by Major Ridge himself had killed
Doublehead years before on suspicion of accepting a bribe for his
part in a treaty.
On hearing of the death of the Ridges and Boudinot several other
signers of the repudiated treaty, among whom were John Bell,
Archilla Smith, and James Starr, tied for safety to the protection of
the garrison at Fort Gibson. Boudinot's brother, Stand Wade,
vowed vengeance against Ross, who was urged to flee, but refused.
declaring his entire innocence. His friends rallied to his support,
stationing a guard around his house until the first excitement had sub-
sided. About three weeks afterward the national council passed
decrees declaring that the men killed and their principal confederates
i Agent Stokes to Secretary of War, June 24, 1839, in Report Indian Commissioner, p. 365, 1839;
Royce, Cherokee Nation, Fifth Ann. Rep. Bureau ofEthnology, p. 293, 1888; Drake, Indians, pp. 159-460,
1880; author's personal information. The agent's report incorrectly makes the killings occur on
three different days.
mooney] REUNION OF NATION— 1839 135
had rendered themselves outlaws by their own conduct, extending
amnesty on certain stringent conditions to their confederates, and
declaring the slayers guiltless of murder and fully restored to the con-
fidence and favor of the community. This was followed in August by
another council decree declaring the New Echota treaty void and reas-
serting the title of the Cherokee to their old country, and three weeks
later another decree summoned the signers of the treaty to appear and
answer for their conduct under penalty of outlawry. At this point
the United States interfered by threatening to arrest Ross as acces-
sory to the killing of the Ridges. 1 In the meant