[Copy] [Secretary of War to Gov^r. Blount — 1796] [undecipherable] them received your letter of the [undecipherable] with its references, and observe the anxiety expressed by you of the [undecipherable] and Creek Chiefs to visit the President on the [undecipherable] being a proper Answer thereto. [undecipherable: A treaty has been] appointed to be held about the [undecipherable] of May ensuing at [undecipherable] and the invitation to the [Indians] to Attend, and instructions to M^r. [undecipherable] for the extension in [undecipherable] are in forwardness to be dispatched. It will therefore be unnecessary to say more at present in reply to the request of the [undecipherable] to inform them of the intention of the President to talk with them at that treaty by the Mouth of his beloved [undecipherable] the Commissioner whom he sends thither for those purposes, and that should the desire be again Manifested, after the treaty, and the Situation[s] things knows no Obstacle in its way, that the President will [have] no Objection to Visit from their Principal Chiefs in the Autumn. with respect to the Cherokees it may also be proper to wait the Issue of the treaty inasmuch as some of its provisions may have Reference to a General System — the Chiefs of this Nation then may be told that after its Conclusion should they declare [to] come in the Autumn that he will be glad to hear them. It will be most convenient that both Visits be made at the same time While on this Subject it may not be improper to [undecipherable] a rule that ought to govern on such Occasions, as visits of this are attended with Considerable Expense to the United States should always be understood when formerly permitted, that it the Principal and Influential chiefs [undecipherable] The information you give of the place of a[undecipherable] and others to a Settlement at the [undecipherable] has induced me to lose no time Answering your letter. It is the expectation of the President you will use all your Authority to prevent it from being Executed — and his Desire that you will explain to [undecipherable] his Associates the Consequences of such a step, and his firm determination to employ the power with which he is instructed to Punish all those who may be concerned in so flagrant a Violation of the Laws — I am Sir with great respect Your Obedient Servant James McHenry Sec^y of War — [His Excellency Gov^r Blount]