USA > Tennessee > Sullivan County > Historic Sullivan; a history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with brief biographies of the makers of history > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
12. To what persons in England or America have you written on the subject of this inquiry, since your return, and what answers have you received?
A. I have written to one person in England, a member of Parlia- ment, but not of Administration; from whose answer it does not appear that the business was ever spoken of there by him. I also wrote to Governor Blount, and received answers; the purport and substance of which I have already explained. I likewise wrote to Mr. Liston, and I believe, to no other person. Mr. Liston gave me an answer, which is now in possession of the Committee.
13. What was the purport of your letter to Mr. Liston?
A. I have no copy of the letter, but I recollect its purport, which was to inform Mr. Liston that I had heard of a certain enterprise in contemplation, and on which he had been consulted, and to caution him against it, as a very delicate measure, requiring great circumspection, and capable, if known to be encouraged by him, of injuring the interests, both of this country and his own, which I was persuaded it was his wish to promote. I also hinted that a plan more extensive was contemplated by fitter persons; and having understood that he intended to send his secretary to some place on the business which had been mentioned to him, I strongly dissuaded him from this step; indeed, to do so had been one of my chief inducements to address him. In his answer, now in the possession of the Committee, he assured me that he had no intention of sending his secretary anywhere. I was induced to take this liberty with Mr. Liston from the manner in which I became acquainted with him, and the very favorable light in which he was presented in letters which I had received from England, and one of which I enclosed to him.
14. What was the project against which you cautioned Mr. Liston? A. It was that of Chisholm, of which I had been informed by
127
WILLIAM BLOUNT.
Governor Blount, and which the latter told me had been mentioned to the Minister.
15. What was the project to which you alluded as being in more proper hands? Did Mr. Liston know of it, or did you explain it to him?
A. It was that contemplated bv Governor Blount and myself. Mr. Liston, as far as I know, and believe, had no knowledge of it, nor was it our intention to give him any. I did not think it proper for him to be acquainted with it; the intention being to apply, not to him, but to the British government.
16. In your conversation with Governor Blount, at New York, you expressed your regret that Louisiana did not belong to England, since the value of lands in the Western country would, in that case, be increased; was this the first time you had contemplated or expressed that idea?
A. It was not. I had reflected on the idea before, but had never mentioned it verbally to any person; nor in writing, except once, and that was in a letter to a gentleman in England. This letter, however, merely stated the possession of those countries by England as a desirable thing.
17. What was the nature and object of the business contemplated between William Blount and you?
A. Nothing precise or definite had been agreed upon. Much was to depend on the result of Governor Blount's inquiries and observations, upon which I never received any communication from him. But the general object was to prevent the Louisiana and the Floridas from pass- ing into the hands of France, pursuant to the supposed cession of Spain; and to make propositions to the British government in that view.
18. What were the propositions intended to be made to the British Government?
A. On this head, also, nothing definite had been agreed upon. Had Governor Blount gone to England, he would of course have pro- posed his own terms; had I gone, I should have received his instructions. This would have been settled in the interview which I had proposed between us, had it taken place. Had I gone without seeing him, I should have waited in England for letters from him on the subject.
19. Was it not understood that William Blount and yourself were to use your personal efforts and influence to prevent the supposed cession of Louisiana by Spain to France from being carried into effect?
A. This was certainly our object; and every means, both in this country and Europe, would, of course, have been employed by us for its accomplishment.
20. Was it not proposed that Great Britain should send a force into that country for that purpose?
128
HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
A. To ascertain whether they would do this, was the express object of Governor Blount's intended visit to Europe.
21. Was it understood that, in case circumstances should require it, Governor Blount and his Western friends were to make active efforts in co-operation with the British forces which might be sent there?
A. When Governor Blount and myself parted at New York, the understanding between us was, that he should go to England. Nothing was then said, or has since passed between us, on the subject of this interrogatory; nor have I any direct knowledge of his views on that head.
22. What part were the Indians and the Western people to act in this business; and in what manner were they to be used in its execution? Was a co-operation by force from the territories of the United States contemplated?
