TREATY WITH THE CHEROKEE, 1846.
Aug. 6, 1846. | 9 Stat., 871. | Ratified Aug. 8, 1846. | Proclaimed Aug. 17, 1846.
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Vol. II (Treaties). Compiled
and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office,
1904.
Home | Introduction
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Margin Notes:
Preamble.
Lands occupied by Cherokee nation to be secured to
whole people, and a patent to be issued.
1830, Ch. 148.
Reversion to be in United States.
All difficulties and disputes adjusted, and a general
amnesty declared.
Laws to be passed for equal protection, and for the
security of life, liberty, and property.
No one to be punished for any crime, except on conviction
by a jury.
Fugitives from justice.
Certain claims paid out of the $5,000,000 fund to be
reimbursed by the United States.
Provisions for the equitable interest of the Western
Cherokees in lands ceded by treaty of 1828.
How the value of said interest shall be
ascertained.
Release by Western Cherokees to United
States.
Per Capita allowance for Western Cherokees to be held
in trust by United States, etc.
Not assignable.
Committee of five from "Old Settlers."
Indemnity for "Treaty Party."
Provisions for heirs of Major Ridge, John Ridge
and Elias Boudinot.
Proviso.
Values of salines to be ascertained and paid to individuals
dispossessed of them.
Payment for a printing press, arms, etc.
A fair and just settlement of all moneys due the Cherokees
under the treaty of 1835 to be made.
Rights under treaty of Aug. 1, 1835, not
affected.
Certain questions to be submitted to Senate of United
States.
Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Washington, in the District of Columbia, between the United States of America, by three commissioners, Edmund Burke, William Armstrong, and Albion K. Parris; and John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation; David Vann, William S. Coody, Richard Taylor, T. H. Walker, Clement V. McNair, Stephen Foreman, John Drew, and Richard Fields, delegates duly appointed by the regularly constituted authorities of the Cherokee Nation; George W. Adair, John A. Bell, Stand Watie, Joseph M. Lynch, John Huss, and Brice Martin, a delegation appointed by , and representing that portion of the Cherokee tribe of Indians and recognized as the "Treaty Party;" John Brown, Captain Dutch, John L. McCoy, Richard Drew, and Ellis Phillips, delegates appointed by , and representing , that portion of the Cherokee Tribe of Indians known and recognized as "Western Cherokees," or "Old Settlers."
WHEREAS serious difficulties have, for a considerable
time past, existed between the different portions of the people constituting
and recognized as the Cherokee Nation of Indians, which it is desirable should
be speedily settled, so that peace and harmony may be restored among them;
and whereas certain claims exist on the part of the Cherokee Nation, and
portions of the Cherokee people, against the United States; Therefore, with
a view to the final and amicable settlement of the difficulties and claims
before mentioned, it is mutually agreed by the several parties to this convention
as follows, viz:
ARTICLE 1. That the lands now occupied by the Cherokee
Nation shall be secured to the whole Cherokee people for their common use
and benefit; and a patent shall be issued for the same, including the eight
hundred thousand acres purchased, together with the outlet west, promised
by the United States, in conformity with the provisions relating thereto,
contained in the third article of the treaty of 1835, and in the third section
of the act of Congress, approved May twenty eighth,
1830, which authorizes the President of the United States, in making exchanges
of lands with the Indian tribes, "to assure the tribe or nation with which
the exchange is made, that the United States will forever secure and guarantee
to them, and their heirs or successors, the country so exchanged with them;
and if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent or grant
to be made and executed to them for the same: Provided, always,
That such lands shall revert to the United States
if the Indians become extinct or abandon the same."
ARTICLE 2. All difficulties and differences heretofore
existing between the several parties of the Cherokee Nation are hereby settled
and adjusted, and shall, as far as possible, be forgotten and forever buried
in oblivion. All party distinctions shall cease, except so far as they may
be necessary to carry out this convention or treaty. A general amnesty is
hereby declared. All offenses and crimes committed by a citizen or citizens
of the Cherokee Nation against the nation, or against an individual or
individuals, are hereby pardoned. All Cherokees who are now out of the nation
are invited and earnestly requested to return to their homes, where they
may live in peace, assured that they shall not be prosecuted for any offense
heretofore committed against the Cherokee Nation, or any individual thereof.
