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                                                                                                                           Cherokee National Convention
                                                                                                                            Illinois Camp Ground
                                                                                                                                                          July 22,1839

To John Howard Payne

                 Dear Sir
                            Some time ago I informed you of the death of Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot, through a burst of  popular indignation, and in the execution of the laws of the Nation: as they had by the commission of treason and placing themselves out of the reach of the ordinary operation of laws, of their country, tendered themselves liable to the penalties of authority,
    Had Ridge and his friends retired quietly into private life, and, no more interfered, to disturb the peace of the nation, they would, no doubt, have lived. But having commenced further interruptions, they, sealed their own fate, by rousing the latent indignation of the populace: who, well knew, they were liable to be put to death, by any citizen, in any manner most convenient.
    After the arrival of the late Emigrants, the old settlers had a Council, on the 22nd of April, at which, John Brown was made Principal Chief of the unclear Cherokees, in place of Jolly deceased, by a vote of Eight members of Council. 
    The Eastern people sent a deportation to this council, to propose the appointment of a council of both parties, to form a Union, and to adopt a Government suited to the conditions of the whole people. This joint council of the Eastern and Western Cherokees was appointed to meet at Ya.ka.to.ka June 3rd which met accordingly. Ridge and his friends attended, and, it is fully believed, so influenced the Chiefs and-- lined out of the old Letters, that they refused to come to any agreement, and the Council failed to effect the object for which they  22