to any individual, high or low, to gain his aid or influence,
and without sacrificing the interest of the whole to the cupidity of a
fev^ He was also informed that, as it would probably be contrary to
his wish, his letter would not be put on file. 1
In October, 1835, the Ridge treaty was rejected by the Cherokee
Nation in full council at Red Clay, even its main supporters, Ridge
himself and Elias Boudinot, going over to the rnajoruy, most unex-
pectedly to Schermerhorn, who reports the result, piously adding,
"but the Lord is able to overrule all things for good." During the
session of this council notice was served on the Cherokee to meet
commissioners at New Echota in December following for the purpose
of negotiating a treaty. The notice was also printed in the Cherokee
languageand circulated throughout the Nation, with a statement that
those who failed to attend would be counted as assenting to any treaty
that might be made. 2
The council had authorized the regular delegation, headed by John
Ross, to conclude a treaty either there or at Washington, but, finding
that Schermerhorn had no authority to treat on any other basis than
the one rejected by the Nation, the delegates proceeded to Washing-
ton. 8 Before their departure John Ross, who had removed to Ten-
nessee to escape persecution in his own state, was arrested at his home
by the Georgia guard, all his private papers and the proceedings of
the council being taken at the same time, and conveyed across the line
into Georgia, where he was held for some time without charge against
him, and at last released without