242 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
thority and laws. Although possessing this right, she was averse to 
exercising it until all other means of redress had failed. She now made 
one other and last appeal to the General Government to open negotia- 
tions with the Cherokees on this subject. If no such negotiation should 
be opened, or if, being opened, it should result unsuccessfully, it was rec- 
ommended to the next legislature of Georgia to take immediate posses- 
sion of the disputed territory and to extend her jurisdiction and laws 
over the same. In a spirit of liberality, however, it was suggested that, 
in any treaty the United States might make with the Cherokees, Geor- 
gia would agree to allow reserves to be made to individual Indians not 
exceeding in the aggregate one-sixth part of the entire territory in dis- 
pute. Should the Indians still refuse to negotiate, they were solemnly 
warned of the unfortunate consequences likely to follow, as the lands 
belonged to Georgia, and that she must and would have them. 
A resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States, in 
the month of March following, calling upon the President for informa- 
tion upon the subject, brought forth! copies of all the correspondence 
relative to the matter, and the distinct avowal that the records of the 
United States failed to show any act of executive recognition of the 
new form of Cherokee government, but that, on the contrary, their 
status toward the United States was regarded as not in the slightest 
degree changed. 
CHEROKEE AFFAIRS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 
Whilst all these events having a bearing upon the condition and 
prospective welfare of that portion of the Cherokee people who had 
remained in their old homes east of the Mississippi River were happen- 
ing, those who had taken up their abodein the Arkansas country were 
likewise having their troubles. 
Difficulties with the Osages.—Their disagreements with the Osages, 
which had, with slight intermission, existed for years, broke out afresh 
when in February, 1820, a party of Osages robbed and killed three 
Cherokees. The latter determined upon the prosecution of a general 
war against the aggressors, and were only persuaded to pause at the 
earnest solicitation? of Governor Miller, of Arkansas Territory, until he 
could visit the villages of the Csages and demand the surrender of the 
murderers. In company with four of the Cherokee chiefs, he proceeded 
to the principal Osage village, where they were kindly received by the 
Osages, who repudiated the action of the murderers and agreed con- 
ditionally to surrender them. They, however, produced the treaty con- 
cluded in 1818, under the superintendence of Governor Clark, between 
themselves and the Cherokees, Shawnees, and Delawares, wherein it 
was agreed that a permanent peace should thenceforth exist between 
them, and that the Cherokees were to meet them at Fort Smith the 


1March 20, 1828. 2 April 20, 1820. 
