Early Governors' Papers

horses and other property that have lately been taken by your people and if you can find any ^and send the same into this place, in order that the owners may have it again, by which means our friendship will continue to be firm and strong. I have wrote to M^r Dinsmore on this subject, and hope you will pursue such measures as will enable you and him to recover the stolen property

Your friend brother (signed) J Sevier

Brothers I am sorry to hear one of our red friends has lately been killed, and if I can find out that any of our people has been guilty of such a dark and unfriendly action I will have them punished, but I have great reason to hope and believe that it was not any of our people, altho there is bad men in every nation, yet I am sure it was not done by any person belonging to our state.

I have always told you that I wished your nation to do well, and I hope they may always live in

disagreable events;- The people of this Country are far from being in a Condition ^Temper disposed to receive insults accompanied with agravated Injuries; Neither need the nor will it be prudent in the indians to conduct themselves in a manner that might invite a retaliation of Numberless for the innumerable Murders and other Crimes of the deepest die, ^that they have but too recently exercised ^committed upon Numbers ^many of ^the harmless and Innocent Citizens of this Country.

I beg you will use your interest & influence to have the goods and horses that has been taken, returned taken returned, as soon as possible, and let the indians be informed, the dangers of such a Conduct, should they be so unwise as to suffer it to be Carried on any longer - Iwish sincerely to support cultivate peace and Harmony between our frontier Citizens, and the indians, and shall take all the necessary measures in my power to promote the same

Inclosed you will receive a letter directed to the Cheifs Which you will please to have read and explained to them Ihave the honor to be & & &

J Sevier

Silas Dinsmore esq^r

Letter Silas Dinsmore esq^r Agent to the Cherokees January 12^th 1797 is^d 2-2-1

(N^o 13) Recorded

Knoxville 13 January 1797

Sir

M^r Abraham Martin on his way to Cumberland near S^o W^e point lost a black horse four white legs nearly to the hams, and n a bald face near five feet high, if any brand not remembered

M^r Martin is of the opinion he was stolen by the Indians as he followed the track to one of their old Crossing places - please to make inquiry in the nation, and obtain him if possible

I have the honor to be with respect & Esteem Your m.^o obed.^t serv.^t

J Sevier

Silas Dinsmore Esq.^r

Letter to Silas Dinsmore esq^r Agent to the Cherokees 13 Jany 1797-

is.^d 1 (N.^o 15)

Recorded