Today in Chickamauga History - December 30
1796, December 30: Hugh Lawson White Petition to the House of Representatives to be paid for his service in the John Sevier Campaign against the Lower Cherokee where there is an admission of Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing during the Campaign. (ASP, Claims, p. 192; Annals of Congress, 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1696, 1737–39, 1741–44; JHR, 2:320, 627, 632–33)
After the 1791 Treaty of Holston, relations had deteriorated rapidly between the Cherokee Indians and settlers in the territory southwest of the Ohio River. The Chickamauga, a breakaway group from the main body of the Cherokee and allies of the Creek Indians, resisted settler advances on their hunting grounds along the Cumberland River. The settlers eventually took matters into their own hands, most conspicuously by attacking on 12 June 1793 a party of friendly Cherokee about to visit the president, after which an Indian force, about one thousand strong under John Watts, made an advance on Knoxville in late September 1793.
1797: In 1797, the Cherokees created organizations called "regulating companies" to deal with horse theft and other property crimes. The regulating companies were a mounted tribal police force, empowered to enforce tribal laws. They began to be called "Lighthorsemen" in the 1820s. Their authority expanded to apprehending criminals, whom they turned over to tribal courts for trial and sentencing. The Lighthorsemen's scope was then extended to more serious crimes including murder, rape and robbery. They also enforced the tribal laws against drunkenness.
1816, December 30: James Madison, Presidential Proclamation - ART. 2. The Cherokee nation acknowledge the following as their western boundary: south of the Tennessee river, commencing at Camp Coffee, on the south side of the Tennessee river, which is opposite to the Chickasaw Island, running from thence a due south course to the top of the dividing ridge between the waters of Tennessee and Tombigbee rivers, thence eastwardly along said ridge, leaving the head waters of the Black Warrior to the right hand, until opposed by the west branch of Will’s Creek, down the east bank of said Creek to the Coosa river, and down said river. - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/99-01-02-5643
1835, December 30: THE INDIAN PAPERS OF TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST - Page 19 -
INSTRUCTIONS TO INDIAN COMMISSIONERS JOHN FORBES, SAM HOUSTON, AND JOHN CAMERON FROM HENRY SMITH - Executive Department of Texas To John Forbes, Sam Houston and John Cameron Esqrs Gentlemen The following will be handed you as your instructions on the part of the Government of Texas by which you will be governed in the discharge of your duties as Commissioners in treating with the Cherokee Indians and their associate bands; in conformity with your commissions. You will proceed to Nacogdoches as soon as practicable and enter on the discharge of your duties in the discharge of which, you will in no wise transcend the Declaration made and signed by the Consultation in November last —you will in all things pursue a course of justice and equity towards the Indians, and to protect all honest claims of the Whites, agreeably to such Laws compacts or treaties, as the said Indians may have heretofore made with the Mexican Republic. You will provide in said treaty with the Indians, that they shall never alienate their Lands, either separately or collectively, except to the Government of Texas— And to agree that the Said Government, will at any time here after purchase all their claims at a fair and reasonable valuation You will endeavour, if possible, to secure their effective cooperation at all times when it may be necessary to call the effective force of Texas into the field and agreeing for their Services in a- body for a specific time—If found expedient and consistent, you are authorised and empowered to exchange other Lands within the limits of Texas not otherwise appropriated in the room of Lands claimed by said Indians and as soon as practicable, you will report your proceedings to the Governor and Council for their ratification and approval. San Felipe de Austin I am Respectfully Gentlemen Your obst HENRY SMITH Governor
https://archive.texashistorytrust.org/view/49896224/18/