January 1797
Sir
Yours of the
8th of November I am duly honored with, and Should have done myself the pleasure of Answering the Same before this time had I been at this place. Some of my family in Washington being much indisposed Which required my presence is my opology [apology], together with The severity of the Weather [added text: which ] prevented my return so soon As I intended. I Discovered at the first Sight of the Act of Congress you advert to that [deleted text: tho ] it would have a tendency rather to encourage than discourage Settlements to be made as low down as the Tennessee River, tho [though] I make no doubt that Honorable body fully anticipated Very Salutary and interesting consequences would be derived [deleted text: : in ] The experimented line tried by [added text: Messieurs ] Campble McKee, & McClung is reported as I am informed, to Cross [unclear text: Hobeson ] near the confluance [confluent] of that and Tennessee River, The act of Congress embraces an Idea, that from that place, the line is to be extended [deleted text: a ] South to the N. [North] Carolina Indian boundary. now Sir if the experimental line [deleted text: Above ] Alluded to is accurate, will not the [deleted text: line ] [added text: Course ] to be run South Immediately cross the Tennessee! This [added text: is an ] Idea [deleted text: is ] generally entertained by all those who are Acquainted, and the opinion You know is readily indulged by all who wish to Settle on the Land --
Page: [2]
The line of conduct I am to [deleted text: preserve ] [added text: observe ] on this Occasion does not appear to me Sufficiently dilineated [delineated] : -- were I to undertake it, I should be much a fraid [afraid] of erring through [deleted text: a ] misconception of the line yet to be run. In this dilemma I must be excused from [deleted text: taking ] [added text: Exercising ] any prompt and decisive Measures, on the subject, Especially as it is the part of candor in me to acknowledge that I do not see my way clear enough to [deleted text: direct such a plan ] give such instructions as would have efficacy sufficient to answer the disired [desired] intention. If Congress wish Anything to be done [deleted text: by ] [added text: through ] the executive of this State, it will be expedient in that Body to be more definitive and explicit, which can only be effected by having the line run and [deleted text: and ] properly asscertained [ascertained], which might perhaps prevent [deleted text: the next ] Serious events.
I have Issued [deleted text: my ] proclamations on the subject, long Since, and shall proceed to take such measures, as Circumstances, and my powers will enable me to exert.
Innumerable complaints are daily lodged against the indians Supposed to be the Cherokees, that they have Robbed and plundered [deleted text: several families of ] many horses and other property from families on the road [deleted text: Me ] to Cumberland, [deleted text: and left ] [added text: leaving ] [deleted text: Numbers ] [added text: Several [deleted text: families ] ] in the most distressing and disagreeable Conditions Without a horse to [deleted text: assist ] enable them to travel with, or any [deleted text: Clothing ] covering to secure them [deleted text: against ] [added text: from ] the intensity of the Weather: -- It is painful in the extreme to hear of such a Conduct, fearing it may be Attended with Serious and
Page: [3]
disagreeable events; -- The people of this Country are far from being in a [deleted text: Condition ] [added text: Temper disposed ] to receive insults accompanied with agravated [aggravated] Injuries; [deleted text: neither need it ] nor will it be prudence [prudent] in the indians to conduct themselves in a manner that might invite a retaliation [deleted text: of numberless ] for the innumerable murders and other Crimes of the deepest vice, [added text: that ] they have but too recently [deleted text: exercised ] [added text: committed ] upon [deleted text: numbers ] [added text: many ] of [added text: the ] harmless and Innocent Citizens of this Country.
I beg you will use your interest & influence to have the goods and horses that has been [deleted text: taken, returned ] taken returned, as soon as possible, and let the indians be informed, the dangers of such a conduct, should they be so unwise as to Suffer it to be Carried on any longer -- I wish Sincerely to [deleted text: support ] [added text: cultivate ] peace and Harmony between our frontier Citizens, and the indians, and shall take all the necessary measures in my power to promote the same
Inclosed [Enclosed] you will receive a letter directed to the Cheifs [Chiefs] Which you will please to have read and explained to them
I have the honor to be &&& [et cetera et cetera et cetera]
[Signed] J [John] Sevier
Silas Dinsmore esqr. [esquire]
Page: [4]
Letter
Silas Dinsmore esqr. [esquire] agent to the Cherokees
January 12th 1797
issd 2-2-1
(No. [Number] 13)
Recorded