Newspaper Page Text
iit Jwinti
1
TUESDAY, JI'LY l. I '.*<1
OFF1CXA* t’APJCR^.
i *. fi winm-tt Co ?
53.1 J u nf, l-2tV J
Wm Ex--' lit nry ft. M Traiiy,
l)KArt Sim—In til** last letter \ had th*
honor of addressing to vow, ! mentioned
1 htat tin* principal and some other Chiefs of
tile Cherokee Nation had written a letter
a 1 11* aeed to Mr Lumpkin. nod myself, ob
jecting to tho prosecution «*f the survey
through »he country, but that it was our nu-
terrnin lion to proceed with th** survey uti
ls* farther steps vvere tuk rn toprevut '
Mr. Lumpkin left me on hie return home on
We nesday the Mih nut. on winch day l
* r ,cfcd<’d to mike n more minute rxinmn
r.tion of the* main ridge, but did not succeed
in finding n favorable situation fur crossing
it until Friday eveninj- On .i.uurdey 1 be-
{j in tlieeuiveVjUnd wns very much pleas* d
vi !i the iciult. On rf imlev morning two
In dans a* conrpani* d by Mr. Charles R
Hicks’ *on, as their interpreter, called at tin-
camp and infurmed me Ins father had sent
orders fr mo to park up my tilings and
moveofT I onquir* rt if they lin'l nny writ
ten rtrd 'rsfrom Mr II" ks to that effort, to
\v11 hjhev replied in the oeiriitive. On re
ceiving this answer I proposed nceotnpnnv •
in* them to Mr I licks’ house to know more
particularly what were his intentions, to
which they assented. On uirivmg at his
h mho, after some preliminary corn «:rsali*»n
ho informed rn« that he rofisidorad the let
fer I10 had I’ll warded to us would have been
sirilHent to prevent nio from going on
\n ii the survey, and miles- I desisted from
rn .k rig the survey In* would order out men
lo rak«- tint instruments from me, as he Was
res dved Jo a*t a* 1 era lily to the will of the
c >i,*inl, an I tbut without an order from the
M '-ini iry of War they would riot permit
itnv sur\ eys to bo. made within their boon-
d 11 v. As I was very desirous of nb'aitiing
h« jiintiy ftu ts as possible while in the * ouu-
fry, I utadu several propositions to him to
allow me logo on with the survey, until lie
iccei* ed n loiter which .Mr. Lumpluu hail
written l«» hint from the Agency, and a * mu
iiniMu .u oii which C »| Montgomery would
probably make to him on tlio subject, he
•t iled to me, here was nothin* these gen
tlemeri could say would induce him lo alter
his determination I lilu-.w-sn proposed to
hi.u to allow me to *1, on with the survey for
u l\ sv days until I could r*'<*’i\« further in*
strut lions fr on your Kv -II* m y. or some of
gMi|t\o>n«u oftlie M. •( P vYork* butulltono
pu pose. In tho morse of on\orsuiion w rh
hurt, I stated that the survey of n road or
Canal through the Nation was not calcula
ted lo injure it, nr any of the individuals
composing it, but might tend very much to
Hour adv antsgo, h« remained however quite
indexible. I therefore concluded it would
b«- most odvisefible to withdraw from the
Nation and commoner the survey from the
Ch.ilahooehie to the interior of tlm stnl
(mill I should hoar fiomyon.tf you an- of
O'l.mon I should-till proceed with the sur
vey towards tho TtinnoMSPH River. I shall
Immodinicly do ho, whatever may ho th*
consequence, if I bad not been fearful of
It* tin* beyond your wishes, f certainly should
not lm abandoned the survey until they
had compelled me In do so by force
wnssa V< u rime navigable river up t*> t7:oJ
•n* nth I \ noy Am it • <oilim«ea *"od|
for seven mil s, where it breaks through the
nio uitains. To this point, boats reumrini
three feet water, it is said, ran nsceinl at all
li*iies In the season of flush water, it is
•aid tlm! even stnnnr honta could ascend to
tbm point. The Mtuntion of tbialanding on
Vimv, is only ri nr 10 miles from th** waters
of Cotic«au*n, whore it is navigable, and is
already navigated Iry Keel boats, of consul
ern hits' burthen Many Keol boats with
their tnnnge have already been drawn across
from Amoy to Conas'iuga, and have pro
ci ed**d on to their destination below. The
tw • points dcscrilied, arc the most favoia-
hie for connecting tho waters of the West,
I with those of Georgia. Tin Hnckainau-
I pa route will probably cost most skill, labor,
1 and money—but sound policy gives it a
decided preference in many resports which
I will readily occur to you without any re
marks of mine
These remarks arc founded on a critical
an-l minute recognisance of tho country
token by Mr. Fulton and myself. Mr. Ful
ton however, lias not been with me on my
passage from Amoy to the inhabited part
of Georgia. It is from this rout* that I
feel authorised to spook so positively
hitimito the impracticability of the desired
union of the waters, nt any point l’.ast of
Amoy.
A on are n * doubt surprised, that 1 am so
long in approac hing tho Tennessee liver
holow the Lookout mountain. And first
let nc observe, my ideas and opinions wlic
! \vm la-*t in vour company, in relation
tho natural Geography of Bussection of the
country were formed from Maps (wim •
were incorrect,) and from travellers who
knew nothin* of the country. Therefore
n»v own views were incorrect. Wills*-reek,
in the valley of (lie name name, is the fiirft
poHiihlo stream, by wlrii li tlie waters of
Tenncssco and the Coosa can bn brought
together, West of the Lookout, and hv llih
route, it would take one hundred miles ol
Canal to reach tho Coosa rive r—nnd from
thence to tho Atlantic waters of Georgia
we should have all tiro diffh ulties to over
come, and obstacles to surmount, "hi* I
exist on tlio trnnvcisa route, from Ft Law
renew to Augusta, our (’anal would have t*
cross the waters, ridges, Slc. * " ‘
I cun*id'r li.e mi-,i»urn Hi«k. h«* t.v i c.niir.g the name, ut po.ilioa of tlio Towns \ poet and cooiidcration, your Excellency »
■•in* t,r« t. prnvolu lii» 1 The *uppo.iUiiiui, tlunl.ire, which I lixvt
people lie* vig*l inee mi proieering their I nrmdo, are not irrelevant, hut material to th«
ghis ; an I secondly, to evince 10 ill* 1 world pt | discussion of tlm nuestitui If the Com
o.ire, that hr cannot
if Georgia to the Cla
Col Piimsu o* mjsell’, oii|*lil constant
accompany Mr Fulton, while h** reman
the nation Why (’ol. 1'itnian cannot he
heard from into ni" very singular My *!onies
tic, coi.rerm* dema* d ary artention lor a lev
weeks, in n-lueh lime I shall nneet t*» he
quiesce in any tlornt* | rnissionors had ol» aim <1 a correct km
edge of the creek and its name, they would
of course nfrtoit as a governing point
and their ignorance of the tow ns would
hare beenja sufli* lent excuse for any mis
take in their relative position. Hut if th
creek was to them a place ho noted ns to g*»-
, Mr Full
»n all occasions, I shall
regard 10 the trust whi*'
with an eve to duly, an i
public good,
I his emniminicHtioii has been written in
great haste, and with ;i view of copying and
correcting, hut the want of lime urges i
forward it ns you find it. And I must
your friendly indulgence lor the iniperlectious
hir.h may h di» •«» * * I.
It^-pecMufty, youi <die.lir*nt «r<*v.un,
WH.SON LUMPKIN.
Hon. Gf.obgf. M Tiim;p.
must ob diem *< rvant.
JOHN MURPHY.
