Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-09-18
HAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE


tal Offenders, who took refuge amongst
them. For capital offences committed
against them by the white people the
offenders were to be punished in pres.
ence OF some of tn CherOkees, in the
same manner as they would be for
like offences committed on citizens of
the United States. And they agreed
not to retaliate on the innocent for
crimes committed by the guilty. 1t
was agreed that Congress should regu-
late their trade, but in the meantime
traders to be received and well treated,
and the Indians were to give notice of
any hostile designs formed by other
tribes or by other persons; and tho In.
dians were to send deputy of their
own choice to Congress, whenever they
thought proper Friendship was to be
forever re-estabished and maintained
to the utmost of their power by both
parties. The treaty of Hopewell gave
great umbrage to all the Southern
States. William Blount, Esquire, then
in Congress from North Carolina, de
termined to give it all the opposition in
his power. He deemed it beyond the
power of Congress to make treaty re-
pugnant TO the laws of North Carolina,
concerning lands and boundaries with
in her limits. Such power, he contend
ed, was not given to Congress by the
articles of confederation. In this year
the Cumberland settlements remained
stationary, but upon renewal OF friend
ship with the Cherokees, it was ex-
pected that they would soon begin
again to progress, and that there would
be II great accession of new settlers in
the year 1856. But the year 1856 was
not without its troubles, though it was
not so fruitful in the destruction of the
settlers, and in the abundance of dis
asters to be recorded in the pages of
history, as former years had been. By
the treaty of Hopewell, much had been
given up, to purchase the good will of
the Cherokees. The boundaries of the
whites were greatly contracted, and
extensive countries resigned, which
were included in the treaty at Fort
Stanwix, and in the deed to Henderson
the benefit of which North Carolina
was entitled to, having paid him with
lands in Powell's valley for his trouble
and expenses, in negotiating and max
ing the treaty for the safety of the
Cherokees, and the purchase by him
and his companions, of the lands con-
tanned in his deed. Although no pur-
chase could be made from the indians
but by public authority, and for pub
lie uses, yet purchase made by indi
viduals might be deemed obligatory on
the Indians and be converted by public
authority to public uses. The prohi-
bitlon was not made for the benefit of
the Indians but of the State, which
might either ratfy it or not as the pub.
lie good required. The purchase Gov
cred great part of the lands renounced
by the treaty of Hopewell. The con-
cessions made by this treaty to the In
dians, may have contributed to that
abatement of savage cruelties which
characterized the year 1856. The Creek
aggressions, however, proceeded with.
out alleviation. They had waged a
deadly war againstthe Georgians for
five or six years then last past, and
had so much annoyed them as to make
the restoration of peace very desir-
able event. For some time after the
treaty of Hopewell they were the prin
cipal marauders and plunderprs of the
Cumberland settlements, and the chief
perpetrators of all the massacres com
mltted on the settlers
In this year the settlements were moi
extended, but the number of the in
habitants increased. James Harrison
William Hall and w. Gibson, settled
above Bledsoe's Lick; and Charles
Morgan, at Morgan's Station, on the
west side of Bledsoe's Creek, four OF
five miles from the Lick. The Indians
killed Peter Barnet below Gainesville
on the waters of Blooming Groves
also, David Steele, and wounded Will
liam Crutcher, and went off, leaving
knife sticking in him; but he recovered
On the creek, now called Defeated
Creek, in Smith County, on the nortl
side of Cumberland River John Peyton
a surveyor, Ephraim Peyton, Thoma
Pugh, and John Frazier, had com
menced their surveys, and had made
camp; whilst they were all asleep q
the camp, in the night time, abou
midnight, snow being upon the groun,
March 2, agreat number of Indian
surrounded the camp and began to fir
upon it. Before they were preceived
they wounded four out of the five; th
whole party of whites ran throug
them and made their escape, and &c
home. The Indians took their horse:
compass, chain, blankets, saddles an
brides, and went on. The Indian
who committed this depreciation wer
Cherokees.
The Assembly of North Carolina, 9
their session which commenced o
Fayetteville on the 18th of November
1856, taking notice of the frequent act
of hostility committed by the Indian
on the inhabitants of Davidson Count
for considerable time past, and tha
necessity required the taking of som