RoYcr.] TREATY ‘OF DECEMBER 29, 1835. 273 
lands of the United States lying within the Territories and States of 
the Union, or in some other way. 
The President urges their assent to removal.—The Secretary of War, in 
replying for the President (February 2, 1833), was unable to see that any 
practicable plan could be adopted by which the reversionary rights 
held under the State of Georgia could be purchased upon such terms 
as would justify the Government in entering into a stipulation to that 
effect. Nor would it at all remove the difficulties and embarrassments 
of their condition. They would still be subject to the laws of Georgia, 
surrounded by white settlements and exposed to all those evils which 
had always attended the Indian race when placed in immediate contact 
with the white population. It was only by removing from these sur- 
roundings that they could expect to avoid the fate which had already 
swept away so many Indian tribes. 
Rep'y of John Ross.—Ross retorted, in a communication couched in 
diplomatic language, that it was with great diffidence and deep regret 
he felt constrained to say, that in this scheme of Indian removal he 
could see more of expediency and policy to get rid of the Cherokees 
than to perpetuate their race upon any permanent, fundamental prin- 
ciple. If the doctrine that Indian tribes could not exist contiguous to 
a white population should prevail, and they should be compelled to 
remove west of the States and Territories of this republic, what was to 
prevent a similar removal of them from there for the same reason ? 
Without securing any promises of relief, and without reaching any 
definite understanding with the executive authorities of the Govern- 
ment, the delegation left for their homes in March, 1833. They agreed, 
however, to lay before their national council in the ensuing May a prop- 
osition made to them by the President, offering to pay them $2,500,000 
in goods for their lands, with the proviso that they should remove them- 
selves at-their own expense.! This proposition, it is hardly necessary 
to remark, was not favorably considered by the council, though the 
Secretary of War designated? Mr. Benjamin I’. Curry to attend the 
meeting and urge its acceptance. 
Alleged attempted bribery of John Ross.—In this connection a story 
having been given currency that the Government had offered Chief 
Ross a bribe, provided he would secure the conclusion of a treaty of 
cession and removal, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs denied it as 
being “utterly without foundation, and one of those vile expedients 
that unprincipled men sometimes practice to accomplish an evil pur- 
pose,” and as being “too ineredible to do much injury.”’ While this 
story was perhaps without solid foundation in fact, its improbability 
would possibly have been more evident but for the fact that only five 
years earlier the Secretary of War had appointed secret agents and 
‘Letter of Secretary of War to Governor Lumpkin, of Georgia, March 12, 1833. 
* March 21, 1833. 
*Commissioner of Indian Affairs to Agent Montgomery, April 22, 1833. 
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