ROYCE. ] TREATY OF FEBRUARY 27, 1819. 225 
the census to be at once begun. The council also declined to do this, 
adinitting that if such conduct had characterized any of their officers 
it was deserving of censure but denying that any proof of the charges 
had been submitted. They at last, however, as an evidence of their 
good disposition toward the United States, consented to the removal of 
one of the offensive officers named from his position as a member of the 
council, and the Secretary of War authorized! the taking of the census 
to be proceeded with. Governor MeMinn, in summing up the results of 
this council,? assumes that about one-half of the nation had already 
committed themselves to the policy outlined in the treaty of 1817, by 
the fact that since December 28 of that year 718 families had enrolled 
themselves for removal (aggregating, with those already removed, 5,291 
individuals), besides 146 families who had elected to take reservations 
in severalty. The lack of tangible results following this council was 
promptly reported to the Secretary of War by both Governor McMinn 
and Agent Meigs. The latter advised the authorities* that a fully 
authorized and representative delegation of the Cherokee Nation would 
shortly proceed to Washington, and that, in his judgment, the nation was 
rapidly becoming satisfied of their inability to long postpone what to 
every impartial observer must appear as inevitable—an exchange of 
their country for a location west of the Mississippi River. 
This delegation in due time‘ arrived at the capital, and a series of 
councils or interviews was at once entered upon between themselves 
and the Secretary of War, as representing the President. Many and 
just were the causes of complaint presented to the Secretary by the 
delegation. The recital of their wrongs, the deep affection manifested 
for their native hills and streams, and the superstitious dread with 
which they looked upon removal to a new country as being the deci- 
sive step in their dispersion and destruction as a people were caleu- 
lated to excite the sympathy of an unprejudiced mind. It had long 
been evident, however, that the simple minded barbarian was unable 
to cope with the intelligent and persistent demands of civilization, and 
that, with or without his consent, the advancing host of white settlers 
would ere many years be in full enjoyment of his present possessions. 
TREATY CONCLUDED FOR FURTHER CESSION OF LAND, 
After several preliminary discussions concerning the best method of 
adjusting their difficulties, the Secretary of War submitted to them,’ in 
writing, a statement of the basis upon which the United States would 
enter into a treaty with them, urging prompt action thereon, in order 
that the Senate might have time to exercise its constitutional fune- 
tions upon the same prior to its approaching adjournment. 
1 December 29, 1818. 
2 November 29, 1818. 
3 December 19, 1818. 
4February, 1819. 
5 February 11, 1819. 

5 ETH——15 