And this pardon and amnesty shall extend to all who may now be out of the
nation, and who shall return thereto on or before 1st day of December next.
The several parties agree to unite in enforcing the laws against all future
offenders. Laws shall be passed for equal protection,
and for the security of life, liberty and property; and full authority shall
be given by law, to all or any portion of the Cherokee
people, peaceably to assemble and petition their own government, or the
Government of the United States, for the redress of grievances, and to discuss
their rights. All armed police, light horse, and other military organization,
shall be abolished, and the laws enforced by the civil authority alone.
No one shall be punished for any crime or misdemeanor
except on conviction by a jury of his country, and the sentence of a court
duly authorized by law to take cognizance of the offense. And it is further
agreed, all fugitives from justice, except those
included in the general amnesty herein stipulated, seeking refuge in the
territory of the United States, shall be delivered up by the authorities
of the United States to the Cherokee Nation for trial and punishment.
ARTICLE 3. Whereas certain claims have been allowed
by the several boards of commissioners heretofore appointed under the treaty
of 1835, for rents, under the name of improvements and spoliations, and for
property of which the Indians were dispossessed, provided for under the 16th
article of the treaty of 1835; and whereas the said claims have been paid
out of the $5,000,000 fund; and whereas said claims were not justly chargeable
to that fund, but were to be paid by the United States, the said United States
agree to reimburse the said fund the amount thus charged to said fund, and
the same shall form a part of the aggregate amount to be distributed to the
Cherokee people, as provided in the 9th article of this treaty; and whereas
a further amount has been allowed for reservations under the provisions of
the 13th article of the treaty of 1835, by said commissioners, and has been
paid out of the said fund, and which said sums were properly chargeable to,
and should have been paid by, the United States, the said United States further
agree to reimburse the amounts thus paid for reservations to said fund; and
whereas the expenses of making the treaty of New Echoto were also paid out
of said fund, when they should have been borne by the United States, the
United States agree to reimburse the same, and also to reimburse all other
sums paid to any agent of the government, and improperly charged to said
fund; and the same also shall form a part of the aggregate amount to be
distributed to the Cherokee people, as provided in the 9th article of this
treaty.
ARTICLE 4. And whereas it has been decided by the
board of commissioners recently appointed by the President of the United
States to examine and adjust the claims and difficulties existing against
and between the Cherokee people and the United States, as well as between
the Cherokees themselves, that under the provisions of the treaty of 1828,
as well as in conformity with the general policy of the United States in
relation to the Indian tribes, and the Cherokee Nation in particular, that
that portion of the Cherokee people known as the " Old Settlers," or " Western
Cherokees," had no exclusive title to the territory ceded in that treaty,
but that the same was intended for the use of, and to be the home for, the
whole nation, including as well that portion then east as that portion then
west of the Mississippi; and whereas the said board of commissioners further
decided that, inasmuch as the territory before mentioned became the common
property of the whole Cherokee Nation by the operation of the treaty of 1828,
the Cherokees then west of the Mississippi, by the equitable operation of
the same treaty, acquired a common interest in the lands occupied by the
Cherokees east of the Mississippi river, as well as in those occupied by
themselves west of that river, which interest should have been provided for
in the treaty of 1835, but which was not, except in so far as they, as a
constituent portion of the nation, retained, in proportion to their numbers,
a common interest in the country west of the Mississippi, and in the general
funds of the nation; and therefore they have an equitable claim upon the
United States for the value of
that interest, whatever it may be. Now, in order to
ascertain the value of that interest, it is agreed
that the following principle shall be adopted, viz: All the investments and
expenditures which are properly chargeable upon the sums granted in the treaty
of 1835, amounting in the whole to five millions six hundred thousand dollars,
(which investments and expenditures are particularly enumerated in the 15th
article of the treaty of 1835,) to be first deducted from said aggregate
sum, thus ascertaining the residuum or amount which would, under such marshaling
of accounts, be left for per capita distribution among the Cherokees
emigrating under the treaty of 1835, excluding all extravagant and improper
expenditures, and then allow to the Old Settlers (or Western Cherokees) a
sum equal to one third part of said residuum, to be distributed per
capita to each individual of said party of "Old Settlers," or "Western
Cherokees." It is further agreed that, so far as the Western Cherokees are
concerned, in estimating the expense of removal and subsistence of an Eastern
Cherokee, to be charged to the aggregate fund of five million six hundred
thousand dollars above mentioned, the sums for removal and subsistence stipulated
in the 8th article of the treaty of 1835, as commutation money in those cases
in which the parties entitled to it removed themselves, shall be adopted.
