the United
States toward the Indians in their removal beyond the territorial limits of the states.
it is stipulated that they shall be entitled to a Delegate in the Hou i Representa-
tives of the United States whenever Congress shall make provision for the same.
The instrument was signed by (Governor) "William Carroll of Ten-
nessee and (Reverend) .1. F. Schermerhorn as commissioners— the
former, however, having been unable to attend by reason of illness
and by twenty Cherokee, among whom the most prominent were Major
Ridge and Elias Boudinot, former editor of the Phoenix. Neither
John Ross nor any one of the officers of the Cherokee Nation was present
or represented. After some changes by the Senate, it was ratified
May 23, 1S36. 1
Upon the treaty of New Echota and the treaty previously made with
tlie western Cherokee atcoun-
cil should be permitted to assemble to discuss the treaty. Ross had
already been informed that the President had ceased to recognize any
existing government among the eastern Cherokee, and that any fur-
ther effort by him to prevent the consummation of the treaty would be
suppressed. 1
Notwithstanding this suppression of opinion, the feeling of the
Nation was soon made plain through other sources. Before the ratifi-
cation of the treaty Major W. M. Davis had been appointed to enroll
the Cherokee for removal and to appraise the value of their improve-
ments. He soon learned the true condition of affairs, and, although
holding his office by the good will of President Jackson, he addressed
to the Secretary of War a strong letter upon the subject, from which
the following extract is made:
I conceive that my duty to the