- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1839 Nov. 7, Washington City, D.C. [to] Wilson Lumpkin, Athens, Georgia / W[illiam] H[olland] T[homas] of an image
- Creator:
- Thomas, William Holland, 1805-1893
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the Special Collections Library, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, MS2058 William Holland Thomas, box 1, folder 1, document wt099.
- Date of Original:
- 1839-11-07
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Relocation
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, North Carolina, 35.50069, -80.00032 - Medium:
- business letters
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter from William Holland Thomas to the former Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin (1831-1835) in Athens, Georgia. Thomas discusses his business in Washington as legal representative of Eastern Cherokees. He also discusses U.S. payment on claims due the Cherokees and recommends that the appropriations be banked so that those who choose to emigrate may be paid from interest accrued.
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:
- wt099
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wt099
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wt099#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wt099/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], MS2058 William Holland Thomas, Special Collections Library, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 2 pages/leaves
- Holding Institution:
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Washington City DC
Nov 7, 1839
Hon [Honorable] Wilson Lumpkin Athens, Georgia
Dear sir,
your favor of the
25th sept was duly recived [received] an answer thereto has been delayed in consequence of my waiting for the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to complete his report on Cherokee business which yet remains unfinished It is presumable however that from the near approach of the meeting of Congress and time necessary to make out his annual report, that he will complete it in a short time
On the first of this month I submitted an additional argument as an explanation of the Situation and rights of the Cherokees remaining East [deleted text: of the Mississippi ] a copy thereof is herewith enclosed which it is probable will give you a more general understanding of what I consider due them under the treaty than I could otherwise give you
As those Cherokees by the terms of the treaty have the right to remain citizens of the states as long as they desire to do so this removal is only to be effected as they desire to join their brethren in the west.
Page: [2]
I therefore propose that the sum of money due them for removal and subsistence ($56,538,18 be paid on interest and only with drawn as that object may require.
Suppose 100 should emigrate annually which is as large a number as in my opinion can reasonably be expected. At that rate at least ten years will be required to complete the removal. As an encouragement to emigration their share of the last appropriation intended as a donation to the Cherokees I propose also to [added text: be ] placed on interest payable to such as emigrate within three years or such time as the President shall designate who by the Act making the appropriation has the right to limit the time, which has not been done whatever is recovered for their preemption rights and a portion of their percapita [per capita] I also propose and am authorised [authorized] to place on interest
The proposals of the Georgia Rail road [Railroad] Bank I consider liberal and would suggest the propriety of your being authorised [authorized] before you come on to transact any business in relation thereto that may become necessary. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs informs me he expects to pay the Cherokees all their dues under the treaty during next winter I shall have to be here most of my time until that business is completed. Should any thing [anything] occur to you before you come on please inform me I should be pleased to hear from you at all times
yours &c [et cetera]
[Signed] WHT [William Holland Thomas]