Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville 14^th February 1798

Gentlemen,

In consequence of numerous frauds supposed to have been committed by William Terrell, and others, in obtaining warrants and grants for lands within the boundary reserved for the Officers and soldiers of the North Carolina Continental line, the Legislature of that said state, have appointed a Committee of for the purpose of seizing, upon and coveying to the City Raleigh, the records and papers of the Office of Martin Armstrong, which committee have went on to Nashville for the purpose aforesaid.

I wish to be informed wheather [sic] it will be proper for the executive to suffer the Committee to

Knoxville 17^th Feb^y 1798

Sir,

Having perused the Documents & Papers which you laid before us relative to the frauds and forgeries said to have been committed by Tyrell & al: in obtaining Warrants and Grants for Lands within the Boundary reserved for the Officers & soldiers of the North Carolina Continental Line, also having taken into view the requisition made on your Excellency by the Governor of the State of North Carolina to have the Documents and Papers belonging to ^the office of Martin Armstrong seized & sent to the City of Raleigh agreeable to a resolu= =tion made by the Legislature of that state for the purpose aforesaid.

Tennessee and her Citizens being in some measure involved in the event, these Questions suggest themselves, Ought the Executive thereof to countenance the removal of them on this Authority, or is he bound ex officio to prevent it? It is not necessary here to draw into view the principles which would have governed this case had North Carolina given to her proceedings the solemnity of Law the difficuties of this State & her officers in that case would have been increased and the discussion must then have taken a much wider range. Under existing circumstances let it be admitted & it cannot be denied that The Records of this office contain the origin al Claim to a great part of the real Estate held by the Inhabitants

Raleigh March 1^st. 99.

Sir

By the documents and correspondence laid before the General Assembly by his Excellency Governor Ashe in November last, it appears that you had been requestd [sic] and authorized by him to take into your posses -sion the books and papers of the Office of Martin Armstrong kept at Nashville under the direction of this State, in consequence of this authority your Excellency had been so obliging as to take immediate measures for that purpose and had instructed

Raligh January 8^th 1803

D^r Sir

By M^r Dillard who will hand you this I have another opportunity, of dropping you a few lines - I shall however write you by to morrows mail respecting the progress of public business

I have to repeat what was contained in my letter by M^r Dillon - The want of money - Having borrowed $75 of M^r Dillon Ihope $75 more will do - Even then it will not be in my power to pay the other Clerks M^r Love agreers to take the State - I hope however it will nearly do to pay for such work as will be indispensible - But it will not be enough to do all the works the Legislature directed

It will than you to drop me a line by every opportunity

I am with the hig^t resp^t & Est^m y^r Excellency mo. ob^t

Jm. Overton

His Excellency Jn^o Sevier

Raleigh Dec^r 30^th 1803.

My Dear Sir

Before the receipt of this you will have rec^d all the papers which in any Manner relate to the Subject of my Mission to this Place

The Governor to day showed me a Copy of a Memorial of our representatives in Congress, stating a wish that Congress would ap= =point Commissioners to settle the dispute be= =tween the U States and Tennessee respecting the surplus lands

Before I left Knoxville Maj^r Macmin showed me a letter as well I recollect from Judge Anderson upon that subject It was Just before the rise of the Assembly It [con=] =tained an Expression of a desire that the Legis= =lature of our State, should give the representa= =tion in Congress some fresh Instruction, rela= =tive to the subject

M^r McMinn asked my opinion, I told him that it would perhaps be best for the present