As such action would almost surely
have resulted in another Indian war. Congress interposed, on the rep-
resentation of President Washington, with an act for the regulation of
intercourse between citizens of the United States and the various
Indian tribes. Its main purpose was to prevent intrusion upon lands
to which the Indian title had not been extinguished by treaty with the
general government, and under its provisions a number of squatters
were ejected from the Indian country and removed across the boundary.
The pressure of border sentiment, however, was constantly for extend-
ing the area of white settlement and the result was an immediate agita-
tion to procure another treaty cession. :
In consequence of urgent representations from the people of Ten-
nessee, Congress took steps in IT'.tT for procuring a new treaty with
the Cherokee by which the ejectedsettlers might '»■ reinstated and the
boundaries of the new state so extended as to bring about closer com-
munication between the eastern settlements and those on the ( lumber-
land. Tin 1 Revolutionary warfare had forced the Cherokee west and
south, and their capital and central gathering place was now Ustanali
town, near the present Calhoun. Georgia, while Echota, their ancient
capital and beloved peace town, was almost on the edge of the white
settlements. The commissioners wished to have the proceedings con-
ducted at Echota, while the Cherokee favored Ustanali. After some
debate a choice was made of a convenient place near Tellico block-
house, where the conference opened in July, hut was brought to an
abrupt (dose by the peremptory refusal of the Cherokee to sell any
land- or to permit the return of the ejected settlers.
The