The executive machinery under the treaty had in the mean time been
placed in operation, and at the beginning of the year 1838, 2,103
Cherokees had been removed, of whom 1,282 had been permitted to remove
themselves.[445]
Intelligence having reached the President, however, causing
apprehension that the mass of the nation did not intend to remove as
required by the treaty General Winfield Scott was ordered[446] to
assume command of the troops already in the nation, and to collect an
increased force, comprising a regiment of artillery, a regiment of
infantry, and six companies of dragoons. He was further authorized,
if deemed necessary, to call upon the governors of Tennessee, North
Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama for militia and volunteers, not
exceeding four thousand in number, and to put the Indians in motion for
the West at the earliest moment possible, following the expiration of
the two years specified in the treaty.
_Proclamation of General Scott._--On reaching the scene of operations
General Scott issued[447] a proclamation to the Cherokees in which he
announced that--
The President of the United States has sent me with a powerful
army to cause you, in obedience to the treaty of 1835, to join
that part of your people who are already established in prosperity
on the other side of the Mississippi. Unhappily the two years *
* * allowed for that purpose you have suffered to pass away * *
* without making any preparation to follow, and now * * * the
emigration must be commenced in haste. * * * The full moon of May
is already on the wane, and before another shall have passed away
every Cherokee, man, woman, and child * * * must be in motion
to join their brethren in the far West. * * * This is no sudden
determination on the part of the President. * * * I have come
to carry out that determination. My troops already occupy many
positions, * * * and thousands and thousands are approaching from
every quarter to render resistance and escape alike hopeless. * * *
Will you then by resistance compel us to resort to arms? * * * Or
will you by flight seek to hide yourselves in mountains and forests
and thus oblige us to hunt you down? Remember that in pursuit it
may be impossible to avoid conflicts. The blood of the white man
or the blood of the red man may be spilt, and if spilt, however
accidentally, it may be impossible for the discreet and humane
among you, or among us, to prevent a general war and carnage.