of the Indians, induced the completion of this agreement.  Commissioners on the part of the Government were appointed to meet commissioners or delegations from the Indians, to treat for the sale of their lands within the limits of the State of Georgia.  McIntosh favored the sale, Hopothlayohola opposed it.  As a chief, McIntosh was second to his great antagonist in authority, and, in truth, to several other chiefs.  But he was a bold man, with strong will, fearless and aggressive, and he assumed the power to sell.  In the war of 1812-15, he had sided with the Americans, Hopothlayohola with the English; and leading at least half the tribe, McIntosh felt himself able to sustain his authority.  The commissioners met the Indian delegation at the Indian Springs, where negotiations were commenced by a proposition placed before the chiefs, and some days given for their consideration of it.  Their talks or consultations among themselves were protracted and angry, and inconclusive.  Every effort was made to induce Hopothlayohola to accede to the proposition of McIntosh.  The whites united in their efforts to win his consent to sell:  persuasions, threats, and finally large bribes were offered, but all availed nothing.  Thus distracted and divided, they consumed the time for consultation, and met the white commissioners to renew the strife, in open council with these.  Each chief was followed to this council by the members of his band, sub-chiefs, and warriors.  McIntosh announced his readiness to sell, and sustained his position with reasons which demonstrated him a statesman, and wise beyond his people.

“Here in the neighborhood of the whites,” he said, “we are subject to continual annoyance and wrong.  These have continued long, and they have dwarfed our mighty nation to a tribe or two, and our home to one-tenth of its original dimensions.  This must go on if we remain in this proximity, until we shall be lost, and there will be none to preserve our traditions.  Let us sell our lands, and go to the proffered home beyond the Great River.  Our young men have been there:  they have seen it, and they say it is good.  The game is abundant; the lands are broad, and there is no sickness there.”  Turning to Hopothlayohola, who stood, with dignified and proud defiance in his manner, listening, he proceeded:  “Will you go and live with your people increasing and happy about you:  or will you stay and die with them here, and leave no one to follow you, or come to your grave, and weep over their great chief?  Beyond the Great River the sun is as bright, and the sky is as blue, and the waters are as clear and as sweet as they are here.  Our people will go with us.  We will be one, and where we are altogether, there is home.  To love the ground is mean; to love our people is noble.  We will cling to them—­we will do for their good; and the ground where they are will be as dear to us as this, because they will be upon it, and with us.