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8 friendly, and perhaps requested him to go to his new house not yet finished. While there, three Cherokees came up, and asked him for medicine. He started with them to the house, but had proceeded but a few steps, when he was thrown down, and stabbed in the back; but as the knife broke, a tomahawk was taken to kill him. His face was cut, and his head very much bruised. This procedure has been urged as a specimen of Indian treachery. But why? The unhappy victim according to their laws they supposed to have forfeited his life and with it every favour he might have expected from his people. They probably led him from Mr. Worcesters house, to await alarming and distressing the mission family, and other females in the house.

  It appears, from report, that soon after the failure of the attempt to unite the two governments, a concourse of eastern Cherokees consulted on the subject of executing their law relative to those who save the country. Some of the leaders were named, and three men, from the respective clan of each, were chosen to say whether the person they were to judge had forfeited his life or not knowingly the three men selected from the clan of Maj. Ridge, pronounced him guilty of  death, and gave him  up to die.  As the child is of the same clan, or family as the mother, John Ridge was of a different clan from his father. He was therefore, that is his conduct was examined by judges of his own clan, and he was also given up to die. Thus also with Mr. Boudinot. The law on which their decision was founded, is the following, viz, Whereas a law has been in existence for man years, but not committed to writing, that if any citizen, or citizens of this nation, shall treat and dispose of lands belonging to this nation without special permission from the national authorities he or they shall suffer death. Therefore 

Resolved by the Committee and council in general council convened. That any person or persons who shall, contrary to the will and consent of the Legislative council of this nation, in general council convened, enter into a treaty with any commissioned, or commissioners of the United States or any officers instructed for that purpose and agree to sell or dispose of any part of -lined out or portion of the national lands, defined in the constitution of this nation, he or they so offending, upon conviction before any of the council