Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-06-12

OF Orleans and Mexico, and particu
larly, as notwithstanding their thel
weak state, the settlers on the western
water were of that warlike characte
as already to manifest an inordinat,
ambition, and vast projects for con
quering all the countries on the eastern
shore of the Mississippi. The Spanish
government, wished, therefore, to make
the savages barrier between theil
colonies and the Americans; on il
plain words, to have them on the Span
ish side of the boundries between them
and the United States; and they ear
nestly solicited as the highest proof Of
friendship which the French nation
could give, that the influence of the
French government with United States
might be used to draw them from their
views on the navigation of the Missis.
sippi. They endeavored in the first in.
stance to curtail the boundaries of the
United States, and to exclude them
from the use of the Mississippi; and
Immediately after the war, they adopt.
ed for themselves the policy of greatly
impeding, and If possible of entirely
breaking up, the Cum berland and
other settlements on the western wa
ters. Objects which they proposed to
effect, first, by the occlusion of the
Mississippi, to make useless and of no
value all the agricultural productions
of these settlements, for want of mar.
ket. Secondly, by alluring the settlers
into Louisiana, by the advantageous
offers which the government held out
to them in case of making settlement
there; and thirdly, by an unremitted
excitementof Indian animosity against
these settlers, in furtherance of the
main plan, all these means were resort
ed to, and we shall find the effects of
them every moment occurring on the
further progress of this history. Their
operations were conducted with secrecy
and for some time twas not known.
and not even suspected, what was the
real source of all the ill will of the
savages which 80 often poured itself
with the fierceness of burning wrath
upon the devoted settlers of Cumber-
land.
On the Goth of April, 1888, Don Ste.
phen Nero, brigadier general in the
armies of his Catholic majesty, and
Governor and intendent of the provin.
ces OF Louisiana and West Florida,
wrote to Captain Robertson from New
Orleans, In answer to letter of his of
the 23d of January. In this letter he
professed pleasure in the friendly dis
position Of his people and in the assur.
ance of the falsehoo1 of the report he
had heard that the Cum berland people
were solicitous to attack his province.
lie requested Captain Robertson to
give no more credit to the intelligence
he had received of the Indians having
been melted in that province against
these settlements. He asserted, that
at different times he had recommended
to Alexander McGillivary to make
peace; who finally had answered, that
ne had given his word to the Governor
of North Carolina that the Creeks
would not again trouble those settle
ments; and he promised again to write
to McGillivary, and to engage him to
be no longer troublesome to the people
OF Cumberland; he stated that he had
no connections with the Cherokees nor
with the Marcutin, but as they went
now and then to Illinois, he promised
to advise the commandant there, to
induce them to be quiet. The Chero.
KEGS had asked permission, he said, in
May, 1889, to settle on the west side of
the Mississippi, and he had granted
their request; and if, said he, they act
accordingly, you will be quite free
from their incursions. He lastly in
vites Captain Robertson to come and
settle in his province, declaring that
ne would not be molested on account
OF his religious principles, nor would
he be called on to pay any tax, and
that he would always find market for
his crops; advantages which made all
the planters at Natchez daily to i'm.
prove in their circumstances
CHAPTER vi.