His Ex ell*»ucv, Gforcx r. M. Tnot:P.
Milledgt.rille, Lltu.
discretion—and exercising such
cretion
whei
i better
first lag be
i <*«i. Pitman Ami J vern all other places and declarations of the
i and proceed, m I articles, (for when tlrere is a variance irre-
I have undertaken, I C oncilahle, it must govern them, or he gov-
view to promote the J prne j | } y how is it p issible, that
they should not at least have known, that
the creek was below tlio “ Cuwetas” town r
‘ in I The proximity of the places is such, that
l»«-g 1 no one could know much about “ Uclieo”
must do Mr. Hicks th* justice to hiiy he of
fered m* personal insult nor held tmt anv
Other threat than the cue above mentioned
Of depriving mo of my instruments. I1u gave
inn n copy of tho r« , Hulutiuii of the Council,
• ud a not* to the following olfui t;
I frill ini, 18 JC
Mr II Fulton—You arc riMpienicJ m d*-w
ini uediately in msking anv Hurveys and taking
any levels through the Cherokee Nation as lie
lot • spicsbcd.
(=hg ei) CM. It HICK3.
Mr. Lumpkin informed mu lie would lor
ward you a ropy of thu letter from tlm
(' mned, which 1 pri mmoyou huvu received
boforn this time.
O i my return to tlm Ohattiiliooclii« 1
in-t Mr llurriil near um High Tower Riv
er-. and from him r*»cei\ed your letter of the
\ |i it inst I shall us a every exertion m my
power tii in- i-t tie* Coni niHsione
Mu* le II, on tlm day appointed if it is at all
po-.-ublo, ll may he proper to mention that
in th ’ conv**rsiilioii I had with Mr. Iliclis
Jm inf M ined me that the Council had rusolv-
«*l i » oppose tho running of th - Stale linu
wa4Ji.it thciir bound uy, and that they had
people on tlm Watch to prevent it ! explain
ed i-• linn tire absolute necessity there was
of running tiro lino the w hole distance from
l » lme ('reek to Ni knjack, buforo the lim-
1*6 of the States of Al.ihnnr i and (jeorgia,
could be determined, hut wlmlhei it
I left Mr rultonon the IP.th, ready to com
uiHiice his f perntiong. lie will first exam
inn tlm summit and waters between (’In* k
aoiaiigy and Cunusauga, and tint nothing
may he loft to eonj*-cturo—he will then ex
iiiuiic tlm otln r point described I left Mr.
Fulton mid the hands with him cornforta-
l*le and in good health and spirits. Ilmv*-
not yet hear*! any thing from Mr Burritt
or Col. Pitman. 1 regret that they Irk I not
arrived h* lore I left
The Indians have upon all occasionSsincc
we entered the Cherokee country, treated
us respectfully and friendly
Nevertheless the principal rulers of the
Nation, protest against our right, to make
the surveys and examinations required by
the acts of the Legislature ofGeorgin, with
out the consent of th« Cherokee Nation.—
And they have exercised all their ingenuity
to place me (mid my Government through
mu) mi tho degraded situation of un •nimble
Petitioner to tlio Cherokee sovereignty.—
Rut I think 1 ha v o understood my duty, and
trust 1 have nnd shall peiforui it to the sutis
faction of you and the people of Georgia.
On entering the Cherokee country,
perceived there was® very inquisitive spirit
pervaded all classes to know tho object of
our business. I directed the company to
answer no impertinent enquires, but to
For those who made them to ine for inlbrma
(nation. I gave no satisfaction to any until
I arriv ud at Newtov.
There (us I had intended) I explained the
• hjsct and nature of our business to McCoy
who is Secretary to the National Coum tl
In niy progress, I called on Charles K
lit* I;*. P. Chief of the Nation, and corntnu
uicated to him the nature and uhioct of
vis.t to that neighborhood. llicks may
justly be considered King of the Clieroke
Nation, if governing bj a noil my be
sidcrud kingly now r Alter u dignified;
pause, ho gravely informed me, lie could
grant no sueli privileges, as I was required
to exercise hy the Legislature of Georgia.
1 promptly informed him, ha had entirely
misapprehended me, and the o! ject of my
eidl. Tlmt 1 had not come to a.«k any pre-
vilogo, an-l that 1 neither sought nor ex
pected it of him. I tli*Mi repealed to him
•nv object was toexpluiu to him, nnd a few
other public in* n, the nature and object of
tnv business—that the Clierokers might,
through them ho correctly informed, in re
gard to our business. And then by prevent
im self nnd company from being received
m an improper light. 1 wished it known to
all, that \vn xveio not u company of self
moved enteriirtsing spceulators. I\t that
wo wore thr legal Agents of our Govern
nient, performing a legulduly.
Alter eoiisid* ruble conversation, which it
wools he tedious to recapitulate. We par
ted in good humor nnd friendship.
A few days alior 1 left Kirks', Mr. Ful
ton it mysell Mi pursuing our examination^,
found ourselves mi tlm neiglihoihood ol
thu Agency,and eonseqiiently enlludon Col
.Montgomery. Shortly after our arrival, the
\gent received a couiiiiuuicjiion siem’d hv
lin ks and live others, accompanied by a
opy of a communication to Mr. Fulton
BotrarDAKv z»x:ro.
ExkCCUW. llkt’Ae.i Ml ST, Al.v. )
ClaiOomt'WU June, $
Hin—Your Excellency was kind onougli
to give ine, at mv request, your cnmtruc'mn
of the articles of agreement and cession, in
return f*»r which favor I promised to give
you mine. I liava great pl»*a*airu in doing
so, as it affords another instan* u of t lie un-
Fgu.sed freedoinofallour < (Miimunu atmns
Th« Articles make thn l’hattah«>*»< Iiic tin*
, boundary from the Hist degree of Latitude,
isreiidmgtlie River toa certain point w here
tiieru is a “ great bend, ’ and from ihcneo a
lire* t line to the Nicknjark on the Tennes-
River This “great bend” is declared
to ho above tlm mouth of a “ certain creek
river," and the bend “ next above,” and
tlio Creek or River is declared to be
I led “ (’cjicc” and this creek so cal-
I, is declared to ho the first con-
luruhlo stream, on tlio Western sido,
nhovo tho (hissetas and (’owula Towns"
lero then to ascertain t he point where the
iroet line is to commence, xve havo “ a cer-
un creek or river called LVIwr, on th**
. osterri side,” and *'above tho Cnssetns
iud Coweta Towns,” and a “great bond"
f the Chnitahooclii •) “ next above ' the
noutli of the s.ud (’reck. W ith tin so
land marks and directions to guide and
strain us, if vve were to seek tho point
vhrre tin; direct lino is to commence
vouhl first enquire for “ IN liee,” andwli
s “ lichee” to ho found ? 11 Above tlio
0«*»srtas and Coweta Towns.” How far
hove and how is it to be known ? “ The first
nnsidernhle stream, on th ; western side.”
