Letter from Lewis Cass
9/3/1831
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In this letter, Secretary of War Lewis Cass addresses removal of the Cherokee living within the chartered limits of Georgia.
This document was digitized by teachers in our Primarily Teaching 2016 summer workshop in Washington, D.C.
This document was digitized by teachers in our Primarily Teaching 2016 summer workshop in Washington, D.C.
Transcript
Rec. Sept 3rdDepartment of War
September 3d. 1831
Sir,
It is the desire of the President to effect the removal of such of the Cherokees living within the chartered limits of Georgia, as may be willing to accept the provisions of the Treaty concluded May 6th 1828 with the Cherokees west of the Mississippi, and to join their countrymen in that region. Benjamin H. Curry of McMinnville, Tennessee has been appointed superintendent, to direct all the operations connected with this affair, and has been instructed to repair to the Cherokee Country, and to commence initiatory measures, and make a special report to this Department of all the
circumstances necessary to be known. The expenditures for subsistence and transportation of these Indians will be made through your office, and for this purpose an officer of the army, to be selected by you, will be ordered to the Cherokee Country. You will give him such directions as may appear to be necessary for the correct discharge of
his duties. His purchases and issues will be made upon the requisition of the Superintendent, and he will obey the instructions of that officer, so far as the same may be within the sphere of the duties prescribed. His compensation will be the same as that allowed to Captains. Clarke, and you will advise him of the manner in which he can receive funds. As it is not expected, that any final measures for the immediate removal of the Indians will be taken. Until a special report is received from Mr. Curry, it is not deemed necessary to appoint at present any assistants to aid your officer in the performance of his duties. These however, will no doubt be required, and will not withheld. Upon their subject, as well as upon every other, connected with the general measure, I will thank you to call for full and frequent reports, that this department may have constant information of the program and project of the whole operation.
Very Respectfully,
[signed] Lewis Cass
Genl.
George Gibson
County Gme of Subsistence
52
Lewis Cass,
Secy of War
Sept 3. 1831
Upon the subject of the removal of the Cherokee [written above a strikethrough] indians who live within the chartered limits of Georgia. Stating that Benj. 1. Curry was appt a Superin to direct all the operations.-
He has been instructed to report.
The CGA will appt an officer of the army to meet the requisitioning of the Superintendent of provisions
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
National Archives Identifier: 38995514
Full Citation: Letter from Secretary of War Lewis Cass Regarding Removal of Cherokee Indians Who Live Within the Chartered Limits of Georgia; 9/3/1831; Commissary Gen'l of Subs; Letters Received, 1831 - 1836; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-lewis-cass, May 5, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.