- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1804 Aug. 9, Knoxville, [Tennessee to] Colo[nel] Joseph McMin [i.e., McMinn], Colo[nel] Samuel Wear, and Maj[or] John Cowan / John Sevier of an image
- Creator:
- Tennessee. Governor (1803-1809 : Sevier)
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, Governor Sevier, box 1, folder 1, document tl059.
- Date of Original:
- 1804-08-09
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Cherokee Indians--Land tenure
Roads--Design and construction - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027 - Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter written by John Sevier, Governor of Tennessee (1796-1801, 1803-1809), to Colonel Joseph McMinn, Colonel Samuel Wear, and Major John Cowan, dated August 9, 1804. Sevier informs the men that he has received word of a meeting to be held with the commissioners of Georgia regarding a road, connecting the two states, that would be run through Cherokee lands. Sevier commands the men to attend the meeting at James Vann's, and he gives further instruction regarding equity in the amount of work and advantages gleaned by the two states in the construction of the road.
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:
- gs059
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs059
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs059#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs059/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Governor Sevier, The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Holding Institution:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Knoxville
9th August 1804
Gentlemen
Having received notice from the Georgian Commissioners proposing a meeting at James Vans on the
15th Instant, you will readily discover the necessity of repairing to that place with the utmost dispatch
Permit me to recommend in the first place an agreement to be made with the Georgian Commissioners Consigning to each State an equal part of the road most conveinant [convenient] for each party to open and clear out -- If this point should be settled and agreed upon, very probably your place of meeting will be considered near the Middle Ground -- Secondly -- you will proceed to explore and Mark out the nearest, best, and most conveinant [convenient] routs [routes], for waggon [wagon] roads, leading from the two stations agreed upon between the United States and Cherokees, (towit [to wit] ) "From Southwest point and Tellico Blockhouse, " to such part of the way and place as may be agreed upon by the Commissioners:
Page: [2]
The two roads leading from the aforesaid points, to intersect each other conformably to the articles of agreement between the united States and the Indians. You will also agree and conclude upon a certain and Suitable place to prefix a twin pike to be erected. As the two roads to be laid off from Tellico and Southwest point will require some time, I therefore recommend the road leading from Tellico, to be the first marked out, provided you can not [cannot] have them both laid off at or near the same time --
I have observed that probably your place of meeting would be about the Middle Ground, but you will please to Notice, that for a great part of the Way leading from Tennessee river there [deleted text: is ] [added text: are ] two roads to be cut on our side, which considerably Stretch and lengthen the distance, and it aught [ought] to be so arranged that Tennessee should not have more miles to cut, than Georgia, who [deleted text: have ] [added text: has ] resolved to pay an equal Moiety of the expense. Those indifinate [indefinite] points it is expected will be agreed upon and adjusted,
Page: [3]
in a manner consistant [consistent] with such reciprocity, Fairnes [Fairness], and equibility [equability], as ought ever to subsist and Govern between Sister States, taking into View mutual and beneficial advantages --
For your further Guide and instructions, you will attend strictly to the Articles of agreement between the United States and the Cherokees, and the law passed by our [deleted text: [illegible text] ] legislature on the Subject [added text: at their late Session ] -- Should it so happen that You [deleted text: could ] [added text: should ] not agree with the Georgin Commissioners what particular part of the road on our side, we are to cut and open out, your own discretion in that case will then Govern your conduct agreably [agreeably] to the agreement and law, above quoted -- [added text: copies of each you will herewith receive ] I have no doubt you will perceive the propriety of making every exertion to have the roads laid off and marked out as soon as possible, and report immeadiately [immediately] thereon, the manner in which the same [deleted text: has ] [added text: have ] been conducted, the distance in Miles you suppose there may be [deleted text: on our part ] to cut, [added text: on our part ] what kind of Country the same will pass through, and whether the same will require any Causwaying [Causewaying], ditching, or bridging -- and if any, how much
Page: [4]
In the mean time [meantime], you will please forward at suitable opportunities information how you are progressing --
I am Gentlemen very respectfully your Mo Obt Servt [Most Obedient Servant]
(signed)
[Signed] John Sevier
Colo [Colonel] Joseph McMin Colo [Colonel] Samuel Wear, and Maj [Major] John Cowan Commissioners & c [et cetera]
Copy
Instructions to Commissioners
9 Augt 1804
To be recorded