- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1819 Sept. 23 [to] Dan[ie]l Hughes, U.S. factor, Fort Mitchell / D[avid] B. Mitchell
- Creator:
- Mitchell, David B.
- Date of Original:
- 1819-09-23
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Land tenure
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- business letters
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document is a letter, dated September 23, 1819, written by David B. Mitchell to U.S. factor Daniel Hughes, at Fort Mitchell, concerning the sale of a Creek factory. Mitchell warns that he will need time to convene the Creek leaders prior to the sale. He informs Hughes that while the factory may be legally sold to an individual purchaser, there are no guarantees that said purchaser will be allowed to occupy the facilities as they are on Creek land. Likewise, such a purchaser would still be required to obtain the appropriate license for engaging in trade with the Indians.
Digital image of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2000, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- krc002
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc002
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc002#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc002/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Keith Read, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Keith Read, box 06, folder 20, document 02.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
September 23d. [23rd] 1819.
Sir,
Your letter of the 16th inst. [instant] together with a copy of the instructions of the Superentendent [Superintendent] of Indian trade on the Subject of a Sale of the Factory [unclear text: &c [et cetera] ] have been duly received. This proceeding will require [added text: me ] [deleted text: that I should ] [added text: to ] Convene the principal Chiefs of the Nation previous to a Sale, [deleted text: otherwise difficulties may Occur from their aversion to the Settlemt. [Settlement] of White people [added text: in the Nation ] of whose views & Character they Are ignorant, and ] [added text: for ], from the opinion uniformly expressed by them to me hitherto, I have reason to believe, they will Not permit any one who may Chose [Choose] to become the purchaser of the Buildings belonging to the Factory to Occupy them; [deleted text: Neither now ] and I know of No right [added text: we have ] to Compell [Compel] them to yield on this point. The U [United] States have an undoubted right to Occupy the ground if they please, but I know of No Law
Page: [2]
or Treaty which Authorises [Authorizes] a transfer of that right to an individual as to the Sale of the Merchandize [Merchandise] Debts &c. [et cetera] they [deleted text: Can ] have no right to interfer [interfere], but it Strikes me they ought not to be united with the buildings unless indeed it be the intention of the Superintendent that the whole Shall be removed by the purchaser, and altho [although] no condition of this kind is expressed, yet I think it may fairly be inferred from [deleted text: the ] two Circumstances viz. [added text: [illegible text] ] That under the proposed Sale No purchaser Can Occupy the premisses [premises] without Consent of the Nation; neither Can any individual Carry on trade there, or elsewhere in the Nation, without a regular license for that purpose and as it is impossible Now to Say who may be the purchaser, it is equally uncertain whether he may be Such
Page: [3]
a person as would from Character be entitled to a license. 2d. [2nd] The instructions provide that the Government will reserve "the right to abolish the house whenever its policy Shall make it proper to do so, &c. [et cetera] or from any Call the Govt. [Government] may have for the ground on which the Factory Stands." I think by this Condition it is evident that a removal of the buildings is Contemplated, [added text: Altho [Although] Such a Condition presents insuferable [insufferable] difficulties; ] for the Government Can Neither Sell the land, nor the right of -- Occupancy, [deleted text: or to trade ] to an individual [deleted text: without the Consent and ] Contrary to the will of the Nation. Hence it is Clear to me that the Merchandize [Merchandise] Debts &c. [et cetera] and the buildings ought to be Set up to Sale Seperately [Separately], if any thing like the value of either is expected to be bid for them.
The Sale [added text: [deleted text: [illegible text] ] however ] having been determined on [deleted text: it will be my ] I Shall [deleted text: however ] do every
Page: [4]
thing in my power to procure for the Government the value of the property, all I now wish is, that [deleted text: you will Not ] as [added text: you are required to Sell at the end of ] two weeks [deleted text: are only Allowed ] after Notice given you will allow as much time as you Conveniently Can before issuing your Notice, in Order that I may have time to Convene the Chiefs [added text: with whom [deleted text: Consent ] I will endeavour [endeavor] to [deleted text: pressure to become ] make some arangement [arrangement] ] And Permit me to request [added text: [deleted text: [illegible text] ] in [illegible text] to ] the buildings, in [deleted text: [illegible text] ] [added text: the hope of ] avoid [added text: ing ] difficulties which I foresee much easier if an individual Should become the purchaser without their Consent. that when you have Made up your Mind on what day you will Sell You will do me the favor to Send me a Copy of the Notice
I am very respectfully your most obeSev [obedient Servant]
[Signed] D [David] B Mitchell
Agent for GA Major Danl. [Daniel] Hughes U S Factor Fort Mitchell