CHEROKEE TREATY.
CONCLUDED JULY 8, 1817
SUMMARY.
Source: The Oklahoma Red Book By Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Seth K Corden, William
B Richards
Compiled by Seth K Corden, Published by s.n., 1912
Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer
Articles of treaty at the Cherokee Agency, within the Cherokee Nation, between Major General Andrew Jackson, Joseph
McMinn, Governor of the State of Tennessee, and General David Merriwether, Commissioners Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America, of the one part, and the chiefs, head men, and warriors, of the Cherokee Nation, east
of the Mississippi river and the chiefs, head men, and warriors, of the Cherokees on the Arkansas river, and their
deputies, John D. Chisholm and James Rogers, duly authorized by the Chiefs of the Cherokees on the Arkansas river
,in open council by written power of attorney, duly signed and executed, in presence of Joseph Sevier and William
Ware.
Whereas, in the autumn of the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, a deputation from the upper and lower
Cherokee towns, duly authorized by their Nation, went to the City of Washington, the first named to declare to
the President of the United States their anxious desire to engage in the pursuits of agriculture and civilized
life, in the country they then occupied, and to make known to the President of the United States the impracticability
of inducing the Nation at large to do this, and to request the establishment of a division line between the upper
and lower towns, so as to include all the waters in the Hiwassee river to the upper Town, that by thus contracting
their society within narrow limits, they proposed to begin the establishment of fixed laws and a regular government;
the deputies from the lower towns to make known their desire to continue the hunter life, and also the scarcity
of game where they then lived, and, under those circumstances, their wish to remove across the Mississippi river
on some vacant lands of the United States. And whereas the President of the United States maturely considering
the petitions of both parties, on the ninth day of January, A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine, including
other subjects, answered those petitions as follows: "The United States, my children, are the friends of both
parties, and so far as can be reasonably asked, they are willing to satisfy the wishes of both. Those who remain
may be assured of our patronage, our aid, and good neighborhood. Those who wish to remove are permitted to send
an exploring party to reconnoiter the country on the waters of the Arkansas and White Rivers, and the higher up
the better, as they will be the longer unapproachable by settlements, which will begin at the mouths of those rivers.
The regular districts of the government of St. Louis are already laid off to the St. Francis. "
When this party shall have found a tract of country suiting the emigrants, and not claimed by other Indians, we
will arrange with them and you the exchange of that for a just portion of the country they leave, and to a part
of which, proportioned to their numbers, they have a right. Every aid toward their removal, and what will be necessary
for them there will then be freely administered to them; and when established in their new settlements, we shall
still consider them as our children, give them the benefit of exchanging their peltires for what they will want
at our factories, and always hold them firmly by the hand."
And whereas, the Cherokees relying on the promises of the President of "the United States, as above cited,
did explore the country on the west side of the Mississippi, and made choice of the country on the Arkansas and
White rivers, and settled themselves down upon the United States Lands, to which no other tribe of Indians have
any just claim, and have duly notified the President of the United States thereof, and for their anxious desire
for the full and complete ratification of his promise, and to that end, as notified by the President of the United
States, have sent on their agents, with full powers to execute a treaty, relinquishing to the United States all
the right, title and interest, to all lands of right to them belonging as part of the Cherokee Nation, which they
have left, and which they are about to leave, proportioned to their numbers, including, with those now on the Arkansas,
those who are about to move thither, and to a portion of which they have an equal right agreeable to their numbers.
Now. know ye. that the contracting parties, to carry into full effect the before recited promises with good faith,
and to promote a continuation of friendship with their brothers on the Arkansas river, and for that purpose to
make an equal distribution of the annuities secured to be paid by the United States to the whole Cherokee Nation,
have agreed and concluded on the following articles, viz:
Art. 1. The Chiefs, head men, and warriors of the whole Cherokee Nation, cede to the United States all the lands
lying north and east of the following boundaries, viz: Beginning at the high shoals of the Appalachy river, and
running thence along the boundary line between the Creek and Cherokee Nations, westwardly to the Chatahouchy river;
thence up the Chatahouchy river to the mouth of the Souque creek; thence continuing with the general course of
the river until it reaches the Indian boundary line, and, should it strike the Turrurar river, thence with its
meanders, down said river to its mouth. in part of the proportion of land in the Cherokee Nation east of the Mississippi,
to which those now on the Arkansas and those about to remove there are justly entitled.