A. As to the Indians, there was nothing particularly said about them, nor had I any idea of their being employed. To keep them quiet was all supposed to be intended, or advisable. The Western people, according to my view of the subject, were to be rendered favorable to the possession of the Floridas and Louisiana by the British, and disposed to emigrate there, and assist in hold ng the country, should the reduction take place. No co-operation of forces was mentioned by Governor Blount, nor have I any knowledge of his precise intentions as to either the Western people or the Indians. All this, as I understood the matter, was dependent upon his observations and inquiries in the Western country, on" which subject I had no information from him.
23. What part was William Blount to bear in this business, and who might faver or aid it, were to derive from its accomplishment?
A. I had no doubt that Governor Blount had high expectations of emolument and command, in case the project should succeed, but nothing definite on this subject was spoken of between him and me; and, from the nature of the business, everything must have depended on the arrangement made in London with the British Government.
24. Did William Blount ever apply to those persons of importance in and out of the Government whom it was agreed he should sound on this subject?
A. I do not know that he ever did apply to any of them. 1 had no information from him on this point.
25. In one of your letters to William Blount you urge the propriety of his appearing to have no connection with the land schemes and commerce in- What place was meant, and why was caution commended?
A. England was the place meant, and the caution proceeded from an opinion in me, that the dignity and importance of character
129
WILLIAM BLOUNT.
which it was desirable for Governor Blount to maintain in England, would be lessened by his appearing to be concerned in commerce or the sale of lands.
26. In another part of the correspondence between William Blount and yourself, you tell him that it would be proper to keep his business in England secret from Mr. King. What was the reason of this caution?
A. The reason is explained in the letter itself which contains the caution. It is possible that I may have had some further reasons than are there expressed. But I have no accurate or perfect recollec- tion on this subject.
27. In one of your letters to William Blount you mention a paper which you had drawn up on the subject of your business, to be left for him, in case you should sail for Europe without a personal interview, and which you wished him to possess, but do not choose to send. Where is that paper, and what were its purport and substance?
A. The only copy which now exists was sent by me to England, directed to myself some time in May or June. It contained a variety of notes, reflections, and cautions, relative to the business contemplated between me and Governor Blount, which had occurred to me after he had left Philadelphia in the spring, on his return to Tennessee, but I cannot state the particulars. They were reflections which occurred to me at various times, when thinking on the subject, and were noted down as they occurred, to serve myself and Governor Blount as hints and memoranda in the progress of the business. One copy I sent to Eng- land for my own use when I should arrive there. Another I retained for Governor Blount, but afterwards destroyed when I conceived the business to be at an end. They were never seen by him.
28. Do you know any other matter or thing which, in your opinion, is material to the objects of this examination? If yea, declare it fully.
A. The foregoing depositions and answers contain all that I know on the subject; and, aided by the correspondence now in possession of the Committee, will, I presume, furnish them with every idea respect- ing it in my power to communicate.
NICHOLAS ROMAINE.
Carey deposes:
I am interpreter for the United States to the Cherokee Nation of Indians, and assistant at the public store established at the Tellico Blockhouse, and I reside there at present. For these offices I receive the annual salary of three hundred dollars, besides my board, from the Government of the United States.
