4th congress 2nd session March 2nd 1797
“All lands and territories lying to the
westward of the sources of the rivers which fall into the sea from the west and
northwest are reserved under the sovereignty, protection, and dominion of the
King,’ which would appear to have excluded and extinguished all jurisdiction in
Georgia over the lands beyond the sources of these rivers, and to have vested
it in the crown. Like the country beyond the Ohio,
the lands thus reserved west of Georgia
constitute a territory out of which new colonies might from time to time be
erected.” 3
Void
of any previous claim to refer too as having practiced jurisdiction over lands
west of the St.Mary’s and Ocmulgee
before, during and after the Spanish ocupation of
these lands, it was yet determined that the United States adopt a conciliatory
and amicable plan to resolve the claim of Georgia and west Florida. To address
this situation the congress established a preliminary plan for the future of Georgia and the
creation of a new territory.
On March 4, 1797 John Adams, Jr., was elected as the
second president of the United
States and Thomas Jefferson was voted in as
Vice President. Both of these leaders were well versed in the ongoing saga
between the states and the land companies and their joint effort in obtaining
Indian lands; now since the treaty of 1794 and the creation of the state of
Tennessee this would
present a task that would require new governmental personnel, and a whole new
and advanced approach. Since 1794 the Cherokee people were experiencing a
period of restored tranquility, resting on the promises made by their Great
White father and old Friend George Washington. Minus knowledge concerning the
recent developments during the last congress, it was obvious that William
Blount the new Governor John Seiver and the others
would avoid meeting in council.