Iluvingfoundtbe “certaincreek or rivercal-
led UcTree,” “ the first eonaiderablo stream,
on the western side, above tint Cussetasand
Coweta towns” when tlieucu yliould wo
proceed ? To “ tlio great bend” thereof,
namely of the Chattabooebin And bow
«ball tniM bend ho nscort/rined ? It is tlio
bend “ next above” the plaeu where the
rre.ck “ empties into the said Chattahoo-
' , bic River.’ Thus the nrtir.les conduct us
to the place where the direct line in to com
mence. Hut should any variation he found
between any of the parts which compose
lie direction given, how shall the difficulty
he obviated i Suppose, tor instauce, that
• lie creek now known by tlm natno of
“ Cclioe,” and perhaps alwn ys known un
der that name by thoue who know it at all
'.v inluto •* the Cuasetas and Coxveia towns”
when the articles expressly nnd cautiously
declare that it is ah«»v • ? Tho inference
Would seem to heirresiwtuble.tliattliu creek
intended by th** articles, and supposed to
no called “ IVlieu is n«>t now, nnd probably
was not then known by that name. Hut
diould it he iliought otherwise for a nioiiH’trt
it would ho natural to enquire which was
boslknownto tho Commissioners,tho mere
Maine oftho Creek which they intended, *»r
? positions of tlm “ Cuvsctas and Cowe-
I’-et on him, I think is doubtful. I shall I uml myself, ( nid which t <*mmunh ation \v<
be m the neighborhood of Gules’ firry, on,
thu CintUhooi lu« in tins County, until l
id t
a of do
Fort.
Fort Mitch,’I
■•ending ibo Rivi
tinly,
J havo sumo
■ in a canoe lo
I have tlm honor to remain, your Excel*
lilicy’tf iKObt obedient s**rvant.
H AM 11/TON FULTON,
thief Civil Engineer.
have ainru r«veivod)—vvhieli thn Agent |
htelv suhniitted to our perusal. \\ liich
reads an follows.
Morgan cuintfy, near Miditon, )'
ydlhjune, It+ib. ^
Pi n — After a t »ur of twenty-fiv o d iyi,l
nerived at homo yotterday evening ; sumo-
What fitigtied, but my healib much unprov-
e.I. 1 vvroto you fimn the Lookout Moun
tain, giving you a sketch of our progress to
thot place. 1’..king it for grautodtlut my for
mer commune atioii has been received, 1
pc i end to inform you of our progress»inc«
thn date of my Iut>t Tho rulgo of moun-
tho Not them boundary of Geotgm,
vx iicli divide uni •ipuiate the Western
from tun Atlautic waters, may justly be e.iitr-
.-idered (on our whole Northern hue) a Ibr-
nudanle breast vvuik of nature, cub a luted to
*1* t’y tho ingenuity of nun, when lie ap-
pio ti hei tins natural barrier, with ax.cvv et
o\**rcismgJliia skill to r.oiBiiiieglo thn vvalets
the West and tho Atlantic—with the. o.v-
caption howovur,of oiiu extens,vu valley in
Ai‘- ,roat rulge. Uy valley, lam to he utv-
dcistood, that gap, or want of uubrokou
ouMiuuulion in w.e groat ruigo—whicti is to
ho found cointunncing at the Last end of
the Lookout uiouulain, aud eitoudin' f,,»m
riiooce Lustwardly, to tnubead vvalaisoflho
C >.,* i river-— say u distance of from ttuvty
i* loity mile) lo tins valley, t!. u ridge
may bo pu>4od over mi sever.A place* by tlm
unsuspecting truvoller, without bis appro
(midi* g that ho uiu the «oi^UUoihood»>f a
.Miuntiiu Indeed tho vva.ors in several
pU*- » so mterloCK, Utat auuuskilfvd wo»nts*
inn would msKu tiio ti iiihii trom i/ie one to
(i.o ilbcr xvittiout perceiving the fact. On
in. Atlantic side, the Cnnasauga is itic
• r - >l ' u uu mu**! look, to, lor cunuecuuK the
waters of the Weal.
Fn« Cluckauiaugy, a large crook, (or
t inall river,) ernpii s into i . • Tonncssce,
WO liR^VII iu li-S l. ifct of ibo Lookout
uiiMIDlain, Olid i . *rd» alavoiablu piospeci
of a union with Coneu *g a . TUmy miles
K u»t of tho Lookout mountain, U.'o.ia v *r
A uoy) lU« prmcipa Sjuthvro t'.rk of tho
II •gtiwussa afford)a(iiK*sl, ves, 1 %.|| say
c «.\atn proapo* tot coui.iii,».g »bv. .xaloisv f
WOil, vr.i'i '.hose cl’ Georgia, li
FotiTVtu t, June fith lfidfi,
ft. nthnitn — 1 li.ive uovv the tipporiiniMy to
ioloint you, that what you icpr* scnti-d to me,
10 he die object ol yourtiiis-ann when passing
by he in.* The milistanre ol which h.iv-» \h*<\
eommniiirated to the imdn > su*neil niemhers ol
our CiMBinttieo a.id Council, and you miiH-
It ixe oo doubt aouoipati d oil lonving rhr Sr ur
ol Geoigi i, th if vve would not approve ol the
measure .ulupn-d by the le^islatot c of that St.it*
winch were coalmine,I to vour charge, to ex
er* in* the duties lot taking th,* lovoUM»rou«h
the Cherokee nation, for the object of n
11 d, or making siirv-cva for rail loads Ami
in presenting "ur objceiious to rlu? cxercis* 1
the diMii'H wl.ich you have burn required
peifarm within our acknowledged limits, on
whit li we t uj,»y our privilege*—under exist
h'g ireiuie* vvmii the l n t**d Stales We do m
io irieudslnp mu-! good will towatds von
»• vii *e icier y a to e oumunicato xh»> ohje, t
ol Vour nu->i > l io our lieneral Council, at
we believe M would not b** agreeable to them
And we no suie vve speak the seatnm uts ol
our Couiu'd
Wo remain your friends and brothers.
CU VhLLS K KIC KS,
and Jive Indium.
Messrs IVU^n tmplin, and
Hamilton Fulton,
I antwrred the fort going us follows;
11 Towns,” and their own intention also
that the d reel hue should commence above
thorn* Which was b*'st knovvi the Creek
•* ITchoo” or tlio “ CtiHHotni and Coweut
Towns ” It would scorn from the article,
tho towns woie b»H*t known, (or they are re
furred to l»y way of parenthetical elucida
tton. There can ho no doubt, that thus*
Towns were better known than ftny point
on the Cluttaliooehie named in the urti-
cles Hut dul tlio Commissioners refer to
“Uelioe,” dopmiddig on tlm notoriety of its
name or position to prevent all mistakes,
and to govern tlio futuio operation of ea
alilislong thn lino i It would seem not, for
they havo dc< larnd it to ho a 11 certain
creek” or “ rivet” not knowing which do
nomination it might best deserve, or in
which estimation it was commonly hel l,
mid using an adjuiirtivo epithet, which in
such cases always implies the want of ulti
mate knowledge ; and with icgnrd to its
position, they have not l**ft tt to bo deter
mined by the itamo merely, fur i: is declared
to ho “ubovc the Cussutu aud Coweta
towns'’ and the “ tii>leon*!iderul)le stream
above those 'Towns. Hid the Cammi-Moti
ers refur to a creek or river railed “ Uclieo,
as per fuel I y well known by such appclla
h ill, and liaving no noed to bo rend
definite by reference to other planes mart
distinguished uml hcttir Known! The
simcml, And explanatory caution bv \
lliesis is used, shewing that it xvas d*
nncrsviry to estnhhsli tho creek by them
intended, A: dei larod to he called “ Uchoo ’ |
otherwise than by Us name. It cannot os
cape police that the neck called “ Uclieo ’
in tho articles, in used as a term convertible
with “ the first considerable stream on the
western sido above the Cnssetu* and Cowe
ta towns ' They must moan tho same
tiling, and the euo may ho substituted for
tlto oilier. It will also ho remarked, from
the peculiar structure of tlio articles, that
tlio Commissioners were careful to idontil)
the Creek by iltetu intended, uml called
“ Uchee” not only by the relation which «t
hears to other noted places, hut also by a
pcriphrnsticul explanation, “ being the Inst
considerable stream” Why all this exutiun
about tlio creek called “ Uchee” if it were
equally or more notorious than tho other
places mentioned, and if tho other places
aud the periphrase, we.ro merely used by way
of explanatory association, and not niton-
i deal as tho surest means to identify, nay ra-
Nor j ikrr to locate tho Creek alluded to. Tho
' periphrase could not have been used, with
any propriety in eonnectiou with ilia towns, I s ‘*ou!d uc,
ClIXliOKLi: h.l'M'1
Chat Its A*
!Fh June, ItfCu.
