From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 20 December 1781
To Thomas McKean
Richmond Dec. 20. 1781.
Sir
I had the honour of receiving a letter from your excellency desiring that application might be made to Colo. Arthur Campbell of Washington for certain papers taken on his expedition against the Cherokees, and described, in his relation of that, as the Archives of the nation. The application was immediately made, and he has transmitted to me the packet which accompanies this, with a promise of some other papers of a like nature within a short time. So soon as received they shall be forwarded to your Excellency. I have the honour to be with the highest respect Your Excellency’s Most obedt. & most humble servt.,
Th: Jefferson
RC (DLC: PCC, No. 71, II); addressed: “His Excellency The President of Congress”; endorsed: “Governor Jefferson respecting Letters taken by Col. Campbell on his expedition against the Cherokes. Decr. 20th. 1781.”
A letter from your excellency: Samuel Huntington to TJ, 27 Apr. 1781, q.v., and references there. The packet which accompanies this: The papers which Arthur Campbell sent to TJ and which he, in turn, forwarded to McKean with this letter are in DLC: PCC, No. 71, ii, p. 143–221, and include the following: (1) Alex. Cameron to Chiefs of Cherokees, 16 Jan. 1775; (2) Lord Dunmore’s talk to Little Carpenter and other Cherokee Chiefs, 23 Mch. 1775; (3) instructions of the King to governors concerning Indian territory, signed by John Stuart, 4 July 1763; (4) Alex. Cameron, speech to Cherokees, 7 July 1774; (5) speech by an unidentified person to Cherokees, 3 June 1773; (6) abstract of treaty of cession to the King by Creeks and Cherokees, Augusta, 1 June 1773; (7) Alex. Cameron, speech to Cherokees, 30 Mch. 1773; (8) Alex. Cameron, warrant of protection for “the Great Warrior of Chote,” 1 Mch. 1771; (9) Alex. Cameron, speech [to Cherokees] 5 Feb. 1772; (10) John Stuart to the Cherokees, 14 Jan. 1764; (11) Edw. Wilkinson to “the Great Warrior Onconnistota,” 5 July 1778; (12) Wm. Preston to the Cherokee chiefs, 12 Apr. 1775; (13) David Taitt to Oconastota, 24 Jan. 1777; (14) John Stuart to “OuKonnestotah,” n.d.; (15) map of “the New Province” at the junction of Scioto and Ohio Rivers, n.d.; (16) John Stuart, speech of “Oucconnastot,” 6 Feb. 1777; (17) St. Andrews Club, Charles Town, S.C., membership card for “Oucconnastotah,” signed by John Stuart, President, 30 Nov. 1773; (18) Patrick Henry to “Ouconostotah,” 3 Mch. and Nov. 1777; (19) Patrick Henry to “Ouconostotah,” n.d.; (20) John Stuart to the Cherokees, 30 June 1763; (22) treaty between state of Virginia and the Cherokee nation, Fort Henry, 20 July 1777.