- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1797 Apr. 24, Knoxville, [Tennessee to] James McHenry, Sec[retar]y of War / J[ohn] S[evier] 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 tl041.
- Date of Original:
- 1797-04-24
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Creek Indians--Government relations
Choctaw Indians--Government relations
Chickasaw Indians--Government relations - Location:
- United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027
- Medium:
- official reports
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter written to James McHenry, Secretary of War, from Governor John Sevier (1796-1801, 1803-1809) on April 24, 1797. Sevier reports that Benjamin Hawkins and Andrew Pickens have recently arrived to commence the running of a boundary line between the state and surrounding Indian nations, and he requests that this be postponed. Sevier explains that many Tennessee settlers are uneasy because they believe that their residences might fall within Indian boundaries. He also believes that running the line may be politically unwise since doing so may provoke the hostility of the Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, who are on friendly terms with the Spanish.
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:
- gs041
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs041
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs041#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs041/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
24 April 1797
Sir
Messr Hawkins & Pickens are in the Vicinity, About to commence asscertaining [ascertaining] and marking the line, which causes much disquietude among those which have apprehensions of falling within the indian [Indian] limits, as also a number of others who have claims to lands that may fall within the same
I hope I shall not be understood as having Any intention of dictating to the Executive of the United States, but with all due deferance [deference], beg leave to observe and Very Sincerely request, that if it Should so happen (which I pray may be averted) A ruption between the United States and any of the European powers; that the runing [running] of the line could be evaded and procrastinated Until a time more Suitable would present itself, for such a purpose --
I am fully aware of the necessity of Quieting and harmonizing the disposition of the indians, but beg leave to observe that good and Satisfactory reasons may be given for a Susspension [Suspension], especially if they
Page: [2]
[deleted text: if they ] have Any disposition to be either friendly or Neutrel [Neutral] ; [deleted text: In my opinion ]
Information to you through the agency of the Southern department I have no doubt is transmitted with Great candour [candor] and accuracy, and what ever [whatever] may be the report, rest assured that the Creeks, Cherokees, choctaws, and chickasaws, Are in Very friendly alliances with, and much influenced by the [added text: neighbouring [neighboring] ] Spanish Governments. [deleted text: adjoining ]
Some late disturbances which I did not think of Magnitude Sufficient to trouble you with, is in my opinion Well reconciled, and the executive of this State will employ all the Means in his power to promote friendly and good understanding with The Indian tribes, but beg leave to give it as my opinion that [added text: at ] the present Crisis nothing would tend More readily to a disquiet on both sides, then the asscertaining [ascertaining] and marking the line, having good reasons to Suppose Neither would be satisfyed [satisfied], And I believe [deleted text: both greatly ] [added text: much ] disappointed.
I have considered it my duty to give you the forgoing [foregoing] information, humbly Submiting [Submitting] it for your [deleted text: Consideration ] [added text: deliberation ], in order that you may [deleted text: eventually ] resort to such measures, as Occurances [Occurrences], and events may
Page: [3]
[deleted text: Transpire take place ] require --
I have the honor to be Very respectfully
Sir
Your Mo. Ob. Serv. [Most Obedient Servant]
[Signed] JS [John Sevier]
The Honble [Honorable] the Secy [Secretary] of the department of War
James McHenry
Phil [Philadelphia]
Page: [4]
Letter
Secry [Secretary] War
24 apl [April] 1797
copy issued
No [Number] [illegible text]
Recorded