Early Governors' Papers

Department of State Washington, October 28^th 1818.

Sir,

By a joint Resolution of Congress of the 23^d of December last, the Secretary of State was authorized to furnish each State Government with three sets of Wait's edition of State Papers, viz: one set for the Executive, and one for each branch of the Legislature. In pursuance of that authority, I have the pleasure to transmit to you herewith thirty volumes, put up in packets of two volumes each; and that I may be assured they reach their destination in safety, I will thank you to acknowledge the receipt of them to this Department.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant -

John Quincy Adams

4 Copy

of the Commission referred to, in the above letter from the Secretary of War

James Monroe President of the United States To all who shall see these presents. Greetings

Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the abilities, prudence, and fidelity of John Overton Newton Cannon, and Robert Weakley of Tennessee I have nominated, and by and with the advice ^and consent of the Senate, do appoint them Commissioners of the United States, with full power and authority, to hold conferences, and to conclude and sign a treaty or Treaties with the Chicasaw Tribe of Indians, for the Cession of a tract of land, four miles square, including a salt spring, reserved to the said Tribe, by the fourth article of a Treaty concluded with the said Indians, on the nineteenth day of October A D. 1818; transmitting the same to the President of the United States of America for his final ratification, by and with the advice, and consent of the Senate of the United States This commission to con= -tinue in form, during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being

In Testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the third day of February A D. 1819, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the Forty third

(signed) James Monroe

By the President

John Quincy Adams Secy of State

SS

before I left Washington last spring that Brown & Colbert would comply with the wishes of the Secretary - If the Session however the Session should have obtained an intimation of the measures adopted, and of the views of the Senate of the U. States on this subject, and procured an other lease, after the ratification of the treaty, and before our Commissioners could act - A question will arise whether their title is a good one. Our laws regulating intercourse with Indian tribes prohibits under severe penalties any Citizen from leasing or purchasing Indian claim to lands - The great question as to the extent of the treaty making power vested by the Constitution in the President & Senate has been debated on several occasions with great ability - And no doubt the arguments are familiar to you - The question however in relation to the disposal of the soil of the United States steers clear of the difficulties discussed on those occasions - Because the Constitution provides that Congress shall have power to dispose of the territory belonging to the U. States - The opinion that a treaty does not repeal an existing Statute [page damaged]

Middletown [Con^t] 24^th Jan^y 1820

Sir

I wrote you on the 15^th Nov.^r a copy of which is annexd [sic]. fearing that letter has miscarried and observeing [sic] that you are at Washington I take the liberty of addressing you again and I have only to add that the Sword for Col^o R M. Johnson of Kentucky will be in Washington about the first of March and that I believe the President and Col^o J will be satisfied with the style and execution of the work

I am very respecfully Sir your Ob^t Hum. S^t

Nathan Starr

P. S I woud [sic] also refer you to the Senators from this State Mess. Lauman and Dana

Starr on the subject of furnishing sword, for Gen^s Jackson & Gains

answered 12 august 1820

His Excellency Joseph M^cMinn Washington Dis^t Columbia

Nathan Starr To Governor M^cMinn January 24 1820

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