ROYCE. ] TREATY OF APRIL 7, 1868. 347 
jurisdiction and control in the Canadian district, southwest of the Ar- 
kansas River, and of all that tract of country lying northeast of the 
Arkansas River and bounded on the east by Grand River, north by 
the line of 36° 30’ north latitude, and west by 96° of west longi- 
tude and the Creek reservation. In consideration of these things, the 
Southern Cherokees ceded absolutely to the United States all other 
Chérokee lands owned by them, at such price as should be agreed upon 
by the respective parties, whenever the Northern or loyal Cherokees 
should agree with the United States to sell the same. The sale of the 
“neutral land” was provided for at a sum per acre to be fixed by the 
President, which should amount in the aggregate to not less than 
$500,000. In all future negotiations with the United States, as in the 
past, but one Cherokee Nation should be recognized, but each of the 
two parties or divisions should be represented by delegates in propor- 
tion to their respective numbers. All moneys due the nation should 
be divided between the parties in the same proportion, and whenever 
the state of feeling throughout the nation should become such as by 
their own desire to render a complete and harmonious reunion of the 
two factions practicable, the United States would consent to the ac- 
complishment of such a measure. 
This treaty was duly signed, witnessed, and transmitted through the 
Secretary of the Interior to the President for submission to the Senate 
of the United States. The President retained it for more than a month, 
when, upon the conclusion of a treaty under date of July 19, 1866,' with 
the loyal Cherokees, he returned the former to the commissioners at 
the time he transmitted the latter instrument to the Senate for the 
advice and consent of that body to its ratification. 
Treaty concluded with loyal Cherokees.—The treaty of July 19, though 
not filling the full measure of desire on the part of the United States, 
and though not thoroughly satisfactory in its terms to either of the 
discordant Cherokee elements, was the best compromise that could 
be effected under the citcumstances, and was ratified and proclaimed 
August 11,1866. It is unnecessary to recite its provisions here, as a full 
abstract of them has been given in the preceding pages. Nine days 
prior to its conclusion the Secretary of the Interior addressed a com- 
munication to Commissioner Cooley, who was president of the board of 
treaty commissioners, reminding him of their action the preceding fall 
at Fort Smith in suspending John Ross from his functions as principal 
chief, suggesting that the reasons rendering that action necessary at 
the time no longer existed, and giving his consent, in case the commis- 
sioners should feel so inclined, to the immediate recognition of Ross in 
that capacity. 
Death of John Ross.—The old man was at this time unable, by reason 
of illness, to participate in the deliberations coucerning the new treaty,’ 

! United States Statutes at Large, Vol. XIV, p. 799. 
2See preamble to treaty of July 19,1855. 

