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in consequence of the urgent request of those connected with the United States government & others, as frequently expressed to Mr Ross in letter & conversation, he was induced to convince them that he had no wish whatever to avoid a meeting with the Messrs Ridge or to deny those gentlemen an opportunity for uniting with him for the common good. To prove this, he was even impelled to make the first advance, which he did, by sending them, when they were at the agency, the following letter: Red Clay C:N: July 30. 1835. Gentlemen, Impelled by every feeling of patriotism for the common welfare of the Cherokee people, I have been induced to address you these hasty lines;- and I need not assure you that I am actuated solely by the most disinterested motives; and I trust that you will not misconstrue them. And were you to lay aside all other feelings of a private or personal character, & duly appreciate my motives, great & lasting good may result in restoring brotherly confidence & harmony among ourselves. It has just occurred to me to suggest for the consideration of the most influential & prominent men, that a Special Meeting might be held by us to confer on points in relation to the affairs of our much afflicted nation, and on which it has been so strenuously insisted by the officers of the general Government that we differ and from which they state that distinct parties have grown up among ourselves: If you will signify to me your willingness to accept an invitation to hold such a conference, I will immediately advise with Mr. Lowrey & others and then fix on the time & place and apprise you of the same. The conference should be purely Cherokee & composed of a chosen few selected for their wisdom & moral worth, and whose devotion to the best interest & welfare of the nation alone will influence their deliberation. I am, gentlemen, Your friend and fellow citizen John Ross Major Ridge Mr John Ridge Cherokee Agency.