[Instructions to the Commissioners for hold- ing treaties with the Southern Indians to be [Private]] Instructions to the Commissioners for negotiating a Treaty with the Tribes of Indians in the Southern department for the purpose of establishing peace, between the United States and the said Tribes. — Gentlemen, Several circumstances rendering it probable that hostilities may have commenced, or are on the eve of commencing between the State of North Carolina and the Cherokee Nation of Indians, and between the State of Georgia and the Creek Nation of Indians — You are to use every endeavour to restore peace and harmony between the said States and the said Nations on terms of Justice and harmony. The great source of contention between the said States & the Indian tribes being boundaries, you will carefully enquire into, and ascertain the boundaries claimed by the respective States, and altho' honoured are of opinion that they might constitutionally fix the bounds between any State and an Independent tribe of Indians, yet unwilling to have a difference subsist between the general Government & that of Individual States, they wish you so to conduct the matter, that the States may not conceive their legislative Rights in any manner infringed, taking care at the same time, that whatever bounds are agreed upon, they may be described in such terms as shall not be liable to misconstruction and misrepresentation, but may be made clear to the conceptions of the Indians as well as the Whites. The present treaty having for its principal object the restoration of Peace — no Cession of land is to be demanded of the Indian tribes. You are to use the utmost caution to ascertain who are the leading Men among the [National] tribes; the real head Men and Warriors. These you will spare no pains to attach to the interest of the United States, by removing as far as may be all causes of future animosity or quarrels — by kind treatment and assurances of protection — by presents of a permanent nature — and by using every endeavour to conciliate the affections of the white people inhabiting the frontiers towards them. You will encourage the Indians to give Notice to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs of any design that may be [formed] by any neighbouring Indian tribe, or by any person whatever, against the peace of the United States. — You will insist that all Prisoners of whatever Age, Sex or complexion be delivered up, and that all fugitive Slaves belonging to Citizens of the United States be restored. (Signed) Cha Thomson Sec^y. True copy from the original. [H. Knox?][undecipherable] Secretary