Art. 2. The chiefs, head men, and warriors of the whole Cherokee Nation, do also cede to the United States, all
the land lying north and west of the following boundary lines, viz: Beginning at the Indian boundary line that
runs from the north bank of the Tennessee river, opposite to the mouth of Hiwassee river, at a point on the top
of WaMen's Ridge, where it divides the waters of the Tennessee river, from those of Sequatchie river; thence along
the said ridge southwardly, to the bank of the Tennessee river, at a point near to a place called the Negro Sugar
Camp, opposite to the upper end of the first island above Running Water Town; thence westwardly, on a straight
line to the mouth of Little Sequatchie river; thence up said river to its main fork; thence up its norther most
fork to its source; and thence due west to the Indian boundary line.
Art. 3. It is also stipulated b the contracting parties, that a census shall be taken of the whole Cherokee Nation,
during the month of June, in the year of our Lord. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighteen, in the following manner,
vii: That the census of those on the east side of the Mississippi river, who declare their intention of removing,
shall be taken by a commissioner appointed by the President of the United States, and a commissioner appointed
by the Cherokees on the Arkansas river, and those moving there, and whom at that time, declare their intention
of removing there, shall be taken by a commissioner appointed by the President of the United States, and. one appointed
by the Cherokees east of the Mississippi river.
Art. 4. The contracting parties do also stipulate that the annuity due from the United States to the whole Cherokee
Nation for the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighteen. is to be divided between the two parts of the Nation
in proportion to their numbers, agreeably to the stipulations contained in the third article of this treaty; and
to be continued to be divided thereafter in proportion to their numbers; and the lands to be apportioned and surrendered
to the United States, agreeably to the aforesaid enumeration, as the proportionate part, agreeably to their numbers,
to which those who have removed, and who declare their intention to remove, have a just right including these lands
ceded in the first and second articles of this treaty.
Art. 5. The United States binds themselves, in exchange for the lands ceded in the first and second articles hereof,
to give to that part of the Cherokee Nation on the Arkansas river as much land on said river and White river as
they have or may hereafter receive from the Cherokee Nation east of the Mississippi, acre for acre, as the just
proportion due that part of the Nation on the Arkansas agreeably to their numbers; which is to commence on the
north side of the Arkansas river, at the mouth of Point Remove or Budwell's Old Place; thence by a straight line,
northwardly to strike Chataunga mountain, or the hill first above Shield's Ferry on White river, running up and
between said rivers for complement, the banks of which rivers to be the lines; and to have the above line from
the point of beginning to the point on White river, run and marked, which shall be done soon after the ratification
of this treaty;and all citizens of the United States, except Mrs. P. Lovely, who is to remain where she lives during
life, removed from within the bounds as above named. And it is further stipulated that the treaties heretofore
between the Cherokee Nation and the United States are to continue in full force with both parts of the Nation,
and both parts thereof entitled to all the immunities and privileges which the old Nation enjoyed under the aforesaid
treaties! the United States deserving the right of establishing factories, a military post, and road within the
boundaries above defined.
Art. 6. The United States do also bind themselves to give to all the poor warriors who may remove to the western
side of the Mississippi river, one rifle gun and ammunition, one blanket and one brass kettle, or, in lieu of the
brass kettle, a heaver trap, which is to be considered as a full compensation for the improvements which they may
leave; which articles are to be delivered at such point as the President of the United States may direct; and to
aid in the removal of the emigrants, they further agree to furnish flat bottom boats and provisions sufficient
for that purpose; and to those emigrants whose improvements add real value to their lands, the United States agrees
to pay a full valuation for the same, which is to be ascertained by a commissioner appointed by the President of
the United States for that purpose, and paid for as soon after the ratification of this treaty as practicable.
The boats and provisions promised to the emigrants are to be furnished by the agent on the Tennessee river, at
such time and place as the emigrants may notify him of; and it shall be his duty to furnish the same.
Art. 7. And for all improvements which add real value to the lands lying within the boundaries ceded to the United
States by the first and second articles of this treaty, the United States do agree to pay for at the time, and
to be valued in the same manner as stipulated in the sixth article of this treaty; or in lieu thereof, to give
in exchange improvements of equal value, which the emigrants may leave, and for which they are to receive pay.
