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 al