"The commissioners for negotiating with the southern Indians may be
instructed to transmit a message to the Cherokees, stating to them as
far as may be proper the difficulties arising from the local claims of
North Carolina, and to assure them that the United States are not
unmindful of the treaty at Hopewell, and as soon as the difficulties
which are at present opposed to the measure shall be removed the
Government will do full justice to the Cherokees.

"The distance of the Choctaws and Chickesaws from the frontier
settlements seems to have prevented those tribes from being involved in
similar difficulties with the Cherokees.

"The commissioners may be instructed to transmit messages to the said
tribes containing assurances of the continuance of the friendship of the
United States and that measures will soon be taken for extending a trade
to them agreeably to the treaties of Hopewell. The commissioners may
also be directed to report a plan for the execution of the said treaties
respecting trade.

"But the case of the Creek Nation is of the highest importance and
requires an immediate decision. The cause of the hostilities between
Georgia and the Creeks is stated to be a difference in judgment
concerning three treaties made between the said parties, to wit, at
Augusta in 1783, at Galphinton in 1785, and at Shoulderbone in 1786.
The State of Georgia asserts and the Creeks deny the validity of the
said treaties.

"Hence arises the indispensable necessity of having all the
circumstances respecting the said treaties critically investigated by
commissioners of the United States, so that the further measures of