WRITINGS oF SAM HousToN, 1830
179
been sent directly to the Agent, for the purpose of paying them off under the treaty of 1828, and the improvement claims not sold at a discount of 50 per cent. But, instead of doing so, he retained it for six months. Nor is.this the only proof of his design. In a letter of his, to the Secretary of War, dated 18th August, 1829, nearly four months previous to his letter addressed to T. L. McKenney, he wrote as follows relative to an €stablishment occu- pied by the Creek Agent, within the Cherokee boundary. "The improvements occupied as the Crc:ek Agency has been a bone of contention between the Cherokees and Creek Agent, and those under him, since October last, the time at which, according to the 3d article of the treaty of 6th May, 1828, between the United States and the Cherokee Nation, their lands were to have been run, and all persons 'unacceptable' to them removed from within their limits. Several unavaUing efforts have been made to get possession of it for them. It is a valuable trade stand, and belongs to them, they having FULLY complied with the tenns of the treaty by surrende1·ing the lands they recently! held, and they are dissatisfied at being kept out of it." Did not the Agent reside upon the lands abandoned by the Cherokees? Did he, or did he not, know that they had surrendered the lands? This was an official document, and what motive could he have for certifying to a falsehood to the Secretary of War? Would the terms used by him have been so unqualified, if they had not been true? Then the assurance given to McKenney in December following, must have been untrue. If "Tekatoka" wishes the charges established, let him go to the War Department. They remain uncontradicted, and the word of "Tekatoka" cannot be taken against the admissions and writings of the late Ex-Agent himself. But, perhaps, "Tekatoka" expects, by recrimination, abuse, and the indulgence of his extravagant imagination, in assailing others, to block all further inquiry. It certainly had ceased in relation to the Ex-Agent until called forth by his late publication; but now he may rest assured that, so far as the late Ex-Agent's official acts were culpable, that they will be examined with candor and impartiality; and, whether "Tekatoka" has had an agency or not, so far as it was official he may be presented in another name to the public. He may rest assured that he will not be unnecessarily
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