And it is further stipulated, that all these improvements, left by the emigrants within the bounds of the Cherokee
Nation east of the Mississippi river, which add real value to the lands, and for which the United States shall
give a consideration, and not so exchanged shall be rented to the Indians by the agent, year after year, for the
benefit of the poor and decrepit of that part of the Nation east of the Mississippi until surrendered by the Nation,
or to the Nation. And it is further agreed that the said Cherokee Nation shall not be called upon for any part
of the consideration paid for said improvements at any
future period.
Art. 8. And to each and every head of any Indian family residing on the east side of the Mississippi river, on
the lands that are now, or may hereafter be, surrendered to the United States, who may wish to become citizens
of the United States, the United States do agree to give a reservation of six hundred and forty acres of land,
in a square, to include their improvements, which are to be as near the center thereof as practicable. in which
they will have a life's estate, with a reservation in fee simple to their children, reserving to the widow, the
register of whose names is to be filed in the office of the Cherokee agent , which shall be kept opened until the
census is taken, as stipulated in the third article of this treaty, provided, that if any of the heads of family,
for whom reservations may be made, should remove therefrom, then, in that case, the right to revert to the United
States. And provided further, that the land which may be reserved under this article, be deducted from the amount
which has been ceded under the first and 'second articles of this treaty.
Art. 9. It is also provided by the contracting parties, that nothing in the foregoing articles shall be construed
so as to prevent any of the parties so contracting from the free navigation of all waters mentioned therein.
Art. 10. The whole of the Cherokee Nation do hereby cede to the United States all right, title and claim, to all
reservations made to Doublehead and others, which were reserved to them by a treaty made and entered into at the
City of Washington, bearing date of the Seventh of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and Six.
Art. 11. It is further agreed that the boundary lines of the lands ceded to the United States, by the first and
second articles of this treaty, and the boundary line of the lands ceded by the United States, in the fifth article
of this treaty, is to be run and marked by a commissioner appointed by the Treasurer of the United States, who
shall be accompanied by such commissioners as the Cherokees may appoint; due notice thereof to be given to the
Nation.
Art. 12. The United States do also bind themselves to prevent the intrusion of any of its citizens within the lands
ceded by the first and second articles of this treaty, until the same shall be ratified by the President and Senate
of the United States, and duly promulgated.
Art. 13. The contracting parties do also stipulate that this treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the
contracting parties so soon as the same shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate of the United States. In witness of all and everything herein determined, by and
between the before recited contracting parties, we have, in full and open council, at the Cherokee Agency, this
Eighth Day of July, A. D., One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventeen, set our hands and seal.
Andrew Jackson
Joseph McMinn
D. Merrlweather
United States Commissioners
Richard Brown, his X mark.
Cabbin Smith, his X mark.
Sleeping Rabbit, his X mark.
George Saunders, his X mark.
Roman Nose, his X mark.
Currohe Dick, his X mark.
John Walker, his X mark.
George Lowery.
Richard Taylor.
Walter Adalr.
James Brown.
Kelachule, his X mark.
Sour Mash, his X mark.
Chulioa, his X mark.
Chickasautchee, his X mark.
The Bark of Chota, his X mark.
The Bark of Hightower, his X mark.
Big Half Breed, his X mark.
Leyestlsky, his X mark.
Going Snake, his X mark.
Ch. Hicks.
Young Davis, his X mark.
Souanooka, his X mark.
The Locust, his X mark.
Beaver Carrier, his X mark.
Dreadful Water, his X mark.
Chyula, his X mark.
Ja. Martin.
John McIntosh, his X mark.
Katchee of Cowee. his X mark.
White Man Killer, his X mark.
ARKANSAS CHIEFS.
Toochalar, his X mark.
The Glass, his X mark.
Wassosee, his X mark.
John Jolly, his X mark.
The Gourd, his X mark.
Spring Fog, his X mark.
John D. Chishoim.
James Rogers.
Wawatchy, his X mark.
Attalona, his X mark.
Kulsuttchee, his X mark.
Tuskekeetchee, his X mark.
Chillawgatchee, his X mark.
John Smith, his X mark.
Toosawallata, his X mark.
ln the presence of J. M. Glassel, Secretary to the Commission.
Thos. Wilson, Clerk to the Commissioners.
Walter Adalr. John Speirs, interpreter, his X mark.
A. McCoy, lnterpreter.
James C. Bronaugh, Hospital Surgeon U. S. Army.
lsham Randoiph, Captain 1st Redoubtables.
Wm. Merrlwether.
Return J. Meigs, Agent Cherokee Nation.
