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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Alexander Martin to Richard Beresford
Martin, Alexander, 1740-1807
June 04, 1784
Volume 17, Pages 76-77

GOVERNOR MARTIN TO THE HONORABLE RICHD BERESFORD, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Hillsborough, June 4th, 1784.

Sir:

Your favor of the 30th of March, respecting Indian affairs, I have been duly favored with. I have to inform you the Legislature of

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this State have ceded all the Territory west of the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi to Congress; the Act for this purpose is transmitted to our Delegates, copies are not yet printed otherwise one would have been sent you.

The enclosed Resolve mentions a Treaty that was intended to be held with the Cherokee Indians for their claim to certain Lands north of French Broad River, which business is now to be conducted under the authority of Congress if the Cession is accepted. I beg leave to inform you further, that goods to the amount of £2,500 current money of the State are now in the possession of Messrs. John Gray Blount & Comp., as a present to the Indians for their claim as aforesaid, which are to be at the disposal of Congress to enable them to manage this business with the Cherokee Indians. It will be necessary that a Treaty be held also with the Chickasaws who claim all the Lands west of the Tennessee to the Mississippi. The above Rivers are the chief between the Southern Indians and this State, as soon as I hear a Treaty is going forward by order of Congress copies of former Treaties with the Cherokees will be sent you.

I have the honor to be, &c.
ALEX MARTIN.