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Red Clay Council Ground Oct 14th 1835 To the Chiefs, Head Men & Warriors of the Cherokee Indians in General Council assembled

Friends, The United States Commissioners to treat with the Cherokees East, have been informed by your principal chief of this meeting, and that you will be prepared to act definitively upon such business as the commissioners may submit for your consideration. The commissioners have the pleasure to inform you, that they are prepared at their council to enter into negotiations for a settlement of all the difficulties between the Cherokee and the United States; and for a cession of all their lands east of the Mississippi; on the basis of the award of the Senate, for the same - being five millions of dollars that there may be no misunderstandings, we inform you, that we deem in unnecessary to submit to this Council the proportions for a treaty which have already been explained to the nation of the council of Running Waters; because we understand there are objections to some points which the commissioners have powers to alter; and we are happy to assure you that there is every disposition on the part of the commissioners to conclude a treaty as favorable and satisfactory to the Indians as their instructions will enable them to do. Candor, however compels them to say, that if the present council do not conclude a treaty, the commissioners will then convene the council of the nation at such a time and place as they may think best, to submit the propositions as they now stand. We also feel authorized to assure you, that the President of the United States will receive no delegation of your nation at Washington to settle their difficulties if they reject the overtures now made to them by the government of the United States . Whatever is done in this matter, must be done with the nation. Very respectfully your obedient servant John F. Schermerhorn Com. to treat with the Cherokee East