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Department of War April 14th 1838, Gentlemen, The President has referred to this Department your letter to him of yesterday's date, with its enclosures, and in conformity with his directions I hasten to reply to it in the following manner. In this communication you say "that since our ardent desire to have settled the differences between the United States and our Nation, by retaining a portion of our territory, and becoming citizens, with all the privileges of citizens, of the United States, has been entirely rejected by the Government, we are perfectly ready, under the necessity of the case, to meet the views of the United States by entering into such a treaty of entire cession forever of Cherokee country, as our duty to our constituents will permit." In the communication of Mr Mason to you of the 20th of November last, you are informed that "the Executive cannot, were he so disposed, alter the essential features of the treaty of December 1835" -- that "it is considered here as a strikeout: kind binding instrument" -- and that "having been ratified by the Senate of the United States, the States interested have a constitutional right to insist upon its execution; and the President is bound to carry its stipulations into effect;" and in the letter of the Secretary of War to you, dated the 27th of the following month, you were told that "Mr Mason's letter was submitted to me before it was sent to you -