Today in Chickamauga History - April 11
1810, April 11: Cherokee National Council to Return J. - In 1808 some of the Lower Town Cherokee, or Chickamauga, led by Stone Carrier, proposed to divide the Cherokee Nation by ceding their lands to the U.S. in exchange for new grants farther west. The division was opposed by the Upper Towns but favored by Cherokee agent Return J. Meigs and President Jefferson, with the latter indicating his support for the plan in an Meigs address to the Cherokee on 9 Jan. 1809. It is evident that the state government of Tennessee then attempted to press JM over the winter of 1809–10 to follow through with the removal of the Lower Town Cherokee, but JM seems to have been reluctant to act on the issue. He did not, however, make his position clear until March 1811 (Meigs to Eustis, 14 Feb. 1810 [DNA: RG 75, Records of the Cherokee Indian Agency in Tennessee]; Joseph Anderson and others to JM, 1 Mar. 1811 [DNA: RG 107, LRRS, A-110:5]; McLoughlin, Cherokee Renascence, pp. 146–60). - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-02-02-0377
1810, April 11: Cherokee Nation Council to Return J. Meigs - Some of our people have gone across the Missisippi without the consent or approbation of the Nation, although Our Father the President in his Speech required that they should obtain it previous to their removing.
This we send you to transmit to the Secretary of War as the unanimous Speech of the Cherokee nation, as represented by their Chiefs and deputies in Council assembled.
BLACK × FOX
[and thirty-eight other principal chiefs]
In 1808 some of the Lower Town Cherokee, or Chickamauga, led by Stone Carrier, proposed to divide the Cherokee Nation by ceding their lands to the U.S. in exchange for new grants farther west. The division was opposed by the Upper Towns but favored by Cherokee agent Return J. Meigs and President Jefferson, with the latter indicating his support for the plan in an address to the Cherokee on 9 Jan. 1809. It is evident that the state government of Tennessee then attempted to press JM over the winter of 1809–10 to follow through with the removal of the Lower Town Cherokee, but JM seems to have been reluctant to act on the issue. He did not, however, make his position clear until March 1811 (Meigs to Eustis, 14 Feb. 1810 [DNA: RG 75, Records of the Cherokee Indian Agency in Tennessee]; Joseph Anderson and others to JM, 1 Mar. 1811 [DNA: RG 107, LRRS, A-110:5]; McLoughlin, Cherokee Renascence, pp. 146–60).
1826, April 11: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 227 – 228 - THOMAS L. McKENNEY TO GOVERNOR IZARD - [NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 31
DEPARTMENOTF WAR, Off: Ind: Affairs, llthA pril 1826. –
To HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE IZARD Little Rock, Arks Tery
SIR, I have the honor to inform you that a requisition is issued in your favor for $9.989:667, on which a, remittance of that amount will be made to you, from the Treasury. The said sum is for the following objects, to wit:
The expenses of your Superintendency including the pay of the Indian Agents, & Sub Agents, for the 2 first quarters of this year, and presents for the whole year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,300 :00
Annuity of the Cherokees of Arkansas, for this year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,689:6616
$9.989:662/3
The amount of Annuity to which the Cherokees of Arkansas are entitled for this year, is $5,333%, but the Cherokees of Tennessee claiming from them a proportion of their expenses at Washington in procuring the ratification of the Treaty of 1804, by which, their brothers of the Arkansas with themselves, were proportionably benefited, the Secretary of War deemed it but just to allow the claim; and a deduction of $643:66%, (being j6 of the whole amount of expenses
ascertained to have been incurred by the Cherokees of Tennessee-for for the above mentioned object) has been made from the annuity of this year, for the payment of the said claim. It is proper to mention also, that the Annuity due to the Cherokee Nation (both East and West of the Mississippi) under the treaty of 14th September 1816, of $6000,32 for ten years, ceases with the present payment for this year. The whole amount of Annuity, therefore, that will be due to the
Cherokee Nation, for the next year, and thereafter, and which is permanent, will be $10,000-that is, $6,666:6616. to the Cherokees of Tennessee, and $3,333:33% to the Cherokees of Arkansas.-
I have the honor, to be, Very Respectfully, Your Obdt Servt
- THO: L. McKENNEY.
