In March of 1808, a group of Cherokee Upper Town Chiefs set out to Washington to see Jefferson with a request to help them divide the upper and lower Cherokees into two separate peoples separated by a fixed boundary. In addition, the Upper Cherokee Town Chiefs wanted the protection of inquired about becoming United States Citizens. There are no records of the words exchanged at this meeting, but we have a letter sent from Thomas Jefferson to the Cherokee Nation on May 4, 1808 where Jefferson reiterated the proposal by the Cherokees, "You propose My Children, that your Nation shall be divided into two and that your part the Upper Cherokees, shall be separated from the lower by a fixed boundary, shall be placed under the Government of the U.S. become citizens thereof, and be ruled by our laws; in fine, to be our brothers instead of our children." Jefferson replied, "My Children I shall rejoice to See the day when the red men our neighbors become truly one people with us, enjoying all the rights and previleges we do, & living in peace & plenty as we do without any one to make them afraid". But Jefferson asked them bluntly, "Are you prepared for this?". He asked if they were prepared to leave their life of hunting and farming and work in industry and live as a traditional American family with husbands learning a trade, and wives weaving clothes for the family. Jefferson, explained that "all this is necessary before our laws can suit you or be of any use to you".
Jefferson did not promise them citizenship outright, but said that if they were truly prepared to become citizens of America, then they should consult with the lower towns and come to an agreement of "Separation by a fixed boundary". Then arrange a meeting of their chiefs in Washington to define the laws and regulations concerning how they would be governed. On Jefferson's part, he would "ask the assistance of our great Council the Congress, whose Authority is necessary to give validity to these arrangements". I could find no words to Congress nor any action on this other than what Jefferson spoke in his final address to Congress. In this address, after listing a number of his accomplishments to keep the peace with Indian nations, Jefferson shared a few words about the Cherokees and the advancement of "Husbandry and household manufacture" among the Northern tribes, and their solicitation to become citizens of the United States.
"Husbandry and household manufacture are advancing among them more rapidly with the Southern than Northern tribes, from circumstances of soil and climate, and one of the two great divisions of the Cherokee Nation have now under consideration to solicit the citizenship of the United States, and to be identified with us in laws and government in such progressive manner as we shall think best."Unfortunately, the Cherokee's proposal did not work out as requested, rather than the Cherokee nations becoming citizens of the United States, actions were taken to migrate them to new lands. Despite Jefferson's words to Congress, the American agents such as Colonel Return John Meigs working close to the Cherokees held out little hope that the Cherokee's would change their ways. Some historians credit Colonel Meigs as the architect of "Indian Removal" .
Yet, by 1826 many Cherokee became prosperous farmers with comfortable houses, beautiful cultivated fields, and large herds of livestock. The Cherokee published a newspaper, established a court system and built schools. In that year, the Cherokee owned 1560 slaves, 22,000 cattle and 7600 horses. They built 18 schools, 62 blacksmith shops and numerous mills. And in 1828, the Cherokee adopted their own constitution.
Colonel Return John Meigs
Despite, how this story may sound, Colonel Return John Meigs was a true friend to Cherokees. In 1805, Colonel Return John Meigs, reported that the Cherokee were not ready to accept white men as equal. He reported: "Many of the Cherokees think that they are not derived from the same stock as whites, and they are favorites of the great spirit and that he never intended they should live the laborious lives of the whites; these ideas, if allowed to have a practical effect, would finally operate their destruction".The Cherokee did not see themselves as an inferior race. Nor did Colonel Return John Meigs. Yet Meigs reported that they were not ready in 1808 to become U.S. citizens. Not because of their ignorance, nor the white man's superiority, but because of their own pride. Meigs continued to work for what he thought was the good of the Cherokee. His sincere friendship with the Indians won their respect. On January of 18212 at the age of 82, he gave up his tent and bed to an elderly chief who was visiting. As a result, Meigs got pneumonia and died.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29450
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-7956
The Cherokee Ghost Dance: Essays on the Southeastern Indians, 1789-1861. pgs 92-94
http://www.unc.edu/~neal41/comp101/tribe.jpg
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