[Life and Public Services of John Quincy Adams by William H. Seward]@TWC D-Link book
Life and Public Services of John Quincy Adams

CHAPTER X
17/34

After the close of the council, a few of the Creeks, influenced by a chief named M'Intosh, met the United States Commissioners, and formed a treaty on their own responsibility, ceding to the General Government all the Creek lands in Georgia and Alabama.

When intelligence of this treaty was circulated among the Indians, they were filled with indignation.

Their General Council met--resolved not to sanction a treaty obtained in a manner so dishonorable and illegal--and despatched a party of Indians to the residence of M'Intosh, who immediately shot him and another chief who had signed the treaty with him.
This surreptitious treaty was transmitted to Washington, and under a misapprehension of the manner in which it was secured, was ratified by the Senate, on the 3d of March, 1825, the last day of Mr.Monroe's administration.Gov.Troup, acting under this treaty, sent surveyors into the Creek Territory, to lay out the land in lots, which were to be distributed among the white inhabitants of Georgia, by lottery.

The Indians resisted this encroachment, and prepared to defend their rights by physical force--at the same time sending to Washington for protection from the General Government.

The authorities of Georgia insisted upon a survey, and ordered out a body of militia to enforce it.
On hearing of this state of affairs, President Adams despatched a special agent to inquire into the facts of the case.


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