Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville May 31^th 1798

Sir,

In obedience to your Instructions to me of the 12^th Instant, I immedi= ately proceeded to the Cherokee Nation by way of South West Point to execute the same as far as was in my power and returned to this place yester= day by way of Tellico Blockhouse - The Towns I visited were Hiwassa, [Chestooee? (Chestatee)], Shoemach, Estanaula and Amuchcha where there was a general Ball Play at which were present the principal Chiefs of the Nation namely John Watts, Bloody Fellow, Dick Justice, Glass, Tauloutiska, Cabin, Chulcoahor Creek Linguister, Kittagiskes, the Jobbers'son, the Badger, the Standing Turkey, James Vann and other Chiefs, and a great majority of the most influential Warriors, making in the whole about 750- The Chiefs of the most note who were not there, were the Little Turkey and Double-Head - My ostensible business was the transaction of my own private business as was understood by your Excellency before my departure, tho I kept con= stantly in view the object of your Instructions, and did what ever was in my power in an informal or indirect way to forward the objects of the approaching Treaty, to wit, to induce the Indians to attend the call or invitation of the Commissioners of the United States to a Treaty and to sell a part of their Lands for a valuable Consideration which I presumed would be offered to them - After I left South West Point the first Indian House I arrived at was Arthur Coody's one of the Interpreters with whom I stayed one day, and found him well disposed, and prefered the Points as the Place for the Treaty - The next day I saw Tuskegatahee, The woman Holder and the Hare Liped Tarrapin Chiefs of the second order, and about thirty Warriors, I had much free conversation with them, and they appeared well disposed to the objects of the Treaty - At the Shoe= mach I saw and conversed with Clem Vann a white Trader, two Fallings half breeds who spoke english and young men of pretty good Information, they said a number of Chiefs, not as a pubic council, had consulted together at Estanaula on their return from Tellico when the Nation received the annuity, where it was agreed [illegible]] Treaty should be held at Estanaula - James Vann a half breed lives near this Town, who from his wealth and extensiveness of his Trades, together with his activity and ability has become a leading character, and is daily growing into Consequence and Importance his Nation - I was at his House three days, during which time se= (ver)al Chiefs and Warriors visited him, Rum was given out freely and which he himself drink freely - I embraced the occasion to collect [his?] sentiments, he was much opposed to the Treaty being held at Tellico

S^o West Point 19^th August 1801

Sir

I have received your letter of the 15^th Instant enclosing an address to the Chiefs & Warriors of the Cherokee Nation. A Copy of y^r letter to me I have forwarded to the Secretary of War

The address to the Chiefs I have had read & explained this morning to Double Head & the Bloody fellow, the only Chiefs here - they express themselves well pleased with your attention to the friends of the deceased Woman - And for the exertions that you say you are making to Discover the Murderer. They seem Confident that you may succeed - They say that the White people owe them three Debts of this Kind & hope they will be paid - they allude to the murder of two Indians at Cumberland & this of the woman, If a murder of this kind in the Center of the State is not detected, it will encrease their suspicions that the white people do not exert themselves on the Occasion - They see that the white people can effect almost any thing they please, things beyond all calculation of them - therefore cannot see why we cannot detect murderers &c. -

I am sir with great respect your Obedient Servant

Return: J: Meigs A[gent]. for the Cherokees

Governor Sevier