When the time came for the removal of the Big Swamp Indians they were so notified.  But having been previously informed that they would be expected to go, they did nothing in the way of planting crops, and were destitute of food.  Corn was distributed by the agents to the most needy.  It was concluded to make another effort to secure their peaceful removal, and on April 22, 1835, several hundred of them assembled in council.  After the council was opened General Thompson explained to them the treaty of Payne’s Landing, and read a letter from President Jackson, in which he besought them as his children, to whom he had always acted honestly and kind, to comply with the treaty and go to the lands selected for them, telling them they must go; that they had sold all their land and did not have a piece “as big as a blanket to sit upon,” and had no right to stay.  The letter concluded:  “If you listen to the voice of friendship and truth, you will go quietly and voluntarily; but should you listen to the bad birds that are always flying about you, and refuse to remove, I have then directed the commanding officer to remove you by force.  This will be done.  I pray the Great Spirit, therefore, to incline you to do what is right.”  After the letter had been read through and interpreted, Jumper rose and opposed the treaty, but deprecated force.  Miconopy and others sustained Jumper’s views as to the treaty, but were silent on the question of forcible resistance.  General Clinch then addressed them, and told them the time of expostulation had passed, that persuasion had been exhausted, and wound up by telling them “it was the question now whether they would go of their own accord or go by force.”  On the next morning the chiefs and warriors sent word to the agent that they wanted to talk to him.  On assembling, Miconopy was absent.  Jumper, the spokesman, announced that he stood firm, but the veteran chief Fueta Susta Hajo (Black Dirt) spoke passionately and eloquently in favor of the execution of the treaty.  After he had concluded, General Thompson placed on the table a paper, dated April 23, 1835, which pledged the Seminole tribe to voluntarily acknowledge the treaty at Payne’s Landing on May 9, 1832, and the treaty concluded at Fort Gibson on March 28, 1833 (the one signed by the seven chiefs who had gone to visit the country to which the Seminoles were to remove), and freely submitting and assenting to said treaties in all their provisions.  This paper received the signatures of eight principal chiefs, among them Fueta Susta Hajo and eight subchiefs.  Five of the principal chiefs, Jumper among them, stood aloof and would not sign.  Miconopy, who was absent, sent word by Jumper that he would not abide by the treaty.  Upon this the agent said he would no longer regard Miconopy as a chief, and said his name should be stricken from the council of the nation.  This action on the part of the agent was arbitrary and wholly unauthorized, and was severely censured by General Cass, Secretary of War.