And as it affects the settlement with the Western Cherokees, there shall
be no deduction from the fund before mentioned in consideration of any payments
which may hereafter be made out of said fund; and it is hereby further understood
and agreed, that the principle above defined shall embrace all those Cherokees
west of the Mississippi, who emigrated prior to the treaty of 1835.
In the consideration of the foregoing
stipulation on the part of the United States, the "Western Cherokees,"
or "Old Settlers," hereby release and quit-claim to the United States all
right, title, interest, or claim they may have to a common property in the
Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River, and to exclusive ownership
to the lands ceded to them by the treaty of 1833 west of the Mississippi,
including the outlet west, consenting and agreeing that the said lands, together
with the eight hundred thousand acres ceded to the Cherokees by the treaty
of 1835, shall be and remain the common property of the whole Cherokee people,
themselves included.
ARTICLE 5. It is mutually agreed that the per
capita allowance to be given to the " Western Cherokees," or " Old
Settlers," upon the principle above stated, shall be held in trust by the
Government of the United States, and paid out to each individual belonging
to that party or head of family, or his legal representatives. And it is
further agreed that the per capita allowance to be paid as aforesaid
shall not be assignable, but shall be paid directly
to the persons entitled to it, or to his heirs or legal representatives,
by the agent of the United States, authorized to make such payments.
And it is further agreed that a committee of
five persons shall be appointed by the President of the United States, from
the party of " Old Settlers," whose duty it shall be, in conjunction with
an agent of the United States, to ascertain what persons are entitled to
the per capita allowance provided for in this and the preceding
article.
ARTICLE 6. And whereas many of that portion of
the Cherokee people known and designated as the " Treaty Party " have suffered
losses and incurred expenses in consequence
of the treaty of 1835, therefore, to indemnify the treaty party, the United
States agree to pay to the said treaty party the sum of one hundred and fifteen
thousand dollars, of which the sum of five thousand dollars shall be paid
by the United States to the heirs or legal representatives of Major Ridge,
the sum of five thousand dollars to the heirs or legal representatives of
John Ridge, and the sum of five thousand dollars to the heirs or legal
representatives of Elias Boudinot, and the balance, being the sum of one
hundred thousand dollars, which shall be paid by the United States, in such
amounts and to such persons as may be certified by, a committee to be appointed
by the treaty party, and which committee shall consist of not exceeding five
persons, and approved by an agent of the United States, to be entitled to
receive the same for losses and damages sustained by them, or by those of
whom they are the heirs or legal representatives: Provided,
That out of the said balance of one hundred thousand
dollars, the present delegation of the treaty party may receive the sum of
twenty-five thousand dollars, to be by them applied to the payment of claims
and other expenses. And it is further provided that, if the said sum of one
hundred thousand dollars should not be sufficient to pay all the claims allowed
for losses and damages, that then the same shall be paid to the said claimants
pro rata, and which payments shall be in full of all claims and losses of
the said treaty party.
