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532 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
these were silent, refusing to accept anything of the commissioners, dis
daining to enter the tents in which the latter held camp, and remaining
outside with arms folded, in a downpour of rain. Before leaving the
nation, these commissioners visited Chief Hicks, who gave them a' patient
hearing and then finally asked if they would give the Cherokees $2 per
acre. To this the commissioners returned a negative answer.
"Very well, then," said Hicks, "we know its value. As for the claims
your people have against us, i. e., for property carried off by the Indians,
we can pay them without selling our land.''
President Monroe was not in sympathy with Georgia's demand. At
any rate he declined to take any radical action. During this same year
he sent a message to Congress in which he said: "The Indian titles
are not affected in the slightest circumstance by the compact [of 1802]
and there is no obligation to remove the Indians by'force." To this con
tention, Governor Troup replied in a characteristic letter. Congress was
more considerate of Georgia's just claims; and after much discussion a
committee was appointed to report on the obligations involved in the
compact of 1802. This committee's report was most emphatic to the
effect that the Federal Government was bound by the terms of this agree
ment to take immediate steps looking toward a removal of the Indians.
But another presidential election was approaching. Nothing was done,
therefore, at this time, pending a change of administrations.
Between 1823 and 1825 several new counties were created. ' In 1823
Decatur County was organized out of Early. In 1824, "Ware was formed
from Irwin, while a new county called Upson was formed from Craw-
ford and Pike. In 1825, Thomas County was formed out of Decatur
and Irwin; Baker was detached from Early; Butts was organized out
of Henry and Monroe; Lowndes was erected out of Irwin; and Taliaferro
was formed out of lands belonging to five counties, to wit: Greene, Han
cock, Oglethorpe, "Warren and Wilkes, a circumstance which accounts
for the local name formerly given to this region: Five Points.