American Indian Removal – Object #4

Sir,
In my letter to you of the 28th last month, I informed you that I had sent collecting agents to the different parts of the Cherokee Country to ascertain if a detachment could be collected to leave for the west early next month.
These agents have returned and report that they found but one family…that are willing to remove this spring.
The Cherokees who say anything about removing, say they will go this fall, but a large majority of them will not talk on the subject, particularly the over Hill Landing…Ask them when they are going to remove west and they will answer you by saying they would rather die here than go west to die.
This is the feeling of at least 99 out of the 100 of that part of the nation…One individual John …attended at New Echota where the treaty was made. Mr. Schermerhorn there given him a public blanket. When he returned home to the Valley Tennessee and let it be known that the blanket was given him by a state officer, the Indians collected took his blanket from him, made a fire and burned and danced around it. This will give you some idea of their feeling, but I do assure you that nothing but the presence of the military force keeps them from shedding of blood. They say that the Treaty making party does not consist of more than five hundred persons. The balance I discover are the adherents of Mr. John Ross and are more devoted to him than I have ever seen persons devoted to any man.
Genl. Wool is now making a tour through their country and giving them talks in which he urges on them the prosperity of their early embracing the provisions of the Treaty and preparing to be off at least half the tribe this fall, that he will not suffer them all to remain and be forced off at the end of the 2 years that at least half must go this fall.
This tour of the Generals I think will have a good effect. The Indians both love and fear him, and I think will pay attention to what he says to them, particularly at this tour as information has just reached the Indians that John Ross and his delegation had been viewed by the President Mr. Van Buren and treated very kindly and friendly, but told by him that nothing could be done to alter or annul the treaty, that it had been ratified by the Senate. Appropriations made to carry it into effect and must be enacted. This information I think will cause the most of the leading Ross men to come into the measures of the Government and prepare to be off early this fall…