.MTA1OA.NzEzNTE

295 yet these are the men who have been the cause of all their existing difficulties & thus far have prevented a final adjustment of them. I am well aware these are important facts which will give a new aspect to this Cherokee question; but they can be fully substantiated by document that cannot lie; & I will now proceed to lay them before you.

 The Cherokee tribe of Indians until May 6 1817, after the manner of all Indian tribes, continued to transact their business by their proper and rightful Chiefs and warriors in full council assembled. At this time, through the influence of several white men who had taken Indian wives and some men of mixed blood who had received some education at the early mission schools in the nation or neighboring settlements, under the pretense of saving the country from being sold to the whites, obtained the adoption of the following articles for the future Government of the nation: 
  "whereas fifty four towns & villages having convened in order to deliberate & consider on the situation of our nation in the disposition of our common property of land, without the unanimous consent of members of Council & in order to obviate the evil consequences resulting in such cases, we have unanimously adopted the following form for the future government of our nation: 
  "Art: 1st: It is unanimously agreed that there shall be thirteen members elected as a standing committee for the term of two years, at the end of which term they shall be re-elected, or others; and in consequence of the Death or resignation of said Committee, our head chiefs shall elect another to fill the vacancy." 
  "Art: 2nd: The affairs of the Cherokee Nation shall be committed to the care of the Standing Committee; but the acts of their body shall not be binding on the nation in our common property, without the unanimous consent of the members & chiefs of the Council, which they shall present for their acceptance or dissent. 
  "Art. 3rd: The authority & claim of our common property shall cease with the person or persons who shall think proper to remove themselves without the limits of the Cherokee Nation. 
  "Art: 4th: The improvements & labour of our people by the mother's side shall be inviolate during the time of their occupancy. 
  "Art: 5th: This committee shall settle with the urgency for our annual stipend, and report their proceedings to the members & cheifs in council; but the friendly communication between our head chiefs & the Agency shall remain free & open. 
  "Art: 6th: The above articles for our government may be amended at our electional term, & the Committee is hereby required to be governed by the above articles, & the chiefs & warriors in council unanimously pledge themselves to observe strictly the contents of the above articles. 
  "Whereunto we have set our hands & seals at unclear this 6th day of May 1817- Approved in Council the day & date above written."-
  In order to understand the occasion of this extraordinary meeting of the fifty four towns and villages, it is mostly merely necessary to state that the nation was greatly agitated & divided & that Genl Andrew Jackson & Gov McMinn of Tenessee were appointed to hold a Treaty with them on the subject of selling their country & removing west.