ROYCE. ] TREATY OF DECEMBER 29, 1835. 293 
But this was an undertaking of much difficulty. The instrumentalities 
used by the Government in securing the conclusion and approval of not 
only the treaty of 1835 but also those of 1817 and 1819 had caused 
much division and bitterness in their ranks, which had on many ocea- 
sions in the past cropped out in acts of injustice and even violence. 
Upon the coming together of the body of the nation in their new 
country west of the Mississippi, they found themselves torn and dis- 
tracted by party dissensions and bitterness almost beyond hope of 
reconciliation. The parties were respectively denominated : 
1. The “Old Settler” party, composed of those Cherokees who had 
prior to the treaty of 1835 voluntarily removed west of the Mississippi, 
and who were living under a regularly established form of government 
of their own. 
2. The “ Treaty ” or ‘‘ Ridge” party, being that portion of the nation 
led by John Ridge, and who encouraged and approved the negotiation 
of the treaty of 1835. 
5. The “ Government” or “ Ross” party, comprising numerically a large 
majority of the nation, who followed in the lead of John Ross, for many 
years the principal chief of the nation, and who had been consistently 
and bitterly hostile to the treaty of 1835 and to any surrender of their 
territorial rights east of the Mississippi. 
Upon the arrival of the emigrants in their new homes, the Ross party 
insisted upon the adoption of a new system of government and a code of 
laws for the whole nation. To this the Old Settler party objected, and 
were supported by the Ridge party, claiming that the government and 
laws already adopted and in force among the Old Settlers should con- 
tinue to be binding until the general election should take place in the 
following October, when the newly elected legislature could enact such 
changes as wisdom and good policy should dictate. A general coun- 
cil of the whole nation was, however, called to mect at the new council- 
house at Takuttokah, having in view a unification of interests and the 
pacification of all animosities. The council lasted from the 10th to 
the 22d of June, but resulted in no agreement. Some six thousand 
Cherokees were present. A second council was called by John Ross 
for a similar purpose, to meet at the Illinois camp-ground on the 1st of 
July, 1839.” 
Murder of Boudinot and the Ridges.—Immediately following the ad- 
journment of the Takuttokah council three of the leaders of the Treaty 
party, John Ridge, Major Ridge his father, and Elias Boudinot were 
murdered* in the most brutal and atrocious manner. The excitement 
throughont the nation became intense. Boudinot was murdered within 
300 yards of his house, and only 2 miles distant from the residence of 
John Ross. The friends of the murdered men were persuaded that the 
y ‘Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1839. 
* Letter of John Ross to General Arbuckle, June 24, 1839. 
3 June 22, 1839. 
