The Intruders were those white folk who illegally settled on Indian lands. The term squatters could also be applied to them. From the time of the first intruder who broke the King’s law, to last treaty of removal, the intruder was a bane to the authorities (and the Indians). At times, the authorities dealt fairly with the intruders, at other times, the authorities were extremely harsh. Those white folk who hunted on Indian lands, who passed through those lands with out possessing the required passport, or who traded with the Indians without possessing the required license, were also considered intruders.
As the frontier moved to the south and west, the intruders were there to take the Indians’ land.
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Indian Land Cessions in Tennessee,
and The First People of TennesseeThe Royal Proclamation : 1763
This federal ordinance regulated trade with the Indians and prohibited settlement on Indian lands. Passports were required to cross Indian lands.
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“Under the terms of the federal Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790 and the U.S. Constitution, treaties involving the transfer of Indian lands required participation and approval of the federal government. The purpose of the law was to protect Indian nations and tribes from fraudulent land transactions perpetrated by land speculators and state governments. Land taken from Indian nations in violation of this law remains the property of the Indian nation.”
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Quote : Indian Law Resource CenterHere, President George Washington simply questions Secretary of War, Henry Knox about the recently passed Trade and Intercourse Act.
ARTICLE VIII. “If any citizen of the United States, or other person not being an Indian, shall settle on any of the Cherokees’ lands, such person shall forfeit the protection of the United States, and the Cherokees may punish him or not, as they please.”“. . . Restraining States or Individuals from purchasing their lands, and forbidding unauthorized intercourse in their dealing with them.”“I am satisfied it will ever be preferred to send an armed force and make war against the intruders as being more just & less expensive.”“. . . grants of land by the state of N. Carolina since her deed of cession, south of the French Broad river . . . whether it has been by error or under any claim of right on their part?”
This greatly modified version of the 1790 Act contained both a boundary description between the white settlers and the Indians, and methods to enforce that boundary. This had a great effect on the settlers of northern East Tennessee. The treaty line in question was established in 1791 and set forth in the Treaty of Holston, but it was not run for several years. When it was finished, it found settlers over the treaty line. They were then intruders.
“. . . this bright prospect of affairs is considerably darkened by the extension of the Indian Boundary line . . .”
Impending removal of Tennessee settlers by federal troops.
The arrest of Tennessee citizens for hunting on “land falsely claimed by the Cherokees.”
A federal treaty error caused settlers of the upper Elk River to become Intruders, but it was all fixed with a ’Silent Consideration.”
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Settlers on Indian Lands Driven Off
“Memorial of the inhabitants residents in the Cherokee Country relative to the late order for their removal.”
Cattle Illegally Seized and Sold
A Report on a Memorial to Congress