224 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
gion, Other lands in great quantities, availab’'e for white settlement 
and occupation, both in Kentucky and the adjoining States, were, it is 
true, lying idle. In point of soil, water, and timber they were doubtless 
equal if not superior to the Indian possessions. But the idea was all- 
prevalent then as it is now in border communities, that, however attract- 
ive may be the surrounding districts of public lands open to the in- 
clination of anybody who desires to settle thereon, the prohibited do- 
main of aneighboring Indian reservation must of necessity surpass it, 
and no application of the principtes of reason, philosophy, or justice 
will serve to lessen the desire for its possession. Governor McMinn 
convened! a council of the Cherokees, at which he presented to them 
in the strongest light the benefits that would accrue to their nation in 
the increasing happiness, prosperity, and popuiation such as would at- 
tend their removal to the Arkansas, while, on the other hand, nothing 
but evil could follow their continued residence east of the Mississippi. - 
Their lands would be constantly encroached upon by white settlers; 
border desperadoes would steal their stock, corrupt their women, and 
besot their warriors. However anxious the Government might be to 
protect them in the uninterrupted enjoyment of their present possessions, 
it would, from the circumstances of the case, be utterly unable to do so. 
He therefore proposed to them that they should, as a unit, agree to re- 
move west of the Mississippi, and that the United States should pay 
them for their lands the sum of $100,000, in addition to all expenses of 
removal; which amount, upon their prompt and indignant refusal, he at 
once offered to double, but with as small measure of success. 
The treaty of 1817 had made provision for the taking of a census of 
the whole Cherokee people during the month of June of the following 
year. The census was to form the basis for an equitable distribution 
of the annuities and other benefits of which the Cherokee Nation was 
in receipt, between the portion who continued to abide in their eastern 
homes and those who had removed to the Arkansas country, in propor- 
tion to their respective numbers. Pending this enumeration no annu- 
ities had been paid them, which produced much annoyance aud dissat- 
isfaction among both parties. 
In consequence of the hostile and vindictive attitude manifested 
toward the emigrant party by the remainder of the nation and the 
many obstacles sought to be thrown in the path of removal, the au- 
thorities of the United States had hitherto refused to comply with the 
census provision of the treaty of 1817. Governor MeMinn, after the re- 
jection of both his purchase and his removal propositions, then proposed 
(in answer tothe demand of the Cherokee council that he should cause 
the census to be taken in the manner provided) that if they would pass 
a formal vote of censure upon such of their officers as he should name 
as having violated the treaty by the use of intimidating measures 
against the Arkansas emigrants, he would cause the work of taking 

‘November 13, 1818, 
