- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Decision of the Hon[orable] W[illia]m Wilkins, Secretary of War on the claim of William H. Thomas for [assisting] Cherokee Indians in 1836
- Creator:
- Wilkins, William, 1779-1865
- Date of Original:
- 1844-08-24
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians
Thomas, William Holland, 1805-1893 - Location:
- United States, Southern States, 33.346678, -84.119434
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Written decision dated August 26, 1844 by William Wilkins, Secretary of War concerning the claim of William H. Thomas for supplies and monies given to the Cherokees in 1836. Wilkins is sympathetic to the claim, but has no funds available with which to reimburse Thomas. Attached is a memorandum relevant to the claim.
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:
- wtp015
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wtp015
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wtp015#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wtp015/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], William H. Thomas Papers, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 6 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, William H. Thomas Papers, box 01, folder 05, document 07.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Decision of the Hon Wm Wilkins Secretary of War on the claim of William H Thomas for furnishing Cherokee Indians in
1836.
101
11 [deleted text: [illegible text] ] WHS --
[unclear text: I1816 ]
Page: [2]
[added text (appears to be different ink): [unclear text: (Ex99) ] ]
War Department
Aug. 26. '44
The claim of Mr. Wm. [William] H. Thomas for provisions furnished to poor & indigent Indians in the year
1836 is now presented to me for my decision.
I do not make the objection to this account that it is a Stale one, and Should not be pressed upon me after having Suffered the administrations of four Secretaries of War to pass without the notice of any one of them being called to the claim. Eight years have run by Since the account was raised. Under Such circumstances I might, very properly, decline to take up the claim and give it my examination.
By the 18th art: [article] of the Treaty Authority is alone given for expenditures in " provisions & clothing " for the poorer class of Indians. Cash paid to them is unauthorized. But, this objection to those items for money given to the Indians in Some instances maybe removed by the explanations Said to be given by Mr. Thomas. However, let my opinion and decision upon the account be what it may -- however favorable it may be, it appears there is no fund under my control out of which it can be paid. For the Satisfaction of Mr. Thomas, I attach a memorandum to this paper to show the disposition made of the [unclear text: $75.000 ] - appropriated
Page: [3]
under the 18th art. [article] of the Treaty.
By this Mem: [Memorandum] it will appear that the delay to which I have referred is injurious to Mr. Thomas.
[Signed] Wm. [William] Wilkins
Page: [4]
[added text (Appears to be different ink and hand): Ex (11) ]
18th. Article of the Treaty with the Cherokees of
December 1835:
Amount appropriated as an advance of two years annuity under 18th article of Cherokee Treaty
1835. $75.000
Amount expended for Poor & indigent Cherokees according to the provisions of Sd. [Said] 18th Article. 55.532.17.
$19.467.63.
Authorized by letter of
12th Feby. [February] 1844 to go to the Surplus Fund, as well as the $55.532.17 expended, which was deducted from the interest fund of the Indians on settlement with them. The Indians were credited with the whole amount of interest collected, charged with the amount expended, and the balance (of interest) paid over to them.
The above may be thus explained: --
Congress made an advance by appropriation of $75.000.
Out of the amt. [amount] of $75.000. there was expended 55.532.17.
leaving a balance of 19.467.63 due
to the Indians. When the interest, amounting to $75.000, came due, the Treasury was reimbursed by paying back to it the amount appropriated
Page: [5]
as follows. $55.532.17. advanced and the balance remaining in the Treasury which was not drawn for. On settlement with the Indians the balance of the interest due ($19.467.17) was paid them supposing that it would not be wanted.
Page: [6]
[unclear text: I1816 ]
W2487
Ex (16)
Memo. for the Secretary of War.
Claim of W. H. Thomas.
There is no fund out of which it can be paid. An application to Congress seems to be the only resort.
Office Ind. Affs. [Indian Affairs]
Aug. 24. "44 (signed)
[Signed] T. H. C.