1828, April 11: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 645 – 646 – THOMAS L. McKENNEY TO THE ARKANSAS CHEROKEE DELEGATION - [NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 41e1 - DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Off: Ind: Affairs, 11 th April, 1828.
To BLACK Fox, THOMAS GRAVES, GEORGE GUESS, & others, Deputation of Cherokee Chiefs,
FRIENDS & BROTHERS, I am directed by the Secretary of War to state that he has submitted rhe entire subject, as embraced in your letter of the 28 th February last, 20 to the President of the United States; together with the subsequent correspondence in relation to the proposition made to you by him for an exchange of your location. The President, I am directed to say, after mature deliberation, has concluded to order a permanent Western line to be run, to embrace the quantity of land to which you are entitled, in Arkansa, in exchange for that ceded by you in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee. The subject, as to quantity, is now relieved of the difficulty which the absence of more accurate information was thought to have occasioned by my having found a second letter from the Governor of Tennessee, stating the quantity of land ceded in that state on actual measurement. There are now returns of the quantity upon actual survey from three of the States, and from the fourth, upon actual survey in part, and in part on estimate. For your information I enclose copies of these returns. The originals can be seen by you.
It appears from these returns that there were ceded
in Georgia . . 824,384, acres
ln Alabama . 738,560, "
In Tennessee . 1024,000, "
& In No th Carolina, 70,000, on actual
survey & 630,000, upon estimate,
making . . . . . 700,000 "
Total 3,286,944 acres
From which it is proper to deduct 92,160, ,,
reserved by the Treaty in Feby 1819, for your use-
-which leaves . . . . . . . . . . 3,194,784 Acres21
20 NA (GLO, Lets. Recd., Cherokee W.), complaining of the unfulfilment of the
treaties of 1817 and 1819, and other matters which induced their visit to the
seat of government. It is a lengthy document, covering some ·64 pages, an extract
of which is printed in H. Doc., op. cit. Another, but shorter letter of the
same date, containing references to the rude behavior of certain visitors, was
addressed to McKenney (loc. cit.).
u See ante, p. 638.
The President, I am directed to say will cause a Western line to be run without delay, to embrace this quantity.
In regard to the privileges you claim under the promises of the late President, 22 and Secretary of War, 28 of an outlet, I am directed to convey to you the kind feelings of the President, towards you, and in every thing that concerns your happiness and prosperity, and to add that in reference to those provisions, he does not feel free to act, at this time, the subject having, by a call of the House of Representatives," been made one for the decision of Congress, to whom it will be, in compliance with the call that has been made referr'd. So soon as the decision of Congress is had, it will be communicated to you. He hopes meanwhile that no opposition will be made by the Citizens of Arkansa to your passing and repassing and that none will molest you. .
In regard to the difference between you and the Osages, the President would be happy to mediate between you, and see you a friendly and united people, and he trusts the good sense of the Cherokees and their Humanity will induce them to seek a reconciliation with the Osages upon other grounds than those which embrace war; and which cannot but lead to multiplied evils, and great suffering on both sides. If the President can, by conveying his will to the Osages, promote
peace between you, and reconciliation, he will be happy to do so.
On the subject of the injury and losses sustained by Thomas Graves, there is no law under which the President can remunerate him. A petition to Congress would doubtless be respected by that body, and the President would take great pleasure in applying any relief which that body may think proper to afford.
The irregularity you complain of in the receipt of your annuities, will be attended to, and it is hoped in future you will have on this subject no further cause of complaint.
I am directed to examine and ascertain the nature of the claims you refer to, as well those which you say have been recognized by the Osages, as those which have arisen out of spoliations committed by our Citizens. Whatever remedy the laws provide in regard to both will be applied.21
I am with regard Your friend & Brother,
Thoa L. McKenney