mipit thief thet'
ind not know whether tho “ Cusaetaa”
was above or below it 'This would not com
port with the wandering aud inquisitive
li -bit* «>t’ those who are accustomed to ex
plore unknown regions. The town most
have been known to tie
cr**e.k. It appears to me the
two tilings must have happened ; they tii a-
took tho name of tlm creek, or they permit-1
ted a in.slake, in that part of thu articles
which was specially intended to prev- u’
mistake. Which of those causes would
seem t<» he the most likely ? Unquestiona
bly the first, as it could not be a difficult
thing to mistake thn name of an Indian
creek, “ a certain creek or river” in the In
dian country. The Commissioners by their
parenthesis, give sufficient indication that
they had misgiving ami deubt about this
name “ Uchee,” or they were i.w tre, at the
moment, how much uncertainty usually ai
led tlio names of Indian creeks, in a
language to t.s unknown, and, in some ca*
iPS almost unutterable, and that it was ne
cessary to refer to places which were heller
orporlHctly known, hotli as to tltcir position
ami their names. Should thoro ho any mis
take about the name “ Uclietf” there could
nm ho mu* h probable mistake nh*»»)t “ the
first considerable stionin above tlto Cusetas
a d Coweta towns. ’ If the towns were
notorious, “ U\p first considerable stream’
above thorn, could be ascertained by the in
spection and common sense of the parlies
concerned, if thmo were any mistake
therefore in the name of the creek inten
ded, tho part of the articles designed spe
cially to prevent mistake as to the intention,
would afford an easy and ample remedy —
Hut did the Commissioners really contem
plate, that tlio point whore the direct line
was to commence F»r Nickajack, was abort
the 44 Cosset ns mid Coweta 'Towns? It
would ieem that t rqust be so, for it is un
conceivable, that a moKt palpable error
should have boon admitted into that part
of the articles which was intended to pre
vent misapprehension, and to which the at
tention oftlie Commissioners must have been
particularly drawn It is true, an error
ol construction, a doubt resulting from ver
bal criticism, in such a case, might possi
bly, though not probably havo arisen ; but
it does violcncoto common belief, tliut they
should have done the very r+utrury, of ex
pressing their own intention, iu a part which
they designed to prevent misconception or
uncertainty. li is believed then, that there
a iiiiHnornor yf the Creak intended, and
this belief is supported by the peculiar
rueture of the articles, tho probable topo
graphical knowledge of tho country pos
esxod by thn Commissioners, and tlio moral
habits of an intellectual being engaged in
forming such a compact. The Creek
miscalled, or the parenthesis is wrong in its
whole import. Hut should thoro bo
“great betid” above the mouth oftlie creek
now known by the name of ” Uchee,’’ and
which, contiudicting the articles, is below
tho towns spoken of, dues tlio circumstance
of a “ great bi r d” then establish the indon
t*ty of the cieek referred to in the articles
ll would seem not, for tlio bend duos not
appear to bespokonnf by way of eminence
ami contradistinction by a common .appel
lation tlio “ grout bend” from all the bends
oftlie river. This is shown by tho quali
fying Words “ next above” implying luit it* or rive
wus the fust latgo or “great ben I” above
the creek, although there might bo tnanv
large bcudsintheChattafioochee both above
and-below, mid although thor*» wasnohend
ot the Chattahoochee, contradistinguished
iVotn nil otheis, by thn known and establish
ed natno of the “ great bond." Tho or
thography of the articles which appears to
heuxtiemely accurate, as might well be
expected from tho learning of those who
drew them, offhrdsno evidence, hut thecon-
trary, that 4 * the great bend” was not men*
lined as a common app* llation, and was left
tt* b«‘ established by a cautious reference to
other noted places. It is to be established
by tlio creek, and the creek to be establish
ed by the towns. I consider “ the gieat
bend” mentioned in the articles ns a largo
himintinn in the river,to ho sought tho “ next
abovo” “ the firsteonsiderablostream above
the Cussctas and Coweta towns,” and where
that bend may be found [fur the articles
give no indication how fur above the creek,
but merely the next above] thn direct line
should rommeneo for Nickajiick on the
'Tennessee—What obvious policy might
havo governed t heap enlightened, liberal, and
patriotic Coinmisiioners ? The policy of
giving to the State of Georgia and the ceded
territory, afterwards to be formed into
State” tlm common tight to the Chattuh.
dioe, at least as high as the falls. Thus 1
have imperfectly given y»*ur Excellency
mv views of the articles. They differ from
yours because they proceed upon contrary
suppositions Y*ni consider (lie Uchee as
tlio gov ornuig point, on account of its i.oto-
riety, and tlio great bend above it. 1 regard
the Cussetu and Coweta towns, uml the
first considerable stream above them, as tlio
data bv which this great bend is to be |nea
ted 1 believe there was u misnomer of the
creek ; you apprehend an inaccuracy in
parenlhical declaration. Tlio one or the
other is correct; the higher degree of pro
bability must determine. 1 think, in good
policy, that wo ought to have at least
high as tho falls ; and 1 siucer* ly believe
that thu more probable construction of the
articles gives it to us, and tint the Commis-
sinners so intended. 1 would scorn, as 1
know your Excellency does, to take an
atom of right from any one of the constel
lation of States, to add m surreptitiously to
my own. The motto 1 trust is ami ever
titjnstisin, real cesium.” I en-
Executive Department, Gr.o. ;
Millrdgci Ule, USd June, 182b S
Sin—I had the honor to leceive yonr Ex-
c*-Ue.» v’k loner of the 3d i** t. this morning
The frmk an full eX|»*»ui*)n of your views
i , rel .lion tn the subject of it, merits my on-
feig *e*l .irknow i*'dgineni8, and the objections
aken l mv c«»n»truclion of the article
- rve my most respectful e*,moderation. \N hen
it s* e -is* to me that vour Excel e icy lias adopt
nl an erroneous const*uclion, 1 leet it due to
vour iherality and r.auilour to seek the tru*-
c tu** of diid. ytrns'ing to my good fortune fo»
its discove.y, and w*-ll knowing ih.it I tiave
anlv to Mate it, to receive from you h prompt
ami willing correction I is thus that con
troversy find* its hin ts—honest intention and
mnfu d ilefeti-nce to o|)inions g vc a speed'
an.I e »«v triumph to Irnth, ami the paries to
, . it are e.in Mv victors, r b tever be the
vvno k ‘-W 11 • grounds they occupy or the weapons they em*
;*n. Utat **no ot ,,i nv . %hev diviiln ilip in p. share and share
■ true
pro-
ill th*} find
rk than Uchee, o
d.ove it It could n..t Imap e‘*:tp* I the it
•.Piv.dmn nt vt.nr F.xc lb* cy that nil the^nn
lerr* maps. ( s tviurgcsTanner. ► mla.v
tish.) agiee tn laying d*»"ii l * lu e as t
point ol departure, aud I think I noiu
*luce the original ni'tp used by tlo* Geotgi
Commissioners in TJM-, on which the line "i
tended bv the Comm s-ioners is marked by 'h
pen ol Gen. Jackson from l thee t'» Nicka-
jack It is evident that the authors of
maps b ive not followed each other implicitly
for whilst they concur in giving the
latite position to Uchee, they difler
sition assigned to Nickajack.
