John Ross 
Letter From John Ross 
The Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, to a Gentleman of Philadelphia

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In June, 1834, a paper, purporting to be an agreement, was executed between John H. Eaton, a commissioner, 011 the part of the United States, and And1ew Ross, Thomas J. Park, John West, and James Starr. These individuals were members of the Cherokee community, but were never authorised to act on behalf of the nation, nor did they hold any appointment or office which would carry with it a presumption that they had authority so to act. Yet with these men an instrument purporting to be a treaty, was signed. As soon as it came to the ears of the nation, decisive steps were taken, a protest from about thirteen thousand Cherokees was submitted to the government, disclaim ing the proceeding. It was submitted to the senate for ratifica tion as a treaty properly and duly negotiated, but ln consequence of the representations made to that honourable body, and the evidence exhibited before it, it was rejected. Upon what ground it could ever be claimed to be an authoritative national act, is yet to be learned. By direction of the President this repudiated instrument was, in November, 1834, submitted to the general council of the na tion for its approval. It was, however, again most deliberately and solemnly rejected.