Bonneville, Benjamin Louis Eulalie de (1796-1878) to [unknown recipient]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01233.06 Author/Creator: Bonneville, Benjamin Louis Eulalie de (1796-1878) Place Written: [s.l.] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa 22 July 1839 Pagination: 2 p. ; 20 x 13 cm. Order a Copy
Written to unidentified general. Undated but probably June 22 1839 (or a few days later) when Elias Boudinot, Major Ridge and John Ridge were assassinated for supporting the Treaty of Echota, which relocated the Cherokee. Stand Watie (mentioned herein) escaped assassination.
General-Capt. Armstong Sup. of Ind. Affairs reached here from Mississippi to take on a delegation of the treaty party of Cherokees-about 750 men, women & children have fled beyond the limits of the Nation for safety-
Murders are still continued-Light horse or police companies are assigned to each district three companies-are certainly very summary dealers in justice-'tis indeed a deplorable state of things-They have good lands -& if properly administered, no people could be happier- Congress will certainly have to legislate -to do some [2] thing for this afflicted people-a governor & council to act in all criminal matters-or something of the kind-
Stand Wattie [sic] has collected around him 120 Cherokees & he is determined not to leave the nation-Says he will not act on the offensive -or on the defensive & leaves the decision of their present condition to the Presdt. U.S.
Yours-
B. L. E. Bonneville
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