Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville 31 December 1797

Sir

Yours of the 19^th Instant with the several papers therein inclosed I am duly honored with by your express. The contents of your request shall be Strictly adhered to, and every possible exertion Will be made, to seize and bring to light the papers & documents in that will throw in the office of [Martin Armstrong]] and his deputies, and all papers in the hands of any suspected persons that may throw light on the black and base affair you have communicated to me upon; - And also to, ^discover & bring to Justice the culprits, who have been guilty of the fraud & forgery practiced in obtaining warrants & grants for military lands.

I am &c

J. S

His Excellency Gov^r. Ashe

Rec^d the 31 December 1797 by the hand of M^r. Zadok Riggs A letter from Governor Ashe of N^o carolina dated 19^th Inst, containing therein, a copy of a letter from Andrew Jackson; and a report of a committee, & resolve of the General Assembly of N^o. carolina

A copy

J. S.

Knoxville 21 december 1797

Sir

I am under

Copies of a letter to Governor Ashe, and a Receipt to Zadok Riggs -

31 Dec 1797

no 21

Recorded

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

Hawel [sic] Tatum Esquire of Nashville to make applicaton to Martin Armstrong agreeably to the request of Governor Ashe, and that the books and papers were all given up accordingly by M^r. Armstrong to M^r. Tatum

After your Excellency had hastened to give us this testimony your disposition to comply with the wishes of this State, to maintain that good understanding so necessary to our mutual interests, and to forward a measure indispensable to the promotion of public as well as private Justice - we did not expect that any dificulty would be made about delivering over the books and papers which had come into your hands thro' the medium of a friendly Agency, undertaken at the request, and executed under the express authority of the Executive of this State -