- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter], 1824 Mar. 17, Washington [to] George M. Troup, [Governor of Georgia] / [signed by] senators [and] representatives [comprising] the Georgia delegation to Congress
- Date of Original:
- 1824-03-17
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Relocation
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Letter dated March 17, 1824 from the Georgia delegation to Georgia Governor George Troup pertaining to communications between the delegation, President James Monroe, and Secretary of War John C. Calhoun about the removal of Cherokees from Georgia. The delegation to Congress consisting of Senators John Elliott and Nicholas Ware and Representatives Joel Abbot, George Cary, Thomas W. Cobb, Alfred Cuthbert, John Forsyth, and Wiley Thompson urges the President to support Georgia's efforts to remove the Cherokees, and the delegation is surprised that Monroe maintains communication with the Cherokees. A remonstrance that was sent by the Georgia delegation to the President was originally enclosed. The remonstrance referred to is most likely tcc032 which also appears on the Southeastern Native American Documents Database.
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:
- tcc033
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc033
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc033#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc033/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, 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, Telamon Cuyler, box 77, folder 34, document 04.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Washington
17th March 1824
His Excellency George M Troup,
Sir
We have heretofore announced to you the receipt of your letter inclosing [enclosing] a copy of the memorial of the Legislature of Georgia to the President of the United States on the subject of a further extinguishment of Indian title to lands within the limits of our state. Messrs. Elliot & Forsyth were appointed a committee on the part of the delegation to wait on the President for the purpose of learning whether the memorial had been received by him. He informed those gentlemen that he had received it, and promised them that he would communicate it to Congress, but thought that he would not press the subject on that body as he had already addressed them on the same topic. Those gentlemen said every thing that occurred to them to satisfy the President of the urgent necessity of some decisive measures for the final adjustment of the claims of the state of Georgia on the General Government. The President appears to be duly impressed with the importance of acting in this business and said that he would sign any act that Congress might pass on the subject.
In consequence of a note received by one of them, Messrs. Elliot & Forsyth again called on the
Page: [2]
President who read to them a memorandum which was to serve as the substance of a talk by the Secretary of War to some Cherokee Chiefs who had addressed the Secretary of War. With this memorandum as far as it went Messrs. Elliot & Forsyth were satisfied, but urged the President distinctly to state to the Cherokees that their continuance upon the land upon which they were then situated could not be endured by the State of Georgia. The President said that he was perfectly convinced that the Indians would have to be removed from the limits of Georgia, or it would become necessary to protect them by a military force. The Secretary of War was present at a part of the interview & received the President's instructions to prepare the Talk for the Indians according to the memorandum that was given to him. At the close of the interview the President said that copies of all the documents which had been or should be received would be communicated to the Georgia delegation.
Within a few days after this interview we were furnished with copies of the correspondence which had been held between the Secretary of War and certain Cherokee Chiefs; copies of which have also been received by you. We shall not attempt to describe our surprize [surprise] at the novel character of this correspondence. In our consultations upon the subject, we were influenced
Page: [3]
by several considerations to direct our communications rather to the executive than to the legislative department of the General Government. It is the peculiar duty of the Executive to attend to the fulfilment of the engagements of the United States. To that department also the Legislature of Georgia, no doubt under the influence of a similar opinion, had directed its memorial. Finally we were convinced that any measures proposed by us in Congress would be unattended by any beneficial result, unless strongly enforced by Executive recommendation. The style in which the Cherokee Chiefs have been addressed and their positive refusal to make any further cession of land, operated upon us to address to the President a remonstrance which we believed would respectfully, but unequivocally speak the sentiments of the people, as well as of the constituted authorities of the State of Georgia. A copy of this remonstrance which was despatched [dispatched] to the President on the 10th instant is inclosed [enclosed] . On the 15th Instant we received your Excellency's letter, inclosing [enclosing] a copy of your letter to the Secretary of War. No doubt the original was received by that officer on the same day. Here for the present the business, as regards the Cherokee
Page: [4]
Indians [added text: rests ] . We have understood that the President has expressed himself somewhat warmly on the subject of the remonstrance. It was certainly not our design to excite any unpleasant feelings in the Executive of the United States, although deeply impressed with the necessity of [deleted text: a ] rousing the attention of the General Government to this interesting topic, on which we conceived the State of Georgia, has more to dread from its indifference than its injustice.
Should the President address a message to congress on the subject our course will be a plain one. If he should not, it does not appear to us proper to do more than we have done, as a correspondence has been opened between your Excellency and the Secretary of War, at the request of that officer, no doubt acting under the direction of the President.
Should any other matter worthy of note occur in this business, we shall not fail to give you information thereof.
We are Sir with great respect Yrs Obtly [Yours Obediently] .
Senators
[Signed] J. [John] Elliott
[Signed] Nicholas Ware
Representatives
[Signed] Joel Abbot
[Signed] Geo. [George] Cary
[Signed] Thomas W. Cobb
[Signed] A [Alfred] Cuthbert
[Signed] John Forsyth
[Signed] Wiley Thompson