The Intruders in Tennessee and Mississippi Territory

(This Memoranda from Thomas Jefferson to the “President” is dated March 1809. James Madison became president 4 March 1809. -- The subject matter of the second paragraph of this Memoranda is not directly connected to the Intruders, however it demonstrates Jefferson’s interest in civilizing the Indian.)

Memoranda for the President

Information having been received in October last that many intruders had settled on the lands of the Cherokees & Chickasaws, the letter from Gen^l Dearborne to Col^o Meigs was written to have them ordered off, & to inform them they would be removed by military force in the spring if still on the lands, these orders still remain to be given, & they should go to the officer commanding at Highwassee. a very discrete officer should be selected. on the Cherokee lands, Wafford’s settlement should not be disturbed as the Indians themselves expect to arrange that with us, & the exchange for lands beyond the Misipii will furnish a good opportunity for the lands of the Chickasaws all should be removed except those settled on Doublehead’s reserve under titles from him; & they should be notified that those lands having been claimed by the Chickasaws as well as the Cherokees, purchased the Cherokee right with the exception of Doublehead’s reserve, which we did not guarantee to him, but left it as it stood under the claims of both nations; that consequently they are not under our protection that whenever we purchase the Chickasaw right, all their titles under Doublehead will become void; as our laws do not permit individuals to purchase lands from the Indians: that they should therefore look out for themselves in time.

At Detroit.    Gen^l Davidson & myself had concluded to purchase for the War Departm^t [blank] farm, near Detroit, now held by the Treasury Office in satisfaction of a delinquency, provided it could be bought at it’s real value supposed about 1000 or 1200 D. to employ --- the --- house and appurtenances for a school for the instruction of the Indian boys & girls in reading & learning English & household & mechanical arts under the care of Père Richard, to place in the farm house a farmer (a laborer) of proper character to cultivate the farm with the aid of the Indian lads for the support of the institution, and to place to place on the same land the blacksmith & carpenter, also would have Indian apprentices under them. The advantages of assembling the whole at one place are obvious, father Richard goes to France in the ---- to procure an aid if when he brings him, he could exchange him with Bishop Carroll for an American, it would be infinitely more advisable.

March 1809
Thomas Jefferson

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Source : Library of Congress, American Memory, The Thomas Jefferson Papers.

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