than three hundred,
including women and children, although the weather was everything that could be
desired. The Indians had long been notified of the meeting, and blankets were
promised to all who would come and vote for the treaty. The most cunning and
artful means were resorted to to conceal the paucity of numbers present at the treaty.
No enumeration of them was made by Schermerhorn. The business of making the
treaty was transacted with a committee appointed by the Indians present, so as not
to expose their numbers. The power of attorney under which the committee acted
was signed only by the president and secretary of the meeting, so as not to disclose
their weakness. . . . Mr. Schermerhorn's apparent design was to conceal the real
number present and to impose on the public and thein the Cherokee country to prevent opposition to the enforce-
ment of the treaty, reported on February L8, 1837, thai he had called
them toe-ether and made them an address, but "'it is. however, vain to
talk to a people almost universally opposed to the treaty and who
maintain that they never made such a treaty. So determined are they
in their opposition that not one of all those who were present ami voted
at tin' council held hut a day or two since, however poor or destitute,
would receive either rations or clothing from the United States lest
they might compromise themselves in regard to the treaty. These
same people, as well as those in the mountains of North Carolina.
during the summer past, preferred living upon the roots and sap of
trees rather than receive provisions from