Day-by-Day / February 15, 1803

February 15, 1803

Pressing Indian affairs

Washington, DC Thomas Jefferson urges the War Department to negotiate for Native Nations’ land in the Illinois and Mississippi Territories before France assumes control of New Orleans and Louisiana.

Jefferson’s Plan for Indian Lands

Feb. 15. 1803.

Th:J. to Genl. Dearborne.

I have no doubt the arrival of the French at New Orleans will entirely stiffen the Indians against the sale of lands, I think the present moment critical to press for all we want immediately. viz. from

1. the Creeks, the residue of the Oakmulgee fork

2. the Cherokees Wafford’s settlement & the Southeastern road.

3. the Choctaws, their lands between the Yazoo & Missisipi.

4. the Kaskaskias & Piorias [Illinois Tribes], their lands between the Wabash & Missisipi.

5. the Kickapoos, Poughtewatamies [Potawatomies & Weauhs [Wea of the Miami] a settlement & extension of boundary.

the 4th. & 5th. to be charged on Govr. Harrison with instructions to lose no time.[1]Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-39-02-0448. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 39, 13 … Continue reading

 

Notes

Notes
1 Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-39-02-0448. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 39, 13 November 1802–3 March 1803, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012, pp. 529–530.]

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