Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville 8 December 1797

Sir

The inclosed is a copy of an instrument of Writing given by a certain Tucker to one Vance, it is said the former is one of Zachariah Cox's party.

This Writing Was Lodged with me by Col.^o Butler requesting that inquiry might be made into the propriety of entering into such engagments

I therefore take the liberty of laying it before the Judge of the district, in order to have his opinion and advice on the same

I have the honor to be sir With high Esteem & respect Your Honor's m^o. obed. serv.^t

J. Sevier

Honorable Judge McNairy

State of Tennessee - Knoxville 6th February 1798

His Excellency the president of the United States.}

Sir

In a letter of this day from the Honble David Campble Esquire one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law and equity in this State, he complains that on the third Instant about ten oClock at night on his own premisses, and not within the Indian line, he was Arrested by two of Colonel Butlers officers, and conducted as a prisoner to his containment ^and I am informed and ^there detained until the next day before he was liberated -

permit me sir, with all due deferance [sic] to observe that no act hostile to the general government has been committed or attempted by the State of Tennessee, nor can any transaction of the our Government, warrant the imputation of any thing of the kind, in the most light our laws are sufficiently wholesome and [?], and also faithfully administered in a manner fully competant [sic] and adequate, to the suppression of every kind of penal

first Crossing the line, which would subject them to the penalties of the law, which appears to be a fact, your Cantonment being within the Indian line - permit me to suggest, [w^d?] it not be well to remove those obsticles [sic]

John Sevier

Copy of letter to Col^o Butler

19 February 1798 & 19th

N^o 12

Recorded

Knoxville 5 April 1798

Gentlemen

Your Joint letter of the 9^th ult.^o I had the Honor to receive, with a copy of your address to the president and the Secretary of Wars answer, and an extract of his letter to Col.^o Butler which was inclosed

Permit me to observe that your attention and prompt application to the president, on the subject of Judge Campbles arrest by the military was highly Characteristic of the representatives of a free people, & meets my entire approbation - I am induced to believe that there has been no mistake^on the side of Judge Campble, as to the line; and on having an opportunity of a fuller more minute investigation, am induced inclined to think, that the two officers, was mistaken as to the line in supposeing [sic] the Judge to be within the indian boundary.

I have reason to Suppose, that on an investigation, it will be made appear, that the two officers, have acted

Knoxville 5 April 1798

Sir

I had the honor to receive yours of the 6th Ultimo, on the 28th; and with the copy of a letter to Lieu.^t Col Butler which you did me the honor to inclose-

I am perfectly satisfied you had given no Orders despotic or inimical to the liberties of our Citizens, I am perfectly satisfied, that you had not given any orders despotic or inimical to the liberties of our Citizens, and on the Contrary ^that you was was uninformed of that any transaction of the kind until you had taken place until you rec.^d my letter of 6th February last - I am induced to believe that the arrest of Judge Campble was ^Occasioned through mistake in the two subaltern officers, who supposed and believed him to be within the indian boundary; the line being as I am informed, very near the place where he was taken found - I further have reasons to believe, that it was ^not done in conformity of to any orders of Given by Colonel Butler-

David Campbell esquire one of the Judges of our Superior Courts of law & equity in this state, is the person who wrote and signed the name of Campbell to a late publication in a Knoxville newspaper