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Obligations to individuals -- first branch -- commission under the 17th article.

the purpose of examining somewhat more closely into its operations; of mentioning certain objections which have been made against them; and of suggesting a course for which those criticisms seem to call.

    It will be seen that to this commission the most difficult and responsible requirements of the Treaty were confided. The other portion, which remained with the Executive, -- that is the payment for the National Domain, -- the investment of national funds, -- the removal, -- the subsistence, --all these operations, though large, were plain & clearly defined; -- they only demanded active officers to execute what was distinctly marked out for them. But the commission under the Seventeenth Article was entrusted with the vital interests of the people individually; all the means of every man, woman & child in the Cherokee nation were subject to its fiat. It remains to be asked, did the Commission do its duty to the Cherokees? Did it do its duty to the United States?
    The United States (to take up the last question first) appears to have limited the amount payable for all the objects which were to come before the Commission, but to have blended those objects with others demanding, of themselves, immense expenditures, and over which this Commission had no control; for example, the outlay for removal & a subsistence. 
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