1 wilt now proceed to satisfy your Excellen
cy ill it the Commissioners did have *|»ecial
regard to the fir^l big bend above the Lchee
and neighboring to the Coweta and Cussetah
T iwii 1 * aud had no regard to any other bend
nh i«ver »’he .»• Iv fiend in the Cliftttahoo-
cliie. known and diMi- gtiished as such, with
out reference to anv partieulai town or creek,
i the pt»-
pvecrdii’g the paventhr-is h is re
((•'*•* Kami not to tlie Cnurin
a lid C’u**ei;»h towns, ami that the vv t-» „hri ’
raced t»y i!»r* parentlieair, lias rel.i'ion t.
to'V.s and no: to the creek, and that i* U-
!;i®t word so use*l which has caused n* v
uritv in the nr tide, w ill) regard to the
d above m ils application to “ the lir«f greM
b-nd” tlier*-i.^ no room for the suggestion of
en nr nr mistake because n great bend is nc-
fn-.lly found immed ately above thu crei k.—
The ro jectorc (merely from the rrsemblnrco
of sound,) that another creek called Kueika
may have been intend**'! is precluded. I^t.
Because in both thn original instrument nnd
iu all the copies, manuscript and printed, it is
w ritten Uchee n* t Eutka 2d!y. Bernuse tho
Uchee received its name fmm ih* tribe which
settled on its bank, which tribe is known as
thp Uchee not the F.uika tube—wntlfidly Rc-
eause the creek exiled Eutka (if indeed there
be a creek of that name) has no iclation like
1 chee to tlie Coweta anil Ctosetnh towns as
describe ! in the article^. 'The aulhoritv of
ploy, they divide the pnze share and bhare
»like
The rause then of what seems to me to be
r Col. H.wvkina iqgUxrlf ronclnsive-
isthatgenerailycnlla ’the Gieat bend,the Great j the Agent of Indian Affairs at the time
Western Bend,and some times the moil'Wes-1 when the articles were negotiated v as pro-
tern Bend of the Chattahoochie—It is the _ bahly better acquainted than any other white-*
the act of the Le- man with the topogra hv of tli.it part «t the
i that referred to i .
of Ge rgia of ( J9, giving authority ; country, ami was an
ut hot it v to which the
which cannot be mainted, and the »ppo-
ile of which is asserted and I believe car In*
ipoorte-l You hive evidently taken foi
granted that the (’omniissiuneis xv!io negotia
I ilie articles acted with correct knowledge
of lie topography of the country, wh- n in fact
they were exclusively dependant for any
knowledge whatever up -n the r* poria of oth
er.! and tlie maps, charts aud sketches uf the
d it, which happened to he at hand. V' u
well know how little reliance to be plartui
on tlm firstA.*urce of iiifonmiion, and an en-
pun y into thn charac ter of those d .ruments,
to which I invite you, will satisfy vour Excel
enev that ile* maps considered it that lime a-
of beat aut uiri'y were so farfmni beingof can-
liisive aulhoi iry as to have little or no preten
sions to accuracy ot correctness. I might ask
o** favor of your Excellency to furnish me
vLli mi authentic map of that day, to shew
■hat there was no Uchee, or that it bore no
oroximate rel nioii to the Coweta and Cuase-
ill Ti-wns. l lie relative situation of the Ri
‘•er, the Iwtfian Towns and the Creek, isdif
f-reutly laid down indifferent maps,some pla
in* the Towns above nnd some below the
Cieek—so that when the C •mmis.vioners from
Georgia went into the Nation in 1804, onlv
two yeirs after the ratification of th** artit Its.
•Iu*y say i.i their officj F, ren'o-t io ill • govern
meat, “ that the parties will be greatly per-
he extreme incorrectness of the
to the Commissioners t** treat for a cession to Commissioners would naturally appeal lb
the United States, and it is the same as that lorm itmn Cul. Hawkins uniformly testified
** the creek re
error in the arguin'nt of your Excellency **• u |,;,.|, |,y a S f ran ge and fatal coincidence has 1 to the id uitity of this Uchee,
the nr* poh»ii*»n,assumed as true, which »^de- t,n Pn late y made by the authorities at Wash- ferred to in the articles.
mei|, * ....
Sir—Mi Full*.
,,l o n w
be .
■•I my self happened to
your e iiiuiumc.ition to
M^omery. lie poli:< Iv
ns reached Col
•uUntttvt*! the *a
ill nation, a> well as sense ut duty, I tcel in*
disposed to e«Mcr »ut-» any mvr.stig »'uvn with
you ui this time, n r. g ud lo the lights ol
ti r^i * me i’liemkeu Nation. Suihce M
to say , I consider all treaties constitutionally
loruied by die United beate> t the supreme lairs
\t l e land ; aud that ! shall uol (kiiowtugi*.)
eMhur as j*. individual, or Agent of
vrriiiucni, violate tlm*. Hws. 1 know my du
ty u •*( intend p* i(oiin M
Very ropecltttOy, yom fiieml and brother.
vvn s i . lU.mtm v
Th.s is th * last l ha* * t Iron) liicks und
.ii*» Council, although . tu<uumcnl..>n was
j-mwediavcly (virvvaided. Xml I immediately
.a*»vci( »ui head(juarter* to hit vicoutv, whare
I leti Mi Kutlon to pursue his uusin*'*s. Mr
Fulton i* lolly apprised ol* all dial has keen
said and d-»m* up >u this sul.jeci, and will pur
su«* Ins work, regaidleKs ot Cheiokce appio
i«uou,uiilo he sii uld Ik» molested oi -<•
n .i .*•»»*! .*« to justify a dillcient c uirse. 1 do
not inyseit a)«prehvod the lease mtciiuption
hs an adjunct or corrrlutivo circumMai.ee,I lirOy coueur... the 8 en«ro, ) ..,|um mofyour
... ei.ilaiiiitory aH.ociut.un, In ciclu.ivo • KiccH.-ncy, l mt aucl. a ilwposition on nil
pu.|io««.cem.to have heen lo (otatt, dr £, l
the word "Jirpi” j. tlmiinclivo anj ompl.at- "" "
ical; und it is reasonable to mfur, Ibr the
connection is inseparable, tliut tlio towns
were montuMUid w till ifiv: Ham*- desii'n. I cun-1
not but belie-vo that your Exct llo cy will re
gard tin* as more likely , than that tho towns '
were rohried t*» us adjuncts and accidents j
to u certain creek or river called Ccheu, un*
(lur marks of quotation. Have these marks
of quotation uny mgmtu ancu They ure
used iu thu articles, to a common name, on
ly in one other instance, i. o. “ mto a »"t\n-
ty tube called HourbuO,” and the uulhori |
ty lur this name is un act of thu Generali
Assembly ol (iooi^ia. i hu authority Ibr
the other iiume “ Lebwu” for they scetn to
have referred to authority, must have bcoo
tlie common impression of thosn who pre
tended to know Liu name of the Creek
Nvmclvtlu)CommiSfiouem wished t*> desig
nate by name, and which they thought pro
per to guard by an immediate declaration
mat *1 was “ the first considerable stream,”
Jte It will b« readily nereeived by your
Excellency, that il ihuLcfiec is to govern
ms line, when it is at variauuo with an » x
pre**s declaration of tii o at tides explanatory
of itkult, it must be for the uus«>n, Ural the
Urbeu is deemed to luv e keen a pi n o more
notv>ri*uis and better known to the Commis
•toners Mian the towns, and on ih«i ncconm.
