- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1836 Jul. 23, Cassville, [Georgia to Governor] William Schley, Milledgeville, G[eorgi]a / Cornelius D. Terhune
- Creator:
- Terhune, Cornelius D.
- Date of Original:
- 1836-07-23
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Treaties
Cherokee Indians--Treatment of
Georgia. Militia - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- official reports
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter dated July 23, 1836 from Cornelius D. Terhune, a Cherokee Agent, to Governor William Schley (Governor of Georgia, 1835-1837) reporting on the conditions of Indian settlements in Cass and Murray Counties. Terhune writes that the Indians in those areas are resigned to leaving the area peacefully and in accordance with the terms of the recent treaty and says that, contrary to other reports by whites, these Cherokees have not shown the slightest inclination toward hostility. Terhune goes on to complain that certain state militia companies have treated the Cherokees very harshly and unfairly, and he calls for those who deal with the Cherokees to show them more kindness.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc584
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc584
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc584#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc584/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 50, folder 10, document 01.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Cassville
July 23rd 1836
His Excellency William Schley
Dear Sir,
In the execution of my duties as Indian Agent, I have within the last ten days visited most of the principal Indian Settlements in the Counties of Cass & Murray.
Now that the Treaty is made, and ratifyed [ratified], and the policy of oppressing the Indians, in order to make them willing to remove has ceased, I thought it my duty to go amongst them, and let them know that I had been appointed their agent, for the purpose of protecting them in their rights. And at the same time to impress upon them the importance of acting in such a manner, as not to bring themselves in collision with the whites, or with each other. I found them every where peaceably and busily engaged in cultivating their little patches, and many of them making preparations to leave for the west this fall, and those of the Ross party, who are waiting his return from Washington to be advised by him, in every instance, expressed their [deleted text: selves ] determination to submit peaceably to the terms of the Treaty, and many of them also, are now making arrangements to leave next fall. And I venture to say; and if it [deleted text: was ] [added text: were ] necessary, I could obtain the most abundant and satisfactory proof, of the fact, that their [there] never has been a Single hostile intent, or movement, of any Cherokees, towards the whites, during all the panick [panic], and excitement which has prevailed in this Country for the last two months, the innumerable reports
Page: [2]
and representations to the contrary notwithstanding. And how far these reports may have been gotten up and circulated by a few individuals for the purpose of bringing on a state of things by which they might in some way be benefited, time perhaps may develope [develop]
I have met with but one thing in my late examination into the situation of the Cherokees, which I feel it my duty to present particularly to the consideration of your Excellency. It is the conduct towards the Cherokees of some of the Malitia [Militia] Companies, which have been raised and Stationed in different parts of this Country. It has come particularly under my notice, that some of them [added text: have ] treated the Indians, in a lawless and cruel manner. They have taken them up without process, retained them in chains, for days and weeks together, and caused them to perform all the drudgeries of the camps, and then turned them loose for want of any Evedence [Evidence] against them and in some instances, without even attempting to prossicute [prosecute] them, And thereby, those who have [added text: not ] yet fallen in their clutches, are kept in a perpetual state of alarm and consternation. Such conduct, if by any considerations of of [of] policy, could ever have been Justifyed [Justified], as I have before stated, that policy has ceased. Their destiny is fixed, they know it, and are determined to acquiesce in it without a murmer [murmur] . And by all the considerations of Justice and humanity, I think we are now bound
Page: [3]
to treat them with all the kindness and forbearance, that is in our power, so long as they act, so as to deserve our kindness and forbearance.
With a fixed determination, as far as I am capable, to do my duty. I remain Dear Sir,
Your obedient Servt. [Servant]
[Signed] Cornelius D. Terhune
N.B. [Nota Bene] The cases alluded to above, so far as come immediately within my own notice, refer particularly to a Company stationed at Spring Place, under Capt. [Captain] A. Bishop
[Signed] C. [Cornelius] D. T. [Terhune]
Letter
C. [Cornelius] D. Terhune Esqr [Esquire]
23 July 1836.
Cherokee Affairs
Answered
16th Aug [August] 1836
Page: [4]
[ Note: A postmark appears in the upper left of the page.; CASSVILLE Ga [Georgia]
JUL [July] 25 ]
18 3/4
His Excellency William Schley Milledgeville Ga