Treaty with the Cherokee
Encyclopedia
The Treaty With The Cherokee, 1798, also known as the First Treaty of Tellico, was signed on October 2, 1798, in the Overhill Cherokee
settlement of Great Tellico
near Tellico Blockhouse
in what is now Tennessee. This treaty served as an addendum to the Treaty of Holston
and was the only treaty between the United States and the American Indians executed during the administration of President John Adams
. The treaty was signed by Thomas Butler and George Walton, commissioners of the United States, and some thirty-nine Cherokee chief
s and warriors, in the presence of Silas Dinsmoor, Agent of the United States among the Cherokee
, and thirteen other witnesses including Charles R. Hicks
, who served as interpreter.
of Indians" and "in order to promote the interest and safety of the said States."
Article 1. Peace renewed and declared perpetual.
Article 2. The treaties subsisting between the parties in full force; "together with the construction and usage under the respective articles; and so to continue."
Article 3. Limits to remain the same, "where not altered by the present treaty."
Article 4. The Cherokee Nation "do hereby relinquish and cede to the United States all the lands within the following points and lines:" [Here follows a boundary, by which a considerable district of land, now in East Tennessee, was ceded to the United States.]
Article 5. The line described in the treaty to be marked immediately, "which said line shall form a part of the boundary between the United States and the Cherokee Nation."
Article 6. In consideration of the preceding cession, the United States agree to pay $5,000 on signing, and $1,000 annually, in addition to previous stipulations of this kind ; "and will continue the GUARANTY OF THE REMAINDER OF THEIR COUNTRY FOREVER, as made and contained in former treaties."
Article 7. A road granted by the Cherokee Nation across a small corner of their country, to the citizens of the United States; and in consideration of this grant, the Cherokees are to be permitted "to hunt and take game upon the lands relinquished and ceded by this treaty, until settlements shall make such hunting improper."
Article 8. Due notice to be given of the payment of the annual stipends, and the United States to furnish provisions for a "reasonable" number of Cherokees, who shall assemble on these occasions.
Article 9. Horses stolen from Cherokees by whites to be paid for by the United States; and horses stolen from whites by Cherokees, to be paid for by a deduction from the annuity.
Article 10. The Agent of the United States residing among the Cherokees to have a sufficient piece of ground allotted "for his temporary use" and the provision that this treaty was to "be carried into effect on both sides with all good faith."
Overhill Cherokee
The term Overhill Cherokee refers to the former Cherokee settlements located in what is now Tennessee in the southeastern United States. The name was given by 18th century European traders and explorers who had to cross the Appalachian Mountains to reach these settlements when traveling from...
settlement of Great Tellico
Great Tellico
Great Tellico was a Cherokee town at the site of present-day Tellico Plains, Tennessee, where the Tellico River emerges from the Appalachian Mountains. Great Tellico was one of the largest Cherokee towns in the region, and had a sister town nearby named Chatuga. Its name in Cherokee is more...
near Tellico Blockhouse
Tellico Blockhouse
The Tellico Blockhouse was an early American outpost located along the Little Tennessee River in Vonore, Monroe County, Tennessee. Completed in 1794, the blockhouse operated until 1807 with the purpose of keeping the peace between nearby Overhill Cherokee towns and early Euro-American settlers in...
in what is now Tennessee. This treaty served as an addendum to the Treaty of Holston
Treaty of Holston
The Treaty of Holston was a treaty between the United States government and the Cherokee signed on July 2, 1791 and proclaimed on February 7, 1792...
and was the only treaty between the United States and the American Indians executed during the administration of President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
. The treaty was signed by Thomas Butler and George Walton, commissioners of the United States, and some thirty-nine Cherokee chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
s and warriors, in the presence of Silas Dinsmoor, Agent of the United States among the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
, and thirteen other witnesses including Charles R. Hicks
Charles R. Hicks
Charles Renatus Hicks was one of the most important Cherokee leaders in the early 19th century; together with James Vann and Major Ridge, he was one of a triumvirate of younger chiefs urging the tribe to acculturate to European-American ways and supported a Moravian mission school to educate the...
, who served as interpreter.
Terms
Preamble The treaty begins with a long preamble, stating the reasons why it was necessary to make another treaty Among the reasons cited are these two clauses; viz. "for the purpose of doing justice to the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation (19th century)
The Cherokee Nation of the 19th century —an historic entity —was a legal, autonomous, tribal government in North America existing from 1794–1906. Often referred to simply as The Nation by its inhabitants, it should not be confused with what is known today as the "modern" Cherokee Nation...
of Indians" and "in order to promote the interest and safety of the said States."
Article 1. Peace renewed and declared perpetual.
Article 2. The treaties subsisting between the parties in full force; "together with the construction and usage under the respective articles; and so to continue."
Article 3. Limits to remain the same, "where not altered by the present treaty."
Article 4. The Cherokee Nation "do hereby relinquish and cede to the United States all the lands within the following points and lines:" [Here follows a boundary, by which a considerable district of land, now in East Tennessee, was ceded to the United States.]
Article 5. The line described in the treaty to be marked immediately, "which said line shall form a part of the boundary between the United States and the Cherokee Nation."
Article 6. In consideration of the preceding cession, the United States agree to pay $5,000 on signing, and $1,000 annually, in addition to previous stipulations of this kind ; "and will continue the GUARANTY OF THE REMAINDER OF THEIR COUNTRY FOREVER, as made and contained in former treaties."
Article 7. A road granted by the Cherokee Nation across a small corner of their country, to the citizens of the United States; and in consideration of this grant, the Cherokees are to be permitted "to hunt and take game upon the lands relinquished and ceded by this treaty, until settlements shall make such hunting improper."
Article 8. Due notice to be given of the payment of the annual stipends, and the United States to furnish provisions for a "reasonable" number of Cherokees, who shall assemble on these occasions.
Article 9. Horses stolen from Cherokees by whites to be paid for by the United States; and horses stolen from whites by Cherokees, to be paid for by a deduction from the annuity.
Article 10. The Agent of the United States residing among the Cherokees to have a sufficient piece of ground allotted "for his temporary use" and the provision that this treaty was to "be carried into effect on both sides with all good faith."