that lliey were less liable lo make a .ni ta*i
concerning r.s li&utu or positmo, than con*
iko all obscurities but real on* a to van
isli,” and provide an equitable settlement
oven of tbeso The line Commissioners of
this Statu will appear at tlie Chatahoehee,
in the very disinterested character of men
running a lino ot* limits, which they oneu
thought to bo their own, but to which a re-
cent guaranty has been (riven to others —
This guaranty . I * oiMc», h to me at oiiee a
subject of pctplexity and surprise. The
India.) title to thu laud did not seem to need
confirmation ; it had always been acknowl
edged by thu United States, extinguished
by put linse. and the owners of it neat d as
an independent nation. It might have suf
ficed for them m in in respect, to hava re
mained under their former good title It
cannot be to secure the integrity of their
dominions. This would not (»«consistent
with the stipulation made with Georgia,
“ that the teiritory thus ceded shall form a
State, sod as sueli be admitted mto tho Un
ion,” or that winch pr *vide« that it shall be
a common fiind for tho United Slats?*, Geor
gia included, or that last and perhaps least,
which assigns limits to the Sut«- of Ala
bama, an.i which includes this uidtpeudeni
dominion thus guaranteed by tho i States
\ «**i wili receive my apology for the lengiu
of tins letter
Wishing v»*ir E ice Honey much heall 1 ’.
giid 4 a« f /. .. . 1 haTi ■ io b< n
lo be, with suntiaiei.ts ut itic h.i*ncs! r«s
plexed from the extreme incorrectness
map in laying down tlie Rivers Chattahoochie
and Touuessc, with the Towns on ihem—-In
of the maps the Cussetah Town is U*
down above the Coweta and Got It above (lie
log head of the River, whereas in fact the*
ireGOur 70 miles below if, and thu CiHbCtnli
below the Coweta, and UcJno Creek below
iln ni b 'tli. We also remaik that there ih .*
bend of considerable sii« just wlicie this
Creek (Uchee) empties into the River.” I he
Comintsriuners who negotiated the articles
could, with no propriety, r**ly upon Indian
Towns as possessing snffu ient fixeduchs and
permanency for their purpose ; they required
.hi object in nature known durable and un
changeable,at a Creek ur River, or great
I* Mill—Indian Towns were easily c: e.i'ed, and,
foui ullier causes ill.hi war, easily destroyed
Their rise, decline and ruin, h ive frequently
been witnessed in the same generation—and
whilhtihey might safely be resulted lo as ad
j incti, the Coinmishionurs wouhl have littl*
d- served the character of pr >' idenre am
foresight whir li truly belonged to them, it
they had refeired to an Indian Town as a mo
lament of granite for the direction of (host
who, at a future day, were to carry into ef
feet the articles of agreemen t and cession.—
The substantive Uchee has all the altribut* i
nnl rpialities of >ueli a monument, and il de
tracts nothing fr.vn those attributes to call i*
“ a Cnek or Hirer The disjunctive \v.
mure silely use*l, because thn stream win.
aa Indian might call a Creek, the white m.i
might call a River, and vi*-e versa, and it is ol
my little conseqaence now whether it was
appropriately designated then, there being
«mft sscdlv hut one stream on the Wester
>ide, call it ere. k <>r rivei asy-u pleise, known
by tiie name of U* bee. I coni' nd tln refor
that Uchee, ns well known to tin Indians as
Ch ttahoorhie itself, whether n be creek
ineiit, durable and un
changeable u' j»‘* i,t > vt liirli all others, with
the exception of die Great Rend, are inci
dents—that if you leave Uchee to seek the
towns, you leave the substance to seek the
liadow, and that if Uchee he stricken from
the articles,as auseles- mis >amed tiling, there
er»* is not a remaining word in the articles,
ni tii the reienti'»n--Bcnd8 enough no doubt
are to tie found, as on d rivets, bm with res
peel to any p irtirular bend from whic h you
suppose the line ought to run, may il not fie
ably expected that you will not only d«*
sienate that line, but show the (’r»:*‘k t.eigb
ing to it, which you believe to have been
misnamed Uchee— is it more probable that .*
Creek not named Uchee, luit na.ne«l if you
please Oi onocohntc hie, having h big bend
above it. is the Creek intended by the article,
than that a Creek, known by tlie name ot
Uch'*c and having a big bend above above it
is tli“ same intended be the Commissioners
If. as you suggest, th** Commissioners design
ed to apply the name Uchee to another Creel,
or River, we mny fairly ask you what creek
or liver? And here, it seems to me, with all
due deference, the better argument is
We point you to a creek called Uchee—call-
el so in the articles—called so every where
else, and acknowledged universally to be h
creek in a certain situation bearing that name
You say, in answer, this is not the cieek in*
t*Mided—the Commissioners gave the sum*
name to another and different creek, and you
adduce uo proof, because it is impossibl
adduce any,t » establish either the one fat V or
the oilier. It is quite probable that the C
inisninners might have said that the Cusst
and Coweta Tow ns were below Uchee, when
they were iu fact above it, but it is morally
impossible that, in giving a particular name to
* certain creek, *liey did not intend that creek,
but some oilier of a different name, or M they
intended the name Uchee tn apply toaiunhei
creek, there should not be distinct ami irre-
sist title evidence of that inteiiiid.i i grant
you that the Towns were better known to the
whites ihail the creek—hence tin prop* iety oi
referring to the Towns lo identify the Creek,
bui surely no traveller in searching for Uchee
would reject a Creek having that name mere
ly i* cause the Towns were I mid a little strove
instead*)!’ below it. G lien the Commission
ers of Georgia in 18R1, went in search ot
Uchee, lliov looked firs* for the Towns, and
when in relation tothjni they found Uchee
below tlie Towns they came at once to the
conclusion that the mistake win to be found
in the defective mop* lo which they refened
in their repot t, and which were likely,from
the limited knowledge of n.e lime, to place the
Ci - k ab ivr the Towns as the Towns above
the Creek—The parenthesis was wisely adop
ted lor the pureose of •dciitificntio i—it must
not only be a Cieek called U. hi e and on
Western side, it must be a Creek *ol (hat u
h mug proximate relation to the Coweta nnd
(’ussctali 'T owns, and 1 I eely a* know ledge to
your Excellency that if i.o Creek ol that
name had been found in the *neigliborh od of
Coweta and Cusseiah,! would cheerfully have
left it to your ( ommi^sioners and outs to find
one ot that uanieon die Western side where
soever they could If you insist on the first
considerable sit earn above the Coweta and
CusM tah Towns, we must insist upon the
pro.il tn M that Mi earn i» known and called by
toe name Uchee, ber-uire the p neiithetical
phrase has duvet reference to the name and
designate* it rs the so cam to be distinguished
from all other Uchees. As a rational expli-
c it tow of the dttUultv, permit me to state,
that I th ilk it high )' probable that wh.lst the
Commissioners knew wita certainty that there
was a Creek called Uchee on die Western
side, and that il was situated iu the ueighbor-
