342 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
staff.'. Proceeding to Fort Smith, the council was convened on the 
8th day of September, and was attended by delegates representing the 
Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, Seminoles, Osages, Senecas, 
Shawnees, Quapaws, Wyandots, Wichitas, and Comanches. In opening 
the council the Indians were informed that the commissioners had been 
sent to ascertain their disposition and feeling toward the United States; 
that most of them had violated their treaty obligations to the Govern- 
ment and, by entering into diplomatic relations with the so-called Con- 
federate States, had forfeited all right to the protection of the United 
States and subjected their property to the penalty of confiscation. 
They were assured, however, that the Government had no disposition 
to deal harshly with them. On the contrary, it was desirous of under- 
taking such measures as would conduce to their happiness, and was 
especially determined to grant handsome recognition to those of them 
whose loyalty had been so firmly and consistently manifested in the face 
of the most cruelly adverse conditions. The council continued in ses- 
sion for thirteen days. On the second day the Indians were informed 
that the commissioners were empowered to enter into treaties with the 
several tribes upon the basis of the following propositions : 
1. That opposing factions of each tribe must enter into a treaty for 
permanent peace and amity among themselves: also between each other 
as tribes, and with the United States. 
2. The tribes settled in the “Indian country” should bind themselves 
at the call of the United States authorities to assist in compelling the 
wild tribes of the plains to keep the peace. 
3. Slavery should be abolished and measures should be taken to incor- 
porate the slaves into the several tribes, with their rights guaranteed. 
4. A general stipulation as to the final abolition of slavery. 
5. A part of the Indian country should be set apart to be purchased 
for the use of such Indians from Kansas or elsewhere as the Goyern- 
ment should desire to colonize therein. 
6. That the policy of the Government to unite all the Indian tribes 
of this region into one consolidated government should be accepted. 
7. That no white persons, except Government employés or officers or 
employés of internal improvement companies authorized by Govern- 
ment, should be permitted to reside in the country unless incorporated 
with the several nations. 
Reasons for Cherokee disloyalty.—The subsequent sessions of the coun- 
cil were largely taken up in the discussion of these propositions by the 
representatives of the various tribes. It is only with the conduct of 
the Cherokees, however, that the present listory is concerned. The 
address of the representatives of the “loyal” portion of this tribe is 
especially noteworthy in this, that they charged the cause of their alli- 
ance with the rebel authorities upon the United States, by reason of the 
' Report of D. N. Cooley, president of the commission, dated October 80, 1°65. 

