Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-07-08

have been to convey the above de-
scribed tract of land to him. 1t was
also signed by Arthur Dobbs, the then
Governor of North Carolina, and by
others whose names Gov. Blount did
not recollect, for the paper was not in
his possession when he gave the infor-
nation; he had only incidentally seen
it. Within the limits Of this tract of
land, in October 1795,was number of
Indian towns. The object of Colonel
Jack in giving medals to several of the
leading chiefs was no doubt to pur.
chase their good will, to the end that
he at some future day might the more
easily claim the possession of the land.
Gov. Blount assured the Indians that
they had nothing to fear from the
claim of Jack, nor from cunning white
men, making purchases unauthorized
by government, and that government
would protect the lands against such
purchases. Jack, it is SAID, pettioned
Congress respecting his claim, and
Gov. Blount informed him that he
never would obtain possession until the
Indian claim should be extinguished
by treaty, and that then he would have
an opportunity to try the legality of
his title in court of law" The en-.
gaging manners and fascinating ad.
dress of the Governor had captivated
the hearts of the Cherokees, and when
they heard in the latter part of this
year that he was about to resign his
office, the chiefs were deeply affected
at the information, and addressed him
on the subject. He answered them
very affectionately that the territory
was about to become State, which
would elect its own Governor as other
States did, at which time, his office
both as Governor Of the territory and
as Indian agent would expire. He
noticed that peace was at length hap
PLY re established and recommended
to them in the most obliging terms, a
continuance of it by all the means in
their power, as upon that depended
their happiness and existence as ma.
ton. War, he observed, was destroy.
er and that many nations both white
and red had perished under its infu-
ence. The high opinion which they
had of his talents and beneYolence and
the softened feelings which the occa-
sion produced, had prepared their
minds for lasting impressions; the ad-
vice he gave sunk deep into their souls
and never hasit since been erased from
their remembrance Buttbe Governor
himself, had great difficulties to en-.
counter to preserve the peace which he
so earnestly pressed upon the Chero-
KEGS A report was circulated in Au-
gust, that Cox and his party again
talked of making the attempt to estab-
lish settlement on the lands they had
purchased from the State of Georgia
and Gov. Blount recommended regu-
lar military force to prevent them.
Sometime in January, 1896, in the early
part of it, some persons arrived from
Georgia whose business was said to be
passage to the Muscle Shoals, and
to keep possession there till settle
ment could be established by part of
the Tennessee company or for them.
1t was sometime before the Governor
could get possession of their secret de-
signs, and he then Immediately took
such steps as appeared to him most
likely to defeat them. He wrote 10 the
chiefs of the Cherokees on the 18th of
February, 1896, that four weeks before
the date of his letter, boat with many
men who came from Georgia, forty in
all, had left Knoxville as they pretend
ed for Natchez, but as he since under.
stood for the Muscle Shoals, to settle
upon their lands in the great bend of
Tennessee. He assured them that il
this were fact, the United States
would remove them and not to be un'
easy. He was no less perplexed with
another set of land purchasers who
were bent upon acts subversive of O
state OF peace with the Indians. Many
of the grantees under the laws fol
opening John Armstrong; office, anG
the office for the appropriation oI
the lands laid off for the officers anG
soldiers, came in December, 1906, intt
the southwestern territory, and threat
ened to take possession notwithstand
ing the Indian treaties; having OBJ
tanned legal advice TO that effect. l
it was truly said some centuries ago
uneasy is the head which wears
crown" the experience of our owl
times shows, that the head is not les
uneasy which has to regulate the con
Germs of mans own fellow citizens
Being in less danger of punishment TO
setting the government at defiance
they are less submissive to injunctions
than the subjects of crowned head
How many instances have we seen i
this territory in the course of fey
years of Undertakings deeply affectin
other States, and our relations wit
them, not only unauthorized but d
rectly in the face of authority. Sue
have been the symptoms of the poiti
body, as to make it discernable an
clearly 80, that in some time of diff
Guilty and danger the whole engine ma