iiootl ol die ImfisK Tow ns Coweta and Cu3-
►etah,they might easily have been misled or
deceived by the in.oi niatioii as to the iminale-
rial circumstance of ih 1 ! T- vviis being above
or below the Creek. Sufficient has been said
herelore in answer to the suggestion that lit*'
Uvhee cauot govern die line, but that th*
Towns must The article says that the Creek
must to* c.tUad Uchee—Your Excellency says
m I?* s .fteient, whatever be die name uf the
• reek, Inal it is the principal stream above
t ic Coweta ic Cusset.ill I owns, 6; that di< re
lore the word Uchee is of no import or signi-
:i ation hi tan hi tides Relieve me, sir, if we
ike our leave ot dus same L'cliee, un may as
e.I blot out even word of the »itides, and
leave the tw j Commissions lo run the hue at
ington the basis of die instrument called die
New Treaty, Now, if I prove to your Ex
cell *ncv that this was nut the bend content-
t>U ed f>v thn CommisToners, I am aulhoi iscd
in all fii. n- ss, to call upon you to shew the
cue l*i»» (tend o uiteiupl *te,d, and even to shew
dial tint big bend is In tlie neighborhood both
of Uclieo and of die Coweta ami Cimsctah
Towns. The legislature passed their fiisl
art, 'irhorising Commifirioneis to treat, ou
th*- 1.5th of February, 1799, and they prescri
bed the boundaries ol die territory to l*c ced
ed and of the territory to be reseived in tlie
following words : “ beginning at a point in tlie
middle of the rfver Chattah o* hie, w hence it
shall b#* intersected by the 3T*f tlegret* ol
North Latitude, thence up the s. ul river to tnr
most Western Ilend thereof, thence a due
North line to the Noriliern boundary of thi-
Stale, including all tlie islands in the said ri
ver, and reserving the navigation of the said
river, so far as the said line shall extend, alike
free to tlie citizens oftlie United States as
those of the Slate of Georgia, oil such term*,
and reas mnble compensation for die same its
nay be beneficial to both parties,” anti “ shall
iiortire to this State all the land East and
North of the aforevaid tine, within a reasona
ble time, not to exceed tin* term -T ten years,
the,same to be obtained and the Indian rights
thereto extinguish* cl and at the sole expense
of the United State*,• ’ &r. And they passed
heir second act, enlarging the powers of the
Commissioneis, on the 2d day ol December,
ldOO, by which they were authorisedthem to re
serve for Geurgi t all the country “ East ol n
line to be drawn front tlie intersection of Ciovv
Cre«‘k by our Northern bou .dary to a point o;
the. 3Ut degree of North Latitude 70 geogt \-
pliical miles West of the Ch ittalioochi**
Heiween these variant previsions of the tw
'CU the Commissioners seem in a compromis
ing spirit, U have decided on the medium —
1 ii'-tead of directing the laud line between
Alabama and Georgia to begin at th** mos'
Western bend of ill* Chattahoochie, as pre
scribed by the act *»f 1799, they directed it *o
begin at the first great bend above the inouti
of Uchee, and instead of carrying tlie hue hi
prescribed by the act of 99, to a poi i directly
North from the Western bend to our Northern
boundary, they directed tl to be run to Nicka
jack on the ’1 emes-ee 'These several de
partures, a d others, from the provisions o
the ac.tol 99 and 1800, made it nec.cssaiy lor
*;.e Legislature of Georgia to ratify in form
the articles of agreement and cession, an
accoidi. gly those articles were so ratified
but for sucl' departure.* tlie articles would
have been binding on (L-orgia Irom the d
at their signature, according to the. terms o(
the arts themselves. Wliei iher foie th
Logislatiue, by the first act, in truded lli
Cotiimissionors h» make the most Western
bend the place of beginning, and when the
Commissioners disregarding the. instructions
directed the line to run not from the Western
bend, but fiom he first big bend above the
uth of Uchee, w ith vvliat propriety
that Western bend be made the plate of b» -
gi niug in carr\ing the articles into effect—
Articles, which but for this variance, won't
have been ob'iyaiory without ail act of ratifi
cation, and which in conn quenre of the va
riance required that act as indispensable
its validity Hence it results that so f.u from
tii • \Veste»n o*mi.I having been agreed oil ii
the point of lieginiinig, it was, although «
first proposed by one p irt*, finally rej- tied I
both paitovs, and the fi.st Ing bend above the
m uth ol Uchee atlop cd in place of it. Tht
first great bend above seems to have been
chosen rather than the mouth ol the creek
the put pose of avoiding wliai it is umlerstoot
they designed lo avoid, an intersection of tin
■ iver by thu fine
The iu'imatmn given by your Excellency
that the Commissioners designed giving
Georgia and Alabama a (onuuaii l ight of ju
risdi* tion over th<> liver at least as high up
lie Falls, will not hear die test of examin
tion—it is absolutely precluded by the act ot
die 2*1 I December, I GOO, by which the Con
niftsioners are instructed to leave the Chain
Imo* hie 70 milen within the limits of G»*orgi
aud l»g the express words of the articles *
agreement and cession, which are, “ ai
West of a fine beginning on the Western bank
oftlie Cliatlahoocliie river, where tlie same
crosses tite bound try line between the United
States and Spain, ruinin g thence up the said
river Chattahoochie and along the IVesttrn
bank thereoff Ilc So that in no event, whe
ther li line depart ft om Uchee or the Fats
t the West rn ben l, can either the U Si(f>
ot Alabama share w iili Georgia (li* 1 juris*') o u
ot th** river, which i- hers exclusively ti« ut
the junction of the Fn'ni and Chatulioocltie
to its utmost source.
Suffer no* before I conclude to return to the
subject ot Uchee ic to call the attention ol your
Excellency, more particularly to some facts
connected with its identity v li ic li have been
hitherto only sucemlly noticed I contcix
ilien that there ought to he no difference ol
opitiion about tlie identity ol the Greek called
I T_l
L'diee. 1 he Commissioners of Georgia who
explored the country in the year 1 U'W . nly two
years after the ratification of the artciles, have
suffice.Mly established that identity. Their
observations were made with a special view to
that object aud under the eye of Col. H.»w-
kius. 1 lie) delinialious of Stttr'ft Vs map are in
strict conformity with their report and the
correctit* sabo'lr •( toe report and of the de j
lunations will be corrobora t'd by the testimo
ny of the Commissioners of the two sfwtes as
it has been by that of thousands before. It
is Dot pretended that any other Uch> e can be
found on the western side, much less a Uchee
having the Coweta and Cu-mtah Tsw us uet-g
bori- g to it and a great fiend a short distance
shove it | A turn ol the ritei GO or 70 miles
liiglKr ip has teen supposed tube tlie great
H ml named in tlie articl* s , but then there is
no Uclice, no Coweta and Cu-.set.di Towns to
be found If the turn in tlie river f>0 or 70
miles higher up had been intended as the point
ol depaiture, the specific designation of it
would have been easy, by reference to some
well known Creek or Town in us vicinity as
Cliatalioocbce, old Town, or PiUohatrhei
Creek; iu shoit it would he equally admissib!