ARTICLE 7. The value of all salines which were
the private property of individuals of the Western Cherokees, and of which
they were dispossessed, provided there be any such, shall be ascertained
by the United States agent, and a commissioner to be appointed by the Cherokee
authorities; and, should they be unable to agree, they shall select an umpire,
whose decision shall be final; and the several amounts found due shall be
paid by the Cherokee Nation or the salines returned to their respective owners.
ARTICLE 8. The United States agree to pay to the
Cherokee Nation the sum of two thousand dollars for a printing-press, materials,
and other property destroyed at that time; the sum of five thousand dollars
to be equally divided among all those whose arms were taken from them previous
to their removal West by order of an officer of the United States; and the
further sum of twenty thousand dollars, in lieu of all claims of the Cherokee
Nation, as a nation, prior to the treaty of 1835, except all lands reserved,
by treaties heretofore made, for school funds.
ARTICLE 9. The United States agree to make a fair
and just settlement of all moneys due to the Cherokees, and subject to the
per capita division under the treaty of 29th December, 1835, which said
settlement shall exhibit all money properly expended under said treaty, and
shall embrace all sums paid for improvements, ferries, spoliations, removal,
and subsistence, and commutation therefor, debts and claims upon the Cherokee
Nation of Indians, for the additional quantity of land ceded to said nation;
and the several sums provided in the several articles of the treaty, to be
invested as the general funds of the nation; and also all sums which may
be hereafter property allowed and paid under the provisions of the treaty
of 1835. The aggregate of which said several sums shall be deducted from
the sum of six millions six hundred and forty-seven thousand and sixty-seven
dollars, and the balance thus found to be due shall be paid over, per capita,
in equal amounts, to all those individuals, heads of families, or their legal
representatives, entitled to receive the same under the treaty of 1835, and
the supplement of 1836, being all those Cherokees residing east at the date
of said treaty and the supplement thereto.
ARTICLE 10. It is expressly agreed that nothing
in the foregoing treaty contained shall be so construed as in any manner
to take away or abridge any rights or claims which the Cherokees now residing
in States east of the Mississippi River had, or may have, under the treaty
of 1835 and the supplement thereto.
ARTICLE 11. Whereas the Cherokee delegations contend
that the amount expended for the one year's subsistence, after their arrival
in the west, of the Eastern Cherokees, is not properly chargeable to the
treaty fund: it is hereby agreed that that question shall be submitted to
the Senate of the United States for its decision, which shall decide
whether the subsistence shall be borne by the United States or the Cherokee
funds, and if by the Cherokees, then to say, whether the subsistence shall
be charged at a greater rate than thirty-three, 33/100 dollars per head;
and also the question, whether the Cherokee nation shall be allowed interest
on whatever sum may be found to be due the nation, and from what date and
at what rate per annum.
ARTICLE 12. [Stricken out.]
ARTICLE 13. This treaty, after the same shall
be ratified by the President and Senate of the United States, shall be obligatory
on the contracting parties.
In testimony whereof, the said Edmund Burke, William Armstrong, and Albion
K. Parris, Commissioners as aforesaid, and the several delegations aforesaid,
and the Cherokee nation and people, have hereunto set their hands and seals,
at Washington aforesaid, this sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fourty-six.
Edmund Burke.
Wm. Armstrong.
Albion K. Parris.
Delegation of the Government Party:
Jno. Ross,
W. S. Coody,
R. Taylor,
C. V. McNair,
Stephen Foreman,
John Drew,
Richard Fields.
Delegation of the Treaty Party:
Geo. W. Adair
J. A. Bell
S. Watie,
Joseph M. Lynch,
John Huss,
Brice Martin (by J. M. Lynch, his attorney).
Delegation of the Old Settlers:
Jno. Brown,
Wm. Dutch,
John L. McCoy,
Richard Drew,
Ellis F. Phillips.
(To each of the names of the Indians a seal is affixed.)
In presence of--
Joseph Bryan, of Alabama.
Geo. W. Paschal.
John P. Wolf, (Secretary of Board.)
W. S. Adair.
Jno. F. Wheeler.
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