Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville 27 April 1798

D.^r Sir

I beg leave to communicate to you, in confidence that I have it in contemplation, for to send a suitable person into the cherokee nation, in order to transact some business of importance, which will require both secrecy and address. You will much oblige me would you undertake the mission, and knowing you can form an Idea of the errand, I shall forbear saying more on the subject, ^only beging [sic] you will please to inform me immeadiately, whether or not, it will be convenient for you to undertake; and if so, I wish you to be prepared to set out in about ten or twelve days, and take this place in your Way, where I shall furnish you with instructions and communicate in full to you, on the business.

I am &c

Col^o James Ore

N^o 7

Copy to Col^o James Ore

27 April 1798

Recorded

Colonel James Ore Knoxville 12^th May 1798-

You will proceed from this place into the Cherokee Nation, you will there endeavour to gain information from the Cheifs [sic] and others, their intentions with respect to the present intended treaty- if they intend to dispose of any of their claims to land or not, if they be devided [sic] or unanimous either in disposing or refusing - If they mean selling what part of country -

You will effect to be disinterested on the occasion, give no advice, except they request it, or the subject is intr= =oduced by some of their own party, on that occasion signify to them, that the hunting is much diminished and is daily becoming more so, that in case, the United States would engage to give them an annuity, in addition to the present one, that probably it might be much to their advantage, as they would get more goods in that way, then they could possibly make by hunting - their old and young helpless people would be provided for, - It would also prevent the young and foolish from going to war, for that would forfeit, all their annuities - They claim much land could sell a great deal & has a enough left.

They ought to learn to raise stocks, & make Crops of grain, which is by far the most profitable way of living, And the only sure way of living easy, well and becoming Rich - Such is the manner in which all the menachanical [sic] arts are supplied & Carried on -

Observe to them all those that follow hunting, is always poor

The point I prefer -

The forgoing is the outlines of your Mission, but the principle and sole object is for you to prepare them for as an extensive disposal of their claim as can be possibly obtained - recommending to you silence to be as private on the Occasion as the nature of the object will admit, making use of all necessary caution & Circumspection the Nature ^importance of your business will necessary necessarily require - The f observations which are stated for you to make, as you will discover, is intended to prepare them for the primary object, - They are truths, and not [? ?] intended for to answer peculiar purposes to this state, but will prove in the end, if attended to, by the Indians, the very salvation of that nation -

I am &c

(signed)

John Sevier

/Copy/

Instructions to Col^o James Ore - 12 May 1798

N^o 14

to be recorded in letter book A -

Recorded

Knoxville 12 May 1798

Colonel James Ore,

You will proceed from this place into the Cherokee nation, you will there endeavour to gain information from the chiefs and others, their intentions with respect to the present intended treaty, if they intend to dispose of any of their claims to land or not, if they be divided or unanimous either in disposing or refusing;- if they mean selling, what part of country -

You will effect to be disinterested on the occasion, give no advice, except they request it, or the subject is introduced by some of their own party; - On that occasion signify to them, that the hunting is much diminished, and is daily becoming more so, that in case the United States, would engage to give them an annuity in addition to the present one, that probably it might be much to their advantage, as they would get more goods in that way than they could possibly make by hunting;- their old and young helpless people would be provided for, it would also prevent the young and foolish from going to war, for that would forfeit all their annuities. - They claim much land, could sell a great deal, and have enough left. - They ought to learn to raise stocks, and make crops of grain, which is by far the most profitable way of living, and the only sure way of living easy, well, and becoming rich,- such is the manner in which all the machinal arts are supplied and carried on. - Observe to them all those that follow hunting, is always poor, and few in number, and many by that practice fell into nothing, and is now no more; the Creek Nation is composed of about seventeen different tribes, yet they do not the whole of them