.MTA1NQ.NzA5NjU

1839 Aug 20, continued. of June, the three leaders of their party were cruelly assassinated by the part-zans of John Ross; that the number and prominence of the persons enga-ged in those massacres prove them to have been arranged at the previous Council, and which subsequent procee-dings still further prove; - that what is called the "Convention" which is still in "not clear?" is only attended by the partisans of John Ross:- that they forward such few of its proceedings as they have been able to obtain copies of, and that these will show upon what humil-iating conditions, degrading to themselves & reproachful to the United States. they are required to save their lives, or else submit to be driven from their country, unless they en-gage in a civil war for self defence; that either alternative would be "not clear" that they have two many reasons to believe there would be no safety in "not clear" submission to the dictation of their enemies; that before they can consent to leave the country which they love as well as their enemies loved the one which they have left, they must whither to go & what to do with their homes & the farm they have purchased and improved; that they value Cherokee blood too highly to engage in the horrors of a civil war;- unless driven to it in sel-defence; that the treaty party deny they have committed any acts deser-ving punishment; that if they have violated any law they are willing to be tried by its pro-visions and abide the decision of the proper tribunals of their