Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville 26 November 1797

Sir

I write you

I did myself the honor of communicating to you in my last of the [space] Instant, in which I have mentioned the distressed Situation of the people over the line, their apprehensions are Still increasing, and a general clamour throughout the State ^prevails against the rigid and exorbitant measures about to be carried into execution, under a pretext, that the indian Indian lands are encroached upon, altho they are fully acquainted ^& sensible their Claim, has been extinguished upwards of twenty years ^ago, for which Henderson & Co. have received from the State of N.^o Carolina, a ^very large compensation; also the same company was largely compensated, by the State of Virginia, for an extinguish= ment of the same kind, in consequence of which, the State of Kentucky, has not been deprived of one Acre of the lands included in within her limits; and the settlements of that government, are daily increasing without any molestation from the General Government, notwithstanding the extinguish ment of the indian Claims stands on the very same grounds with that of Tennessee. It is painful to hear the Cries of the people of this State, against the ^a partial conduct in favor of a savage tribe, that would disgrace