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had received the benefit of mission improvements and therefore they should pay for them.
Second. An intelligent and respectable Cherokee, who attended the council at New Echota, when the treaty was made, told me in the business of Mr. Butrick, that Mr. Schermerhorn took the same stand there, viz, that the Cherokee had enjoyed the benefit of mission improvements and therefore ought to pay for them. Many of the Cherokees objected to this, but especially Mr. James Star a prominent treaty man opposed Mr. Schermerhorn with great vehemence on the ground that the Cherokee never agreed to pay missionaries for their improvements. Mr. Boudinot, however, united with Mr. Schermerhorn, in considering it just and proper for Cherokees themselves to pay for mission improvements; and through his influence/and the determination of Mr. Schermerhorn. The vote was carried that the Indians should pay for SI? improvements and of course that the valuations of such improvements should be paid out of the Five Millions of Dollars (Did not everyone know that what was paid out of that sum the Cherokees spend?) Third. I have also conversed with Messrs Bell and Williams of Coosawatee, both treaty men, who attended the council. From them I received no different impressions from the above. I think both of them mentioned the objections of Mr. Star, and both concurred with him in opinion +
Now, Sir, if Messrs. Schermerhorn and Boudinot, will come forward publicly, and affirm that they never did say the Cherokees themselves ought to pay for mission improvements- if they will declare that they did say in the council at New Echota, that the United States and not the Cherokees, ought to pay for mission improvements:-- ?trnd? if they will come forward and prove to the eye of reason, that the Cherokees will have just as much divided among them at the west as they would have had if nothing had been paid for mission improvements, I say, if they will do these things I shall rejoice indeed to go to the poor Indians, and convince them by proving to their understandings, that the U. States and not the nation, pay for our improvements.
But talk is vain. The Cherokees know they have +I have lately conversed with Mr. Andrew Ross who confirmed the same statements, and said he himself opposed Mr. Schermerhorns motion till he found it vain.