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6. June 15th Visited the convention on Illinois River. This is composed of Old Settlers and new, in order to form some plan of Union. The principal chiefs of the old settlers have not attended, nor were they a party in calling this convention. They declined every proposition for a union except on the ground that the new settlers would come directly under their laws, not as a community , but as individuals. Many of their subjects, however, whether a majority, or a minority, I cannot tell, have united in their convention, and thus both parties have chosen a committee to act united by -- in forming the basis of a government for the whole people. This is objected to by some of the old settlers and their principal chiefs partly, I presume, on the supposition that the late emigrants do not exist in a national capacity, having lost that instance by their forcible removal from their own country, by the United States and their exit onto a country over which they, that is, the old settlers held entire jurisdiction. But the eastern Cherokees say that although they were compeled to leave their country, and come to this, yet this whole removal was directed by orders of their national council, and those orders and their national existence on the way were recognized by General Scott. They refer to the records of their council, and a circular of general Scott to confirm this or have statement. word lined out One of the records, above alluded to is as follows, viz.

"Whereas the whole population of the Cherokee nation have been captured by order of the President of the United States. in order to their transportation from the land of their fathers, to the west of the river - Mississippi - in execution of the alleged stipulations, of an instrument purporting to be a treaty, made at New Echota in 1835, but against the validity of which the Cherokees have always earnestly protested.

  And whereas Major General Winfield Scott, having the execution of this order in charge, had actually commenced their transportation, but from motives of humanity, was pleased, kindly to entertain the humble memorials presented to him, by a part of our people, on behalf of the whole, and in compliance with their prayer, magnanimously agreed to suspend that further transportation until the first of September.