- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter], 1869 Feb. 4, Washington [to] W[illiam] H. Thomas / S[ilas] H. Swetland
- Creator:
- Swetland, Silas H.
- Date of Original:
- 1869-02-04
- Subject:
- Indian land transfers
Cherokee Indians--Treaties - Location:
- United States, Southern States, 33.346678, -84.119434
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Letter dated February 4, 1869 from Silas H. Swetland to William H. Thomas, legal representative of the Eastern Band of Cherokees of North Carolina, regarding a proposed treaty which would cede some Cherokee lands west of the Mississippi. Attempts by the Western Cherokees to prevent the Eastern Cherokees from becoming involved in negotiations based on the treaties of 1817, 1819 and 1835 are mentioned.
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:
- wtp158
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wtp158
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wtp158#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_wtp158/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:
- 4 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 27, document 02.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Washington
Feby [February] 4th 1869
W H Thomas Esq
Sir
Your two letters were duly received-the first one answered and the last one remained in order to receive the daily expected answer of the Western Delegation to Blunts Argument which came to hand yesterday. It denies all rights of the Eastern Cherokees to any lands west on the grounds that they, petitioned for a division of the Lands prior to the Treaty of
1817 -
19 -- and received in Lieu for their share -- the Reservations -- and that the allowance or per capita money referred to in the Treaties of
1835
Page: [2]
and
46 relates exclusively to their share of the 5000.000 the purchase money [deleted text: made ] paid by the Government for the residue of the Eastern Cherokee lands under the Treaty of
1835. They deny any right to School funds on the plea that the School fund was created for the Western Cherokee exclusively. They also ignore the contract or agreement made in explanation to the Treaty of
1835 saying the parties were not authorized to make any such agreement. All of which you have often answered & we have most thoroughly answered in a rejoinder. Your argument sent to Senator Poole is more than
Page: [3]
an answer on many of these points.
There will be no such thing in my judgment as their getting the pending Treaty ratified without our amendments or their equivalent. The commissioners views are mainly I think in our favor.
The delegation appointed by the Council at Cheoah are here -- have been received by the Commissioner -- assigned quarters and been complimented as being a well dressed manly appearing set of men -- Taquit -- Bly & Harry Smith are the talking men and they are taking a very discreet course. It does not now look as if any Treaty would be considered this session as the Chairman of the
Page: [4]
Committee leaves in a few days for Cuba for his health.
My regards to [unclear text: Mrs ] Thomas -- Weather has been mild -- but now suddenly cold and boisterous.
Very Respy, [Respectfully]
[Signed] S. H. Swetland
P.S. In my report I said about your land purchase just what you said at the church. I also said I [unclear text: told ] you & the Cherokees I saw & thought the Government had no objection to the [unclear text: plans ] & that the only complaint was the delay -- & the commissioner has expressed none other but says he wants it hurried up. So you see I did as I said, gave you the benefit of your own statement & promise .