would remove every Indian
to-morrow beyond the reach of the white men. who, like vultures, are watching,
ready to pounce upon their prey and strip them of everything they have or expert
from the government of the Dinted state-. Yes, sir, nineteen-twentieths, if not
ninety-nine out of every hundred, will go penniless to the West. :l
How it was to be brought about is explained in part by a letter
addressed to the President by Major Ridge himself, the principal
signer of the treaty:
We now come to address you on the subject of our griefs and afflictions from the
acts of the white people. They have got our lands and now they are preparing to
fleece US of the money accruing from the treaty. We found our plantations taken
either in whole or in part by the Georgiansbacks, and
our oppressors will get all the money. We talk plainly, as chiefs having property
and life in danger, and we appeal to you for protection. . . .'
( reneral Dunlap, in command of the Tennessee troops called out to
prevent the alleged contemplated Cherokee uprising, having learned
for himself the true situation, delivered an indignant address to his
men in which he declared that he would never dishonor the Tennessee
arms by aiding to carry into execution at the. point of the bayonet a
treaty made by a lean minority against the will and authority of the
Cherokee people. He stated further that he had given the Cherokee
all the protection in his power, the whites needing none. 2
A confidential agent sent to report upon the situation wrote in Sep-
tember, 1837, that opposition to the