Many of the leaders felt it was impossible.

The crossing of the Snake River alone, with herds of horses and cattle, with families and elderly people and children, would be enormously difficult and dangerous.

Toohoolhoolzote argued forcefully that the land could not be sold, that the earth was their mother and could not be given away by treaty, and that Howard had no authority to issue such an order.

Howard had Toohoolhoolzote arrested and held for several days to demonstrate that he did have authority, or at least that he had soldiers.