TREATY WITH THE CHEROKEE, 1816.
Mar. 22, 1816. | 7. Stat., 139. | Ratified Apr. 8, 1816.
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Vol. II (Treaties). Compiled
and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office,
1904.
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Doubts about boundary.
Boundary line designated and established.
United States to have the right of opening and using roads,
etc., in the Cherokee Nation.
Cherokees to keep up public houses,
etc.
Commissioners to run the boundary line.
Commissioners to lay off roads.
To be paid by the United
States.
Indemnity to Cherokees.
Articles of a convention made and entered into between George Graham, specially authorized thereto by the President of the United States, and the undersigned Chiefs and Headmen of the Cherokee Nation, duly authorized and empowered by the said Nation.
ARTICLE 1. Whereas doubts have existed in relation to the northern boundary of that part of the Creek lands lying west of the Coosa river, and which were ceded to the United States by the treaty held at Fort Jackson, on the ninth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen; and whereas, by the third article of the Treaty, dated the seventh of January, one thousand eight hundred and six, between the United States and the Cherokee nation, the United States have recognised a claim on the part of the Cherokee nation to the lands south of the Big Bend of the Tennessee river, and extending as far west as a place on the waters of Bear Creek, [a branch of the Tennessee river,] known by the name of the Flat Rock, or Stone; it is, therefore, now declared and agreed, that a line shall be run from a point on the west bank of the Coosa river, opposite to the lower end of the Ten Islands in said river, and above Port Strother, directly to the Flat Rock or Stone, on Bear creek, [a branch of the Tennessee river;] which line shall be established as the boundary of the lands ceded by the Creek nation to the United States by the treaty held at Fort Jackson, on the ninth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and of the lands claimed by the Cherokee nation lying west of the Coosa and south of the Tennessee rivers.
ART. 2. It is expressly agreed on the part of the
Cherokee nation that the United States shall have the right to lay off, open,
and have the free use of, such road or roads, through any part of the Cherokee
nation, lying north of the boundary line now established, as may be deemed
necessary for the free intercourse between the States of Tennessee and Georgia
and the Mississippi Territory. And the citizens of the United States shall
freely navigate and use as a highway, all the rivers and waters within the
Cherokee nation. The Cherokee nation
further agree to establish and keep up, on the roads to be opened under
the sanction of this article, such ferries and public houses as may be necessary
for the accommodation of the citizens of the United States.
ART. 3. In order to preclude any dispute hereafter,
relative to the boundary line now established, it is hereby agreed that the
Cherokee nation shall appoint two commissioners to accompany the commissioners
already appointed on the part of the United States, to run the boundary lines
of the lands ceded by the Creek nation to the United States, while, they
are engaged in running that part of the boundary established by the first
article of this treaty.
ART. 4. In order to avoid unnecessary expense and
delay, it is further agreed that, whenever the President of the United States
may deem it expedient to open a road through any part of the Cherokee nation,
in pursuance of the stipulations of the second article of this Convention,
the principal chief of the Cherokee nation shall appoint one commissioner
to accompany the commissioners appointed
by the President of the United States, to lay off and mark the road;
and the said commissioner shall be paid by the United States.
ART. 5. The United States agree to indemnify the
individuals of the Cherokee nation for losses sustained by them in consequence
of the march of the militia and other troops in the service of the United
States through that nation; which losses have been ascertained by the agents
of the United States to the amount of twenty-five thousand five hundred dollars.
In testimony whereof, the said commissioner and the undersigned chiefs and
head men of the Cherokee nation, have hereunto set their hands and seals.
Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-second day of March, one thousand
eight hundred and sixteen.
George Graham, [L. S.]
Colonel John Lowry, his x mark, [L. S.]
Major John Walker, his x mark, [L. S.]
Major Ridge, his x mark, [L. S.]
Richard Taylor, [L. S.]
John Ross, [L. S.]
Cheucunsene, his x mark, [L. S.]
Witnesses present at signing and sealing:
Return J. Meigs,
Jacob Laub,
Gid. Davis.
Produced by the Oklahoma State University Library,
1997.
Support provided by the AMIGOS Fellowship Program, AMIGOS Bibliographic Council,
Inc.
URL: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/
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