To Thomas Jefferson from John Rhea, 18 April 1805
From John Rhea
Sullivan Courthouse April 18th. 1805
Sr,
Three weeks after having the pleasure of seeing You—I was at the place and had the conversation promised—from what passed there is every reason to believe that business will be right—of which I would have wrote sooner but waited to hear of the arrival of the papers, but as Yet they have not been heard of by me—
In conversation with Mr Anderson respecting the intended treaty with the cherokee Indians—a question presented itself—If General Smith being heretofore elected a Senator of the United States—should act as a commissioner of that treaty—can it be objected as a reason to preclude him from taking his senatorial seat in the ninth congress? I only mention this—and for taking the liberty so to do I hope You will excuse me.
I am with Sincere Esteem & respect Yr Obt Servt
John Rhea
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 30 Apr. and so recorded in SJL.
that business: possibly Rhea and Joseph Anderson’s recent recommendation of George Duffield for a judicial appointment in Orleans Territory (see Anderson and Rhea to TJ, 5 Mch.; Anderson to TJ, 25 Mch.; and Rhea to TJ, 24 May).
In April 1804, TJ had appointed Daniel Smith and Return Jonathan Meigs commissioners to treat with the Cherokees for land cessions in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia (, Indian Affairs, 1:699; Vol. 43:231-2, 680). The previous year, the Tennessee legislature elected Smith to represent the state in the U.S. Senate commencing 3 Mch. 1805. He would take his seat in the Ninth Congress on 2 Dec. (Journal of the Senate at the First Session of the Fifth General Assembly of the State of Tennessee [Knoxville, 1803], 21-2, 24-5; , 4:3-4).