130
HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
I attended the Cherokees on their visit to Philadelphia last winter, and one day, about the last of December, or beginning of January, was invited, with two of the chiefs, John Watts and John Langley, to dine with Col. Mentges. After dinner, Col. Mentges proposed to us to take a walk to the Schuylkill; Captain Chisholm overtook us in a coach and invited us to ride with him, which invitation we accepted after a little hesitation. We stopped at a tavern in the nieghborhood of the city and, after taking some wine, we all returned in the carriage with Captain Chisholm, except Col. Mentges, who preferred walking. After Col. Mentges left us, and on our way home, Chisholm began a conversation with me, which, at his request, I repeated to the Indians who were with us. He said that he had great power in his hands, that he was going to England, and should return and take the Floridas. As I knew him to be a rattling, boasting kind of a man, I laughed at him, and did not much regard what he said. He then told me, if I would not believe him, he would show it to me in writing. Accordingly, when we returned to our lodgings, he took out of his trunk four, or five, or six sheets of gilt paper, the whole of which was filled with writing in a pretty hand; this he said he had received from the British Minister, and read to me with such rapidity that I could not distinctly understand it. It had neither signature, direction, or address, but purported to be a plan for the reduction of the Floridas by a British and Indian force, of which how- ever, I do not recollect the particulars. It did not specify the number of men or ships that were to be engaged in the expedition; Gov. Blount's name was nowhere mentioned in it, nor did it contain the names of any persons or parties or associates in the project or who were to be desired to join it; nor do I remember that it proposed at all to engage any citizens of the United States in the enterprise, or to raise any force for the purpose within the United States. Chisholm was styled "Captain" in the paper, and was to go to England to the British Minister with it, or, if he did not go himself, the paper was to be sent there, and the answer was to be returned to the British Minister at Philadelphia. If Chisholm should not be in Philadelphia when the answer was received, it was to be forwarded by hand to Knoxville to him, or, in his absence, to his son, Ig. Chisholm, who was to send it to the Cherokee Nation to his father; or, if his father should not be there, to deliver it to John Rogers. If the answer should be sent round by the Floridas, it was, in like manner, to be forwarded to the Cherokee country to Captain Chisholm, or, in his absence, to John Rogers. This arrangement was contained in the paper. Chisholm himself said that he was going to England to get everything in preparation, and to procure from the Ministry, men and naval armament; that the expedition was to come out in a large privateer; and that on their arrival in the Floridas, he was to obtain the assistance of the Indians, and then attack the
131
WILLIAM BLOUNT.
Spanish. After Chisholm had read his paper and finished his story, I continued to laugh at him, and express my incredulity; whereupon he said if I still would not believe him, I should go with him to the British Minister the next morning, and take the Indians with me. I told him that I had no business with the British Minister, and declined going, and so did the Indians.
Two or three days afterwards, at the request of the widow of the Hanging Maw, I went to Gov. Blount's lodgings to ask for some money that he owed her. I found him engaged in writing and alone. On my entrance, he said to me, "Carey, what in the devil has become of Chis- holm; damn the fellow, where is he?" I replied that he had changed his lodgings. Being thus reminded of Chisholm, I concluded to tell Gov. Blount what I had heard and seen. I said to him, therefore, "Governor, do you know what this business is that Chisholm is upon?" He instantly raised his head eagerly from the paper on which he was writing, and looking at me said, "No, no; what do you mean, Carey?" I then told him of my conversation with Chisholm, and what Chisholm had shown me. When I mentioned the writing I had seen he again raised his head suddenly, and looking at me as before, asked me eagerly whether the writing was signed? I told him it was not, and then he said, "Pooh, pooh, Carey; you know what a windy, blasty fellow Chisholm is, and it is not worth while to take any more notice of it, or say anything about it. "
I had no time, before or afterwards, any other communication, of any kind with Gov. Blount relative to this subject or any political plan or scheme, until I received from him the letter dated Col. King's Iron Works, April 21, 1797, except that once, in the city of Philadelphia, last winter, he advised me not to be present at the running of the line, nor to have anything to do with it, as he said it would be a troublesome business, and might occasion the Indians to reflect on me.
In a short time after these occurrences, I left the city of Phila- delphia with the Indians. At Tellico I mentioned without reserve to Mr. Byers and other gentlemen there what Chisholm had said to me and shown me; they all seemed to treat the thing very lightly, and to consider Chisholm and his communications as equally unworthy of attention. I mentioned them also to John Rogers; told him how he was mentioned in the paper, and asked if he knew anything about it; he said he did not, and that such a fellow as Chisholm was not worth minding.
After my return to Tellico, on or about the 20th of May, I was told that James Grant, commonly called Major Grant, wanted to see me. When I met him, he told me he had a letter for me which he wished to deliver to me when we were by ourselves. We walked away together some distance, and then he said he had a letter for me from my old
.