to approach the sources of the river as logo 70
or 80 miles above the Uclier&t the Coweta i;
Case tali Towns to find a great Bend it become*
altog' lher inadmissible when a great head is
found just above the Uchee U in llie neighbor
hood ol tlie Coweta and (.'ustectah Towns ’] he
turn in the river called the Great Bern) and
will.’h has recently been u»ed at Washington
tor the purpose of contracting, our limns is
not prope L speaking a bend—the turn allu
ded to ih lornied by the rivers changing it#*
course from South West to South, without re
suming U—a bend is formed by a departure
from nnd resumption of it** ordinary course.—
The use of the word abort instead of below
in' describing the relative situation of the
creek and Towns whether the result of i git or
ranee oi accident can present no real dimeul
) If the towns were employed as they evi
dently were only to identity the creek, finding
the town* immediately above maicad of tauue-
•liAlely below the creik they are made to uo-
svv* r the purpose for which they were em
ployed, and of ?our»u the error it immaterial,
at tiiutday die situation oftlie Coweta and Cus-
setali tow us was inure universally known to
the whites than that of the cieek, and in look}
mg lor the creek il^was natural fir-t to look for
the towns, and if dir creek wav l< uml i.> the
neighborhood of theo.vvnsM was ol very little
r.ihacquriice whether it was loimd al*ove or
i ("‘low tticui It ha* vertsiidy escaped your uicite 1
I Excelloucy ’s observation'hat the word above 11
1 have thus wearied your Excellency with
a loi-g mil unintercMing detail, as if w e had
some t P’.it interest to gain or lose bv dj*r arlop*
tion of your or my c.o>-stt union ol tlaHkrtiele r
tliereisno sikIi interest at stake. Wi^Pper we
begin at the Falls or at Uchee,the interest ,be it
more or less, is too piecariousnnd unH*'ttled to
be the suliject of serious eonsiderntion, its im
portance depends upon whn* is mkn vvn and
what it is tlie badness of the two
sions o make known the true course of (Ue
Chat tlt jorhee, and the true course of tho
tin*? to Nicknjack It is must important that
we should not abandon Uchee, lor hen truly
our Commissioners will be wanderers in tlic^S
u ilderiie*JS, without chart or compasr* to di, ret i
their footstepH, nnd without the fiinte-i hope
that .» land math may be foil ml, which, in pre
ference to any other, wouhl brii.g them to*
gethe • with tlie united opimo is, so necessi
ty to an auspicious beginning aud successful
termination, and wiitimt which H W'tiihl be
vaii. to hope for tliM u» i versa I arquiesreneo
and approval by the pi ople of a measure in-
tim ■ telv rounected witli their future peace
and welfare Our Commis-donris are spe-
stiueted to respect the rights of Ala-
■* ol a sister, having common interests
and feelings with ourselves—vours will unite
biftli charac e» with the most liberal r»*. ti-
ments, nnd acting under like in-truction?, we
y hope very soon to mnounce (hat *.h«* God
boundaries, holding tlie scales with aa
even hand, and presiding in th* If councils,
h id c* nductcd them to a just and honorable
result ^
AVith re«j)ect to the new Treaty and tlTo
igltls violated by it, I am happy io fi* d be-
ween ns an eo’ire oerorda* ce of sentimcut.
If history is philosophy, teaching by exam
ple, and the action* of men are to be referred
to their tree and appropriate cause*,’ 1 do not
know to vvliat pi ire in our storv is (o be as
signed tlie sir n^e proceeding*connCt t**il w Mb
it,or whs! figure Hu y will cut there This
much is certain, th M with regnid to us, the old
Treaty is unimpaired,for it cannot be unknown
even io tlioie who sought its abrogation, diat
the ngli’s veslt- i i» it are vested forever, and
that the prorlnmati • * which aunounced its \e*
gal supremacy rcnMni-H an unchaiigcable re-
•rd to all future tune for the governn vnt of
ourts ( f jwsrice, whose n.imstcis tiooiigli all
iges, vvhetlo r of rcfiueni*M)t or of barbarism, jj
must recognize it ,:s pissing inteiests to (.tor>-<
.tl A'ab.in* i which, by the inoversal i ul^ I
of natural justi* e aud equity, no huuidii power
a divest
N\ hen tlie passions of the day shall subsi la
ami a calm rnvit vv iy taken of the pas*, it is
not to be doubted «h M tl ♦*removal i t the In-
i'ins e. ill be coiRiilered as an indispens ible act
f jus’ice and atonement both to Georgia aud
Alabama, and one ot’necessary precaution lor
the preservation ar.d happiness ol tlie Indians
themselves. .
Willi sentioicnts of high comidcrnt ■ ind '
gard, 1 have the liuiioi to be your Excellen-
’h obediei l s* i vhim,
GEOP.OE M. TROUP,
His Excellency Joiin A t itpuv,
Gmernor • f .‘Ihbama,
Mtn.rnovvit.i.r,H4tli June, 1 R‘2G.
Pursuant to previous notice, a number of
the cittxens ot Baldwin county enlivened
at the Court house, in Milledgevdlu on this
day , for the purpose.of cxpr» s«c..g t!»«*««- opitt-
ions mi thu sub,* * : «.t t 1 ;** ngjits of Georg.tl,
as connect* d w/p the i wo s of lo*25
and with tlie Cie* !, ir. - Col. ;\u-
skr Hkmmoxd was reqtiesteu w t k> tho
Clnir.and VVili.tam Y II *nskm., appoint
ed Secretary. 'The me* ting being organ
ized, Col Seaborn Jones, iu a short ami ap
propriate address,explained itsohje* t,wfien
Di Tomlinson Foil si fimitted to tin* ton-
side ration of tho assembly the preamble and
resolutions hereinafter inserted, prefaced by
remarks intended by bin to impress the pro-*** -
priety of their adoption Alter the sumo
had been read, the preamble and resolutions
hereinafter inserted were submitted by Hi/-
ham ll Turrancr, Lsq. us a flubslttute for
those proposed by Dr. Foil, the proprio-
tv of tbeir adoption >uppor , ,e*l in a -lion ad
dress bv Mr. Torrance. Tlio mealing re
solved to receive for discussi* n &. consider
ation, the pr*atnbks il resolutions submit
ted by both Dr Fort and Mr. Torrance,
the same being before the meeting, an ani
mated nnd lengthy debate ensued, in which
Di Fort and Gen, Watson supported tires
preamble and resolutions submit 1. d by Dr.
F* rt. and Col. Jones, L fj C\ Lamar, IV.
ll Torrance and John ,1. Jones, Esqrs. ad
vocated llie preamble nnd resolutions sub
mitted by Mr Torrance
The qiissliot) being called for, it was pro
posed and uccedoj to, that all those pres
ent should be privileged to sign their names
to the preamble and resolutions they pre
ferred, and that tho preambles and resolu
tions, together with the names of tho per
sons singing tho same, should be publiM
in all toe newspapers of ibis place
tSc
preatnb'e arid resolute-ns submit led by Dr.
Fort were then tend in the following words,
and the annexed names returned as being
in favor—thereof:
In a country, the freedom of whose iusti
tutions give to every citizen a vital interest
in passing events, it becomes# duty ou all
necessary occasions to make such public ex
pressions of the desire and sentiments of
the people ns may tend to produce that un-1
ion of purpose, and harmony of btntiimnt,
which constitutes the strength and glory of
republics. For this purpose we avail our
selves of the occasion presented by a call
in the newspapers f..r a meeting Ur ascertain
the public opinion with regard to the lulu
treaty concluded ut Washington city with
tho Creek Nation.
The subject of our Indian relations wo
perceive with regret m again to be made a
weans of perpetuating amongst us tho*#
feuds, which it is the desire of our hearts
to see at an end. W hen it vvus announced
that a Treaty hud been concluded ut Wash
ington by winch the rights of Georgia so
long denied her, had been obtained, we
fondly hoped that u new era would open be
fore our people, and that a desire to harmo
nise with one another, and to live in confi
dence and peace with tlie General (M;crn*
tnent, would henceforth distinguish our
Sftate and people, and forever silence tlie
clamor which has been raised against us
from one end of the United States to the
other. Wo hoped the day had dawned in
which our citizens might, in all parts of our
country, meet that courtesy und respuct-
due to members of the great family of these
United States, and that the declaration / or*
a Georgian would no longer turn uu the ' J
dividual making it, that attention, whfc/B
he was in doubt, whether to resent or
endure. But we have been sadly disap-
poiuted. Indian relation*—Indian lands,
are stiil to divide us at home, und sink ua
abroad. Meetings have b'jen held invar:-
ousrountius, whose procee Jingvare calcula
ted I- perpetuate und increase thut unhappy
v N |,it h hnsbr.cn the bn lie tttid
* of Georgia^ \\ c bold il to be o’J.f