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Gentlemen, In your letter of the 28th ultimo you stated your readiness to accept for yourselves and to recommend to the Cherokee people to accept such a sum for their claims East of the Mississippi river, as the Senate of the United States might deem just. The Senate have, by a resolution, stated as their opinion, that 'a sum not exceeding five millions of dollars should be paid to the Cherokee Indians for all their lands and professions(?) East of the Mississippi river'. The President wishes now, as he has always done heretofore, to treat with yyou in a spirit of candor as well as liberality. He has, therefore, directed me to communicate to you, at once, the resolution of the Senate, and to state his willingness to enter into a negotiation with you, for the cession(?) of all your claims, East of the Mississippi, upon condition that the whole amount of the consideration to be given shall not exceed the above mentioned sum. This you were before informed should be done, and the pledge will be redeemed with fidelity. I am now ready to receive your propositions, conceivinf the various stipulations to be embodied in a treaty, for the protection of private rights and for such arrangements as may be necessary for the removal and re-establishment of your people. As I have already stated, it in the earnest wish of the President, that you should all unite together, and co-operate in the restoration of harmony and good feeling among yourselves. This object is second only to that of doing justice to your