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163 1839 Oct: 12: continued. fairly and properly obtained; but he adds, that while this principle will govern the department in the exercise of their superintendence over the tribe, it will not suffer that majority to exercise any tyranny towards those persons who may be odious to them, nor especially to commit any outrages upon those Cherokees who signed or adhered to the treaty of New Echota. He declares that the news of the cruel murder of the Ridges was received with just indignation by the department, and that the summons to George W. Adair, J. A. Bell, and others, to appear before the Council on the 4th of September, to answer for their conduct in signing that treaty, is regarded as a gross usurpation of power which will not be sanctioned or allowed; - and that whatever may be the opinion of the chiefs and people who last emigrated, as to the character of the transaction, they shall not be permitted to punish or persecute those who, in good faith and with upright and honest intentions, executed that instrument, and faithfully complied with its provisions. The Secretary desires the General, without delay, to communicate this determination of the department to the chiefs and head men of the Cherokee nation, and that he will, with all possible dispatch, convey to him their reply, in order, if they persist in their unjustifiable measures, that prompt & efficient steps may be taken to protect the parties threatened with further outrage, and

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