Message from the President of the United States, Transmitting a Letter from Governor Claiborne on the Subject of a Small tribe of Alibama Indians, on the Western Side of the Mississippi

Pamphlet, removed, dbd, 8vo, 7 pp. Edges are chipped, and there is a short edge tear to title, pages partially detached, and some foxing and toning. A very interesting document in which Thomas Jefferson forwards a letter by Governor William C.C. Claiborne to the House and the Senate concerning an Indian problem. Apparently a tribe of Choctaws had refused compensation for the murder of an Indian probably because they wanted a land issue settled. It would seem that the generous amount of $60 to the wife and children of the murder Indian wasn't enough. These Indians had been living among the whites for over forty years and supported themselves with hunting, fishing and cotton picking in that area. As the white community grew they didn't seem to want the Indians around anymore. Claiborne felt the solution was to ask Congress for a parcel of land (about 2000-3000 acres) that could be put aside for the tribe. Jefferson favored this approach, and added in his forwarding letter that it would be a good thing to get Indians to take up a fixed residence.