132
HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
friend Gov. Blount. He delivered it to me, and, on opening it, I found within the same cover, two letters, one for John Rogers, dated, "Tenn- essee, Sullivan County, April 21, 1797, (Col. King's Iron Works)" the other for me, dated "Col. King's Iron Works, April 21, 1797," both of which letters are now in the possession of the committee. Without attending to the direction, I first opened that which was addressed to Rogers, and read down one side, which related to a runaway negro fellow before I discovered my mistake. I then began the letter which was directed to me. Major Grant and I were sitting within two or three feet of each other. I read loud enough to be heard by him, and, as I was sometimes at a loss to make out a word, being a poor scholar, he told me what it was, and explained it to me and corrected me whenever I blundered as I went along. When I had finished reading it he said to me "Now, Carey, you must be very careful, as your friend, Gov. Blount puts great confidence in you; you must observe what he tells you, that when you have read the letter two or three times you are to burn it." He then asked me what I intended to do; whether I would send the letter to Rogers, or send for Rogers to come to me. I told him I did not know; perhaps I might write to Rogers, and if I did I would let him know. He said that the people thereabouts thought it all over with Gov. Blount, but he would rise yet; that if his plan should take place, it would be a great thing for the friends of the business and for the country; that Gov. Blount would entrust nobody with the letter but him and that he came to Tellico on purpose to deliver it to me; that I should receive another letter from Gov. Blount, and that he, Major Grant, would come down again to see me on the subject. I then told him that I could not tarry there any longer, as I was wanted at the store. As we returned, he repeated to me that I should be careful, that the business was of great consequence, that it would be of much service to his friend, and that Gov. Blount placed great confidence in me. He then returned to Knoxville.
I kept the letter, but did not know what to do with it or think about it. I had, a few days before, been sworn by Mr. Dinsmoor, to execute my appointments with fidelity to the United States; and I was much embarrassed with my regard for Gov. Blount and what might possibly be my duty in respect to the letter. I consulted Major Lewis Loveley, who is clerk at the store, and showed him the letter. He told me he did not know what to advise, but that I should consider my oath. I took occasion, a few days afterwards, when I was alone with Mr. Byers, to tell him that I had a strange letter in my possession which I did not know what to do about. He asked me who it was from. I told him, and promised to show it to him the next morning, which I did accordingly; and, on his assurance that it was of importance to the public that it should be disclosed, I gave it to him.
133
WILLIAM BLOUNT.
After Byers had brought the letter to Philadelphia, Major Grant came to Tellico. I was planting corn on the other side of the river; he and Lieutenant Davidson came over to me. Major Grant took a newspaper out of his pocket, read it for me and gave it to me. It con- tained something about Doublehead's having been at Philadelphia with Gen. Knox and obtaining a greater indemnity for the Indian country than had been stipulated. Davidson and Grant entered into an argu- ment about it; and then we returned to Blockhouse, whither I wanted them to take a drink. They pursued the horse path and I went on the foot path at some distance from them. In a little while I was met by a soldier, who said there was an express come to the Blockhouse for Lieutenant Davidson and me, and then passed on to inform Davidson. A little further on I met another soldier, with a paper for Lieutenant Davidson, which was delived to him as soon as he came up; and he told us that Lieutenant Wright had come to the garrison. We crossed the river, and the two Lieutenants entered into discourse, and walked away by themselves. Grant then said to me, he believed he knew what all this bustle was about; that he said at Knoxville that he was going into the Indian country, and he supposed Wright had come to stop him. He said also that there was a great stir at Knoxville about something, but he could not make out what. He asked me what I had done with the letter from Mr. Blount. I said it was gone, but did not tell him where, nor did he pursue the question further, but I thought looked very cool upon me. The officers soon returned, and Lieutenant Wright continued with me and Major Grant; and I afterwards understood that his business at Tellico was to follow Major Grant, and prevent him from having any private intercourse with me. Grant, immediately after taking a drink, left us and returned to Knoxville.
