It will be remembered that by the treaty of Payne’s Landing it was stipulated that seven chiefs should be sent to examine the lands to which it was proposed to remove the Seminoles.  They were to report its general aspect and fertility to the nation, but were not invested with power to ratify the treaty.  That was the province of the nation in general council.  Jumper, as stated in these pages, was one of the chiefs selected for the purpose of examining and reporting upon the new country.  General Thompson, the agent, had told the chiefs in council that “no person has a right to say to you, You shall go, or that you shall accede to the proposition made to you by the Creeks; but it is left, as it should be, entirely optional with you.”  This is in singular contrast to the words heretofore quoted from the agent, and altogether different from his assurance to one of the chiefs:  “The President, backed by the Secretary of War” (the Indian Bureau was then under the jurisdiction of the War Department) “and the whole Congress, never should compel me to act so dishonorably as to violate the treaty [of Camp Moultrie] made with your people.  If such a thing were required of me I would spurn the President’s commission and retire to the bosom of my family.”  General Thompson reported to the authorities at Washington what had taken place, as just related, and stated that, in view of the circumstances, no doubt remained that the Indians intended to resist the execution of the treaty of Payne’s Landing.  After giving a full statement of the situation, he felt it his “imperious duty” to urge the necessity of a strong re-enforcement at Fort King, and the station of a strong force at Tampa Bay, as early as possible.  “An imposing force, thus marshaled to coerce the refractory people, would have the effect to crush the hopes of the chiefs and those who had been tampering with them into a proper respect for the Government, afford protection to the neighboring white settlements, and supersede the necessity of Holata Amathla and his followers fleeing the country.”  At this time the force at the two posts mentioned was two hundred and thirty-five men.  General Thompson, sustained by Governor William P. Duval, continued to urge upon the Government, an increase of the military force.  The latter, in a letter to the Secretary of War, informed that official that even with a respectable military force stationed at Fort Brooke and Tampa Bay the agent and superintendents would have much difficulty in carrying the treaty of Payne’s Landing into effect.  The necessity for additional military force was urged by Generals Clinch and Eaton and Lieutenant Joseph W. Harris, the disbursing agent.  These representations went unheeded.  In the whole of Florida there were but two hundred and fifty men of the United States army, while more than three thousand were stationed at other convenient points totally inactive.