[Letter] 1839 Sept. 9, Washington City, D.C. [to] J[oel] R. Poinsett, Secretary of War / W[illiam] H[olland] T[homas]

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Washington City DC
September 9, 1839
Hon. [Honorable] J. [Joel] R. Poinsett Secretary of War
Sir
I have the honor herewith to submit a list of the heads of Cherokee families with the number of each annexed thereto amounting in the aggregate to 1046 persons who are remaining east of the Mississippi in the states of North Carolina, Georgia, & Tennessee, under the provisions of the 12th Article of the treaty of
1835
Their unpaid claims for improvements spoliations, commutation of removal and subsistence, reservations required to be relinquished, and per capita, are exhibited on the list with references to the books & pages where on the same appear as represented.
Powers of attorney numbered from to 34 corresponding with the names and numbers on the lists authorising [authorizing] me to settle with the united states all their claims arrising [arising] under or provided for by the treaty are also submitted for your examinations
In pursuance of my instructions I beg leave to ask payment on those claims and respectfully to request that the amount due thereon be deducted from the amount of money to be sent to the Cherokees west, and that the proper entries in relation thereto be made on the Cherokee books now filed in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
One claim above refered [referred] to for commutation of removal and subsistence amounting to $52.33⅓ each, when payment is made thereon I am authorised [authorized] to deposit the money with the Government of the united states or in the state Bank of North Carolina applicable alone to the purposes for which it was intended. And that hereafter as the Cherokees remaining desire to join their brethren at their new homes west of the Mississippi and enroll their names for that


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purpose the amount due those enrolling may be furnished them under such regulations as the Department may be pleased to adopt. Whereas the above such provided by the treaty for the removal of the Cherokees to their western homes and subsisting them one year after their arrival was found to be insufficient to answer those purposes And whereas the Congress of the United States on the
2nd of June 1838 made an additional appropriation of $1147,067 to be given as a donation to the Cherokees for removal and subsistence and to satisfy all claims on the us not provided for by the treaty and for furnishing the destitute with clothing &c [et cetera] on the conditions that the Cherokees "shall complete their emigration within such times as the President shall deem reasonable and without coercion on the part of the Government." And whereas the Cherokees still remaining east were included in the number for when the appropriations was made as is shown by the estimate furnished by the Indian Department upon which an additional sum was asked for the Cherokees and were equally entitled thereto with those of their brethren who emigrated in the summer and fall of
1838. And whereas the President of the united states has not limited the time for the emigration to be completed in as he has a right to do by the Act making the appropriation. May I be permitted to make known to him through your -- Department the desire of the Cherokees still remaining east that so much of said appropriations as they shall be deemed entitled to, be set apart for the purposes for which it was intended, and such as he shall deem expedient to facilitate the objects contemplated thereby. An should he think proper to limit the time that he be pleased to allow them at least three years which owing to the


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great excitement and domestic strife [deleted text: existing ] prevailing with their brethren who have emigrated, is not considered unreasonable.
Should the appointment of an agent for the purposes aforementioned be considered necessary at the request of the Cherokees remaining I beg leave to tender my services and to express my willingness to perform the duties required And as references beg leave to refer you to the letter of the Commissioners and enclosed certificate marked A.
In conclusion may I be permitted to mention a conversation I had with you last spring w [added text: h ] en in company with Mr Churchwell of Tennessee I then informed you of the desires of the Cherokees remaining east
1 That they wished to be permitted to remain east under the provisions of the treaty and allowed to join their brethren at their new homes west of the Mississippi as they made it their choice without any coercion on the part of the Government
2 It was probable a portion of them would desire to emigrate this fall who would wish to be furnished with removal and subsistence allowance on time to enable them to do so. If I am not mistaken I had the pleasure to be informed their requests would be complied with by the Department and that I might so inform the Cherokees In accordance therewith I informed them of the liberal proposals of the Government. And whereas the time is now fast approaching when those who removed this fall commence their journey I would respectfully ask the attention of the Department to this subject as early as consistent with convenience

yours & c [et cetera]
[Signed] WH.T [William Holland Thomas]