Sevier_Letter_090_47601

Knoxville 20th March 1 April 1804

To the Inhabitants and people said to be settled on the Indian Lands

Gentlemen

The Executive of the State of Tennessee have been officially informed by the Agent of the War department and Indian affairs, that a number of Persons contrary to the existing laws treaties between the United States and Cherokee Indians, are settled on, and improving, and cultivating a part of the lands allotted and reserved for the use of the Cherokee aforesaid tribe or nation of Indians: You must be well informed Gentlemen that such encroachments are contrary to the laws of the United States and in open violation to of the treaties already existing entered into ^between the [? ? ? ?] the Cherokees and that if you continue the Aggression an armed force under the Authority of the General Government will enivitably be employed for the purpose of removing all those who may be found trespassing on the Aforesaid lands. It is with extreme sensibility I am under the compulsion of addressing You on this Occasion, but my official duty as cheif magistrate of the state, and the duties I owe to the General Government, and also the regard I have for humanity, impels and constrains me, to give you this notice, and warn you in due time, in order that you may evade and abandon the dangers, that you consequently must ^be involved into Should you not relinquish decline the ^intrusion which I earnestly recommend to be done agreeably to the your promises and engagements entered into with the officer that who Visited your settlements on the occasion here =tofore - I have the pleasure of informing you that I expect on this

Measures are constantly pursueing [sic] for the purpose of extinguishing that Indian Claims on to on all the lands on the n.^o of Tennessee, and that the President is by law ^further authorized to exchange with any of the Indian tribes, lands of lying on the W.^t side of the Mississippi, for lands on the east side of that river,- and should the ^present friendly disposition of our neighboring tribes be stat continue and ^be preserved, I have not a single doubt remain ing but the this such a desirable exchange may ^and will be accomplished:

When we further contemplate the Great and almost boundless requis =ition of lands, lately obtained ^from France on both east and West ^sides of the Mississippi, no doubt can remain but an ample ^& sufficient Quantity of Lands will be approp =riated for to supply the wants of every description of our fellow Citizens, that may wish or be disposed to become adventurers in settling those fertile regions, so widely and wide extensive, and also so desirable as are now placed before us - I therefore hope you will ^deliberate and reflect seriously, and discard from your intentions any object, every Idea and that would will have a tendency, to either involve yourselves, or your Country, in any unnecessary and disagreeable consequences -

I have the honor to be very respectfully Gentlemen, Your m^o ob. Hbl, Serv^t.

1 copy sent to the Inhabitants by col^o Montgomery 1 ditto to Col.^o Meigs P post

april 1^st 1804