ROYCE. } TREATY OF FEBRUARY 27, 1819. 221 
latter object within one year to this proportion, a census shall be taken 
of both portions of the nation to adjust the matter. 
7. The United States shall prevent intrusion on the ceded lands prior 
to January 1, 1820. 
8. The treaty shall be binding upon its ratification. 
HISTORICAL DATA, 
CHEROKEES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI— THEIR WANTS AND CONDITION. 
Early in 1818 a representative delegation from that portion of the 
Cherokees wko had removed to the Arkansas visited Washington with 
the view of reaching a more satisfactory understanding concerning the 
location and extent of their newly acquired homes in that region. As 
early as January 14 of that year, they had addressed a memorial to the 
Secretary of War asking, among other things, that the United States 
should recognize them as a separate and distinct people, clothed with 
the power to frame and administer their own laws, after the manner of 
their brethren east of the Mississippi. 
Long and patient hearings were accorded to this delegation by the 
authorities of the Government, and, predicated upon their requests, in- 
structions were issued! to Governor William Clark, superintendent of 
Indian affairs at Saint Louis, among other things, to secure a cessation of 
hostilities thenraging between the Arkansas Cherokees and the Osages; 
furthermore, to induce, if possible, the Shawnees and Delawares then 
residing in the neighborhood of Cape Girardeau to relinquish their land 
and join the Western Cherokees, or, in the event of a favorable termina- 
tion of the Quapaw treaty then pending, that they might be located on 
lands acquired from them. 
During the year the Arkansas Cherokees had also learned that the 
Oneidas of New York were desirous of obtaining a home in the West, 
and had made overtures for their settlement among them. The main 
object of the Cherokees in desiring to secure these originally eastern In- , 
dians for close neighbors is to be found in the increased strength they 
would be able to muster in sustaining their quarrel with their native 
western neighbors. 
It may be interesting in this connection to note the fact that in 1825 
the Cherokees sent a delegation to Wapakoneta, Ohio, accompanied by 
certain Western Shawnees, whose mission was to induce the Shawnees 
at that point to join them in the West. Governor Lewis Cass, under in- 
Structions from the War Department, held a council at Wapakoneta, 
lasting nine days,’ having in view the accomplishment of this end, but 
it was unsuccessful. 
Governor Clark was also advised by his instructions of the desire of 
1 May 8, 1818. 
*Secretary of War to Reuben Lewis, United States Indian agent, May 16, 1818. 
*May 16 to 24, inclusive. 
