Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville 30 July 1804

Permits me to observe in the course of your negociation with the Virginia Mission, it will may be proper to observe, that should there be any proposition for the demolishing the Dam, after a givin time, that an accession to such a proposal would tend wholy to discourage and prevent the owner from improving and preparing his works for future purposes and would wholy prevent tend to obstruct the benefit and advantage of such a works and useful Factory within our own Government

Secondly it would may be to the interest of some certain characters Individuals, that every Factorys of this kind within Tennessee might be demolished - and thirdly lastly - It is illegal improper and unjustifiable ^unlawful to injure or damage the private property of any person without making property of any person without making just and adequate compensation - This is intended as a private communication

John Sevier Quarles. 1906

I beg not to be understood as having any objections to the navigation of the river

Knoxville 22 Sep, 1804

Gentlemen

Your letter of this day together with your report and other documents ^relative to laying of out the roads Ihave been duly honored with, which shall be duly attended to by the Executive, who begs leave to offer you in behalf of the State his thanks for your great assiduity and promptitude in laying off and demarkation of the Roads, leading through ^part of the Cherokee Nation into the State of Georgia

Ihave the honor to be Gen^l Your m^o ob Serv^t

Col^o Jos. McMinn Col Sam Weir & Major John Cowan Commissioners

[In pencil:] John Sevier. Quarles. 1906