25. John Ross, et al, to George R. Gilmer, 26 October 1835
Sir
The undersigned, the principal chief, the assistant principal chief, the committee and council of the Cherokee Nation, trust you will appreciate the purity of their motive for thus addressing you. You are aware of the distressing situation in which our country stands. We are the earlier possessors of the soil, which we yet retain, but where events which we have had no share whatever in producing surround us with all the anxieties and privations of war, though in a perfect state of peace. Various attempts have been made to arrange our difficulties, and upon conditions which may satisfy the people. We have been misrepresented - we have been slandered. The general government of the United States has been swayed by agents of its own, who do not enter into the feelings of our nation, and who adopt a course in reference to it, which has made the nation distrustful. The Cherokees will only put faith in those whose devotedness to them has been tried. They have appointed a delegation to settle their difficulties. To accomplish this, they have invested that delegation with the fullest powers. If sources of irritation are now avoided, we doubt not all will be accomplished which can be desired, on the close of the present session of Congress, should we not greatly misapprehend the feelings of the general government.
Under these circumstances, we have thought it due to ourselves, to you, to the United States, to the interest of humanity, to make this representation, and to ask that you will submit it to the legislature, of which you are the head, and, in submitting it, that you will entreat your legislature, whatever they may have had the purpose of doing, regarding those portions of our nation which border on their possessions, to abstain, at any rate until this negotiation shall be completed, from passing any law, or sanctioning any proceedings which may further harass a people so deeply galled; that a renewal of irritating measures, at a moment so crucial, might entirely defeat the objects of those who have nothing at heart but the peace and happiness of their countrymen, and a permanent friendship with yours. We have the honor to be, sir, your excellency's most obedient servants,
John Ross Geo. Lowery
Rich'd Taylor
25. John Ross, et al, to George R. Gilmer, 26 Oct 1835, in Gary E. Moulton, ed., The Papers of Chief John Ross vol. 1 (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1985), 365-66.