A few days afterwards, a Col. John McLellan, of Knoxville, came to Tellico, and called me out, and asked me if I had not received a letter from Gov. Blount. I said I had. He asked me what were the con- tents, and said there was a terrible to-do about it at Knoxville, and it was reported that Byers had got it from me when I was drunk. I told him it was true that Byers had got it. He repeated his question about the contents. I told him I could not recollect them all. He said that it was a damned bad thing that I let it go. He then asked me if the cover was gone; I said I believed not. He then observed, that he supposed the letter was about something relative to Florida. I replied, I supposed it was. He said he imagined it was to the same pur- pose as one which he had himself received from Gov. Blount; but that, by God! they should not get that from him; that he was determined to support Gov. Blount, and so were many others in that country.
Some days afterwards, Charles McClure, General White, Willie Blount, and Colonel McLellan's brother came to Tellico also along with
134
HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
the Colonel; but I was desired by Lieutenant Wright not to hold con- versation with any of them except in his presence. I took therefore, an early opportunity to mention to Colonel Mclellan that I was glad to see my friends, but that I was not permitted to have any private discourse with them. Afterwards, they wanted me to go over the river with them to get fruit; but I declined, telling them that I would go over and send them some by the Indians, but that I would not go with them.
The letter for John Rogers, which was indorsed in the same cover with that I received from Gov. Blount, I delivered to Col. Hawkins.
I never received the letter which is now produced to me, signed "William Blount," dated April 24, 1797, and in the handwriting of Gov. Blount and directed to "James Carey, Tellico Blockhouse-Col. King."
JAMES CAREY.
In the midst of the trial Blount dispatched a letter to Tennessee avowing that his love for the state led him to do what he did.
PHILADELPHIA, July 26, 1797.
SIR: The annexed is a copy of a letter with which it seems Mr. Byers, of Tellico Blockhouse, came express to this city, and delivered it about the 20th of June to the President, with whom and his executive council it remained until the 30th instant, when it was laid by him be- fore both houses of Congress, with other papers.
It is imputed to me, and has involved me in serious difficulties, the extent of which I cannot at present foresee. They will, however, shortly be detailed to you.
I ask you to examine it with attention, and determine yourself if the contemplated plan, let whoever may be the author, had gone into effect, what would have been the result to the citizens of Tennessee, whose good it has ever been, and ever will be, my happiness to promote? I repeat, read and judge for yourself, regardless of popular clamor, which its publication has raised in this and other places, much to my injury. Shortly I will be in Tennessee. In the meantime,
Believe me, very respectfully your obedient servant,
WILLIAM BLOUNT.
Blount was represented by counsel, he refusing, by advice of his counsel, James Ingersoll and A. J. Dallas, to be a witness at the trial.
The prosecution was handled by Byard and Harper of
135
WILLIAM BLOUNT.
the House, while chairman Sitgreaves rendered restless service in aiding the prosecution.
The people of Tennessee never lost faith in Blount and plundered their wits to help him out.
Blount was evidently under the care of bad advisers. While Tennesseans love to think of him as a martyr there was nothing to indicate that he was so unpopular as to win the disfavor of the administration, partisan though it may have been. His refusal to answer ques- tions was at least suspicious, and his letter savored of intrigue. It was a day rife for all kinds of political plots. The reconstruction period after the Revolution was more beset with perils than was the same period after the war between the states.
The spirit of possession and love of power dominated the people. Instead of the love of money it was a mad lust for lands. These lands that lay stretched out before them with their virgin forests and verdant plains made an inviting field for operations. Nor did this craving for tenure mean a craving for wealth alone. The quest of domain meant the zest for dominion.
Gov. Blount, on arriving here, was not long in acquaint- ing himself with these conditions nor long in acquiring ambitions that went beyond them all. A born cavalier and cultured in the art of control, he saw in the then disputed territory of the Mississippi valley vast propor- tions and possibilities. What his motives were may never be known.7
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.