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Red Clay C.N. July 26.1835. Revd Jms F Schermerhorn US. Commissioner. Sir, It has become proper that I should address you this letter in consequence of the verbal suggestion which you made to the Cherokee people on Wednesday last at the close of the election which took place near Ridge's, for disposing of the annuity due to the nation by the United States Government- that is, as to the expediency of appointing a Committee to meet Gov: Carroll & yourself at the Agency one week from that time, the 29th of this month, for the purpose of holding a conference on the subject of your mission. The people did not deem it expedient for them to take any step on the suggestion, because there was a constituted authority duly authorized by the whole Cherokee people to represent their interests and to attend to the public affairs of the nation;- and, I regret to say, that the shortness of the time you fixed upon, made it impossible for the chiefs & the representatives of the Cherokee people to meet Gov: Carroll at the time & place you suggested. The great fatigue they had undergone in attending the election so remotely from the place of holding the General Council of the Nation, and the agency House, - and the consequent privation which they experienced from the very unexpected & seemingly unnecessary delay in bringing the election to a close, by their exposure to rains, hunger, & in circumstances in connection with the fact that their crops of corn having not, as yet, been generally laid by,- which, when duly considered by the commissions, I cannot doubt will be properly appreciated. Permit me to assure, sir, that it would have given the chiefs and the representatives of the Cherokee people pleasure, had it been practicable for them to have met and taken their old friend & brother soldier, His Excellency Govr Carroll, by the right hand of friendship.- But, their peculiar situation as stated, and the time & place suggested by you, would not allow them to do so. I regret this more especially, as the very reasonable request which I had made thru you to Major Currey on the 7th instant, to change the place which he had designated for holding the election, so as to hold it either at Red Clay or at the Agency,- had not been complied with; because the convenience of the commissioners as well as the chiefs