[undecipherable] Col's Cross 24 July 1797 The Conference with the Cherokees — the Commissioners of the United States M^r Beverour [undecipherable] Improvers [undecipherable] over the Indian affairs among the Cherokees. The [undecipherable] Agent Ensign Dickenson, and several other persons [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] among Gentlemen who were of the deputation, Elijah Clarke, Marc Lane, John Hunt, John Hague, John Evans, Hezekiah Forbes, John Vanaller, Jacob Womack, [undecipherable] Jones, and John Jones and James Lewis. These Gentlemen were a deputation from the North side of Clinch river above [undecipherable] that and Cumberland mountain, being Campbells [undecipherable] having visited the Commissioners [undecipherable] disappointed [undecipherable] from them did mark the boundary [undecipherable] between the Indian Nations and the United States for the purpose of expressing to them their fears of the settlers, at the running and marking the line [undecipherable] formerly tentatively trace in Cumberland to the [undecipherable] on Cumberland commission [undecipherable] for and Greg Campbell [undecipherable] following statement. They were deputed by their fellow citizens to represent that there was a number of [undecipherable] of matters [undecipherable] formed between [undecipherable] that land [undecipherable] within the claimed Indian lands; That all these had been obtained by fair purchase from North Carolina, under the land laws of [undecipherable] and that the Citizens had commenced [undecipherable] made at considerable expences of money and labour, and that removal from them, with [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to women. That the settlers [undecipherable] the line bordering on Cumberland [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] something [undecipherable] done [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] as at all events, if they were compelled by dire necessity to remove, that there would be on the west side of the river a refuge for them, their families and the wreck of their property. They hoped the Commissioners would be attentive to their fears, and stated, and as they had risqued the line to justify the decision as it is understood. That they will post on the ascertaining this time [undecipherable] after that is ascertained and placed. That they were a [undecipherable] of industrious people who lived by their labour, were not [undecipherable] to Law, and were not well able to express the [undecipherable] of their minds which prevails all the others, but it was their duty to endeavour to make their statement known to the Commissioners and to try what could be done for them. The Commissioners replied at first length on their part. They shewed their Commission. The only justice not to be taken at Turkeyse — a letter from M^r William Blount of the 6^th June to the Secretary of War, and their reply, and stated that the information received by the latter relative to the stoppage of the line was erroneous. That two of Commissioners were of opinion that the line was not the true line, as it would not in its extension [undecipherable: strike] touch the Cumberland, and on a conference it was a piece to stop it. Which was done at [undecipherable: Walton's road] or rather at the 59^th mile. That is a government line was to be run to [undecipherable: ascertain] to termination and if it struck the Cumberland below the Kentucky trace, it was the [undecipherable] the true line would be commanded, on the Cumberland and extended to the point now ascertained to be forty miles above Nashville, on the ridge dividing the waters of Duck river from those of Cumberland. That this line gave a scope of middle country from 20 to 25 miles wide from the [undecipherable] point on the ridge to Waltons road, and there would be a proportionate scope to the end of the line. