- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1807 Dec. 20, Knoxville, [Tennessee] to the Black Fox, Head Cheif [sic] of the Cherokee Nation / 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 4, document tl062.
- Date of Original:
- 1807-12-20
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Claims against
Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Creek Indians--Claims against
Creek Indians--Government relations - Location:
- United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter written by Tennessee Governor John Sevier (1796-1801, 1803-1809) to Cherokee Chief Black Fox, dated December 20, 1807. Sevier acknowledges that he now believes that it was the Creeks who murdered two white men and not the Cherokees. He also expresses his resentment and distrust for the Creek Nation and condemns the Cherokees for allowing Creeks to pass through and settle in their nation. Sevier encourages Black Fox not to let the Creeks settle on their land, accusing the Creeks of robbing and murdering both the Cherokee and white people. He also adds that there have been complaints that Cherokees have robbed and threatened white settlers in the area, and he requests that the Cherokees punish the wrongdoers and compensate their victims.
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:
- gs062
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs062
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs062#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs062/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
20 December 1807
To the Black Fox head Cheif [Chief] of the Cherokee Nation
Brother --
Your letter of the
27 of August last have come duly to hand -- I would have wrote you some time ago, but was waiting to get a report from Colonel Meigs to find out if [deleted text: possible ] in our powers who, or what nation of people had murdered some of our Citizens --
The Colonel about that time was going to Elk River, and promised he would endeavor to find out who had done the mischeif [mischief], Since his return he has Written to me giving information, that it was the Creeks that killed the two men -- I am glad to hear it was not your people; but at the same time I am sorry to learn You suffer the Creeks to come so much among you, when you know they are enemies to our people, and always do mischeif when ever [mischief whenever] they have it in their power -- Would you not think it unfriendly in us, if we are to suffer another nation of people to pass through and live in our Country, who would murder and destroy your people When ever [Whenever] they had an opportunity? Yes brother you would think and rightly too, that we did not act like friends. I am informed that the Creeks have built Huts, and is living on the banks of the Tennessee; what business have they there? They have none only to be convenient to kill some of our people, and plunder our Boats as they are going down the River -- You know the Creek people are [deleted text: Rougues Roug ] Rogues, and you say steal from and robb [rob] your own people: If it be true, why dont you drive them from out of your Country? for a people who both murder & steals, aught [ought] not to be Suffered to live in any place -- You are Surely
Page: [2]
able to drive away the few that comes to do Mischeif [Mischief], and disturb the peace of your people and ours: If their nation means to protect them in their murdering and plundering excursions, you then know where you can resort to for protection and Strength enough to do your selves [yourselves] Justice -- I state these circumstances to inform You how you aught [ought] to conduct towards the white people, who are your Fathers, Brothers, friends, and your good neighbors. I dont wish to be angry with you, but to enlighten your understandings that you may know how to take care of your own nation (if you wish to continue such); and for you to prevent a bad people from doing damage to your nearest and best friends -- You say "that when any thing [anything] has been wrong we are advised to settle it without spilling blood." Such is the practice I wish to see adopted, and if the red people that killed our good and harmless men, had observed such a good rule, those poor murdered [deleted text: men ] persons would have yet been living with their families, and their blood not spilt. I have written to the Creeks, and shall wait patiently to hear what they have to say, and if it has been any of their people that committed the murders, I shall expect they will punish them agreably [agreeably] to the existing Treaties & Laws established & provided for such Cases; Should they refuse so to do, we shall then [added text: know ] what sort of people we have to deal with, and be prepared to protect our selves [ourselves] --
Some more occurrances [occurrences] my friend I must inform you of, their [there] is several complaints come forward, stating, that Several white people who have traveled by the way of what is called the Georgia Road, have been very illy treated by Some of your people, their property taken from them and their
Page: [3]
lives threatened and endangered -- A fellow called good, or Sweet Water, at the Shoemake Village, lately killed some of Mr. Lusk's hogs as he was driving through your nation to Georgia; He also presented his gun at Mr. Lusk (who is a very peaceable man) and threatened to shoot him -- I shall rely with confidence, you will enquire into those outrages, and put an immeadiate [immediate] Stop to such unfriendly and disorderly behavior; and also cause a just and full compensation to be made for the damages that have been done --
The way open for the Redress of these complaints is to put an end to the [deleted text: causes ] [added text: outrages ] that produces them, and I perswade [persuade] myself, that the cheifs [chiefs] of the cherokee nation, will take prompt and decisive measures to effect it.
Your Friend & Brother
(Copy)
(Signed)
[Signed] John Sevier
Care of Colo. [Colonel] R J [Return Jonathan] Meigs Agent of Indian affairs
Page: [4]
No. [Number] 3
Letter to the Black Fox, cheif [Chief] of the Cherokee Nation
in regard to the Creek Indians living in their nation
1807
Sevier