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22 removed to the Arkansas, and now ask your common father, the President, to carry into effect his promise made to them in January 1809, by laying off to them a proportion of country in the Arkansas, for an equal portion of the country which they have left, and to a part of which they have a right proportioned to their numbers. This, then, is the first object of this meeting - to arrange between the Cherokees now here, and those who have removed to the Arkansas, including with the latter those who may declare their intention of removing to that place, the quantity of land to be given there for an equal quantity here. To do justice to all, it is necessary to ascertain, not only the numbers there now, but the number who really wish to remove, as, in the alotment of lands for the Cherokees on the Arkansas, an eye will not only be kept to the number already removed, but to those whose intentions are to do so, and the division made accordingly. Friends & Brothers Part of your nation having seated themselves on the Arkansas, with the consent of the whole nation, and under the promise of your father the President to exchange any unclaimed lands for their own, their chiefs, by their agents, who here profess to have made their choice to remain where they are & claim the ratification of the agreements; it therefore becomes necessary to mark the boundaries so as to prevent the white people from settling within them; and it becomes necessary for all who intend removing to that country, now to declare it, as after the bounds are marked, and the land laid off, if they remove they will not be entitled to settlement thereon. Your father the President therefore wishes you to speak freely & without any other consideration but your own welfare & happiness - to make your choice - Those who wish to remove, will be assisted by the United States in the means of removing, and the poorer class furnished with implements of husbandry & arms & ammunition for hunting & defence as a full compensation for their improvements here, & for those improvements which add real value to the land, a reasonable compensation will be made, which not only shows the friendship of your father, the President, but his bounty,:- when he gave you the promise, you did not ask this of him: He offers this as the gift of a father. Those who remain & who have a wish to become citizens of the United States, will be secured as such & proper reservations made, which will be theirs so long as they live on it, & at their death shall accrue to their wives & children; in fee simple - reserving the right of dower to the widow. Friends & Brothers The chiefs & warriors of your Nation now on the Arkansas & who have settled there with you, as well as the consent of your common father the President, insist that they have a right to an interest in the annuities stipulated to be paid to the nation by the United States. This appears to be reasonable & just, as