Treaty of Payne's Landing

[1] Determined to move the Seminoles west, the United States Department of War appointed James Gadsden to negotiate a new treaty with them.

In the spring of 1832 the Seminoles on the reservation were called to a meeting at Payne's Landing on the Oklawaha River.

"[5] Maj. Ethan Allen Hitchcock recorded in his journal, "The treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832 by which it was attempted to remove the Indians, was a fraud upon them and they have in fact never agreed to emigrate.

"[6] Several villages had been allowed to stay in the area of the Apalachicola River after 1823 when the rest of the Seminoles had been forced into the new reservation.

[7] The United States Senate finally ratified the Treaty of Payne's Landing in April 1834.

The Seminoles informed Thompson that they had no intention of moving, and that they did not feel bound by the Treaty of Payne's Landing.

In his letter, Jackson said, "Should you ... refuse to move, I have then directed the Commanding officer to remove you by force."

I will make the white man red with blood; and then blacken him in the sun and rain ... and the buzzard live upon his flesh."

The next day, in order to secure his release, Osceola agreed to abide by the Treaty of Payne's Landing and to bring his followers in.

In November, Chief Charley Emathla, wanting no part of a war, led his people towards Fort Brooke where they were to board ships to go west.

On the same day as the Dade Massacre, Osceola and his followers shot and killed Wiley Thompson and six others outside of Fort King.