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    Confidential suggestions as to how the Treaty with the Pottawotamies may be made viz:              March 1846

Sent Majr. Andrews & one or two other persons with him as Commissioners or send him alone if you think best. Sent him because he knows exactly what was agreed on here last fall, & because [underline] the Indians asked him to go & to take with him that paper (meaning the written proposal)

    Send up when you please, say in June, July or August.  The best time would be when the payment was ready to be made, that would be the proper time, & would salve expenses to the U. S.  Let Majr. Andrews take up with him some troops from Fort Leavenworth, say 20 to 30 mounted men, to keep order, Keep whiskey dealers, mischief makers & loafers out of the Indian Country.   The U. S. Flag should be exhibited & Maj'r. Andrews should appear among them in his uniform, so as to  command respect and make the proper impression.  I have seen much of these Indian negotiations, & this would be my plan
    Let your Instructions be as broad & liberal as you can so as to cover entirely the proposition.
    Leave the Nation fully at liberty to set apart and provide money out of their $850, 000, to pay their debts.  Let them have upon the ratification of the Treaty, say 80 to $100.000 - for this object. It might be put in the Treaty "payable to the principal chiefs, or to some person as Trustee, for the purpose of enabling the nation to settle their affairs "and with this the nation can pay their debts.-
    Let the Treaty provide for perfecting their Titles to those former
                     
                                                                             [in pencil]  *box Ayer MS 3067