318 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
Their territorial possessions had been curtailed to a tract of some fifteen 
miles square on the Catawba River, on the northern border of South 
Carolina, and the whites of the surrounding region were generally de- 
sirous of seeing them removed from the State. 
In pursuance therefore of the provisions of the act of 1548 an effort 
was made by the authorities of the United States to find a home for 
them west of the Mississippi River: Correspondence was opened with 
the Cherokee authorities on the subject during the summer of that year, 
but the Cherokees being unwilling to devote any portion of their do- 
main to the use and occupation of any other tribe without being fully 
compensated therefor, the subject was dropped. 
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE CHEROKEES, 
Unusual expenditures are always incident to the removal and estab- 
lishment of a people in an entirely new country. Domestic dissensions 
and violence of a widespread character have a tendency to destroy the 
security of life and property usually felt in a-well governed community, 
and insecurity in this manner becomes the parent of idleness and the 
destroyer of ambition. 
Thus from a combination of adverse circumstances the Cherokees 
since their removal had been subjected to many losses of both an in- 

kees as would at such appraisal equal in value the amount of the judgments, interest, 
and costs, after which the remainder of the lands,if any, should be released to Mr. 
Thomas. ‘The representatives of Thomas and Johnston also submitted a proposition 
for adjustment to the Indians, who by resolution of their council (March, 1876) agreed 
to aceeptit. In the light of this action and of the recommendation of Inspector 
Vandever, Congress passed an act (August 14, 1876) authorizing the Commissioner of 
Indian Affairs to receive in payment of the amount due to the Indians on the John- 
ston judgments owned by them a sufficient quantity of the Thomas lands to satisfy, 
at the appraised value, the amount of such judgments, and to deed the lands thus 
accepted to the Eastern Band of Cherokees in fee simple. 
The commissoner of appraisal appointed and acting under this act of Congress, and 
under the supervision of Inspector Watkins, selected 15,211.2 acres, the appraised 
value of which was $20,561.35, being the exact amount, including interest and costs, 
due upon the judgments up to October 7, 1876, the date of appraisal. 
Thereupon a deed (known as the Watkins deed) was executed by the parties repre- 
senting the Johnston and Thomas interests, conveying the lands so selected to the 
Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the manner directed by the act of Congress, which 
deed it was agreed shonld be supplemented by a new one so soon as a more definite 
description could be given of the lands after survey. The surveys were made by M. 
S. Temple, who also surveyed the Qualla boundary tract, a deed for which latter 
tract (known as the Brooks deed) was executed direct to the Eastern Band of North 
Carolina Cherokee Indians, and the supplemental deed spoken of above was also exe- 
ented. Sundry difficulties and complications have continued from time to time to arise 
in connection with the affairs of these Indians, and as the most effective measure of pro- 
tection to their interests the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has suggested (April 26, 
1882) to Congress the advisability of placing the persons and property of these people 
under the jurisdiction of the United States district court for the western district of 
North Carolina. 
