- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1797 Feb. 10, Knoxville, [Tennessee to] the warriors and chiefs of the Cherokee Nation / [John Sevier] of an image
- Creator:
- Tennessee. Governor (1796-1801 : Sevier)
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, Governor Sevier, box 1, folder 3, document tl032.
- Date of Original:
- 1797-02-10
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Violence against
Cherokee Indians--Claims against
Cherokee Indians--Government relations - Location:
- United States, Kentucky, 38.20042, -84.87762
United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027 - Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter, dated February 10, 1797, addressed to the warriors and chiefs of the Cherokee Nation by Governor John Sevier of Tennessee (1796-1801). Sevier expresses concern about the murders of Cherokees recently committed by Tennessee citizens but criticizes the chiefs and their agent for not making complaints. He talks about retaliatory actions lately committed by the Cherokees and threatens the chiefs with war and removal if they do not prevent aggressions against the settlers.
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:
- gs032
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs032
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs032#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs032/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Governor Sevier, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 2 pages/leaves
- Holding Institution:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Knoxville
February 10th 1797
Brothers
I am Sorry to hear of so much blood being spilt [deleted text: on both sides ], it [deleted text: was what ] [added text: is a thing ] I never expected would again [deleted text: ever ] happen [deleted text: again ] between the Cherokees and White people -- when I first heard that two of your people was killed I did not believe it, and My reason was that none of your people sent me any information, neither did the agent, or any person make any complaint, which ought to have been done and [deleted text: had it been the Case ] [added text: then ] I would have endeavored to have the men taken, that killed your people, Altho [Although] it was done [deleted text: in ] I am informed in the State of Kentucky, tho [though] I believe the men [deleted text: that did it ] lives in this state that committed the murder -- they are bad men and have [deleted text: done ] [added text: committed ] a cowardly and black action, and I am very Sorry to hear of it, but it is done, and if the person can be taken they must suffer agreably [agreeably] to our laws and the treaty existing between your nation and the United States.
It is very wrong in your people to take any Satisfaction until you had made a complaint And let us had an opportunity to have taken the
Page: [2]
Murderers, and let them that did the mischeife [mischief] suffer. your own good sense must tell you that it is a Very Wrong [deleted text: and dark action ] [added text: thing ] for to make the innocent suffer for the guilty, it is contrary to [added text: our ] reason, and [added text: to ] the laws of the Great being who made all things -- your [added text: people ] has lately taken Several lives and those who Are intirely [entirely] innocent, and had [added text: not ] done your people any [deleted text: harm ] [added text: injury ] ; this my brothers is contrary to our treaty, and your own interest; [deleted text: for ] if you dont put a stop to such conduct, your nation will bring On a war, and [deleted text: wh ] then the consequence must be very bad On your side, [deleted text: your are ] [added text: you are ] but a handful of people, and you would have to leave your country, which will cause your woman And Children to suffer very much -- our people dont want to go to War against you, tho [though] they are not a feard [afraid] [deleted text: of war ], and You know they are not; therefore I expect you will consider Your own interest and keep your foolish [deleted text: young fellows ] [added text: people ] from doing any more mischeife [mischief], otherways [otherwise] the consequence will be bad
Your friend and brother
The Warriors & Cheifs [Chiefs] of the Cherokee nation --