MO...NEV] TREATY OF CHKROKKK AGENCY ISIT 103 



tiiiti. bounded on the north and south by White river and Arkansas 

 river, respectively, on the east by a line running between those 

 streams approximately from the i)resent l^atesville to Lewisburir, and 

 on the west by a line to be dctermincHl later. As afterward estab- 

 lished, this western line ran fi'om the junction of the Little North 

 Fork with White river to just beyond the point where the i)resent 

 western Arkansas boundary strikes Arkansas river. Provision was 

 made for taking the census of the whole Cherokee nation east and 

 west in order to apportion anmiities and other paymiMits properly in 

 the future, and the two bands were still to be considered as forming 

 one people. The United States agreed to pay for any sul)stantial 

 improvements aliandoned by those removing from the ceded lands, 

 and each emigrant warrior who left no such valuable property behind 

 was to be given as full compensation for his abandoned field and cabin 

 a rifle and amimuiition. a blanket, and a kettle or a beaver ti'ap. The 

 government further agreed to furnish boats and provisions for the 

 journey-. Provision was also made that individuals residing upon 

 the ceded lands might retain allotments and become citizens, if they 

 so elected, the amount of the allotment to be deducted from the total 

 cession. 



The commissioners for the treat}' were General Andrew .lackson, 

 General David Meriwether, and Governor Joseph McMiim of Ten- 

 nessee. On behalf of the Cherokee it was signed by thirtj^-one princi- 

 pal men of the eastern Nation and fifteen of the western band, who 

 signed by proxy. ^ 



The majority of the Cherokee were bitterly opposed to any cession 

 or removal project, and before the treaty had been concluded a 

 memorial signed by sixty-seven chiefs and headmen of the nation was 

 presented to the commissioners, which stated that the delegates who 

 had lirst liroached the subject in Washington some years before had 

 acted without an}- authority from the nation. They declared that the 

 great body of the Cherokee desired to remain in the land of their 

 birth, where they were rapidly advancing in civilization, instead of 

 being compelled to revert to their original sav;ige conditions and sur- 

 roundings. They therefore prayed that the matter might not be 

 pressed further, but that they might be allowed to remain in peaceable 

 possession of the land of their fathers. No attention was paid to the 

 memorial, and the treaty was carried through and ratified. \\'ithout 

 waiting for the ratitication, the authorities at once took steps for the 

 removal of those who desired to go to the West. Boats were provided 

 at points between Little Tennessee and Sequatchee rivers, and the 

 emisj^i-ants were collected under the direction of (Jovcrnor McMinn. 

 Within the next year a large number had emigrated, and before the 



'Indian Treaties, pp. 209-215, 1837; Royce, Cherokee Nation, Fifth .\nn. Rep. Bureau of Kthnology, 

 pp. 21*2-217, 1888; see also maps in Royce. 



