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21 Gen: Jackson to the Cherokees, as Commissioner preparatory to the Treaty of 1817.

Friends & Brothers His Excellency Gov McMinn, Gen Merriwether & myself have been appointed by your father the President of the United States, Commissioners on his part to meet the chiefs of the Cherokee Nation, now residing east of the Mississippi, and such of the chiefs of that part of the nation, who now reside on the Arkansas river, who might attend, either personally or by their duly authorized agent, and express his friendly disposition towards you, as your lately elected father, and shake you by the hand with the cordiality of sincere regard. Friends and Brothers About nine years ago, a duly authorized deputation from your nation, went to the city of Washington to see your father, Mr Jefferson, the President of the United States, on the important concerns of your nation, - a part of whom were desirous to obtain lands west of the Mississippi, for a proportionate part of lands here, and part were solicitous to remain & profess their proportionate part here; and betake themselves to agriculture & the industrious occupations of civilized life. Friends & Brothers Your father, the President, after due deliberation, and with the most friendly disposition towards the whole nation, and with the feelings of a father, then said to you - "The United States, my children, are the friends of both parties, and, as far as can reasonably be asked, they will be willing to satisfy the wishes of both; - those who remain may be assured of our patronage, our aid & good neighborhood; - those who wish to remove, are permitted to send an exploring party to reconnoitre the country on the waters of the Arkansas & White Rivers, & the higher up the better, as they will be the longer unapproached by our settlements which will begin at the mouths of those rivers. The regular districts of the government of St Louis are already laid off to the St Francis. When this party shall have found a tract of country fitting the emigrants & not claimed by other Indians, we will arrange with them & you the exchange of that for a joint portion of the country they have, & to a part of which, proportioned to their numbers, they have a right. Friends & Brothers To this arrangement your whole nation then agreed. A great part of your chiefs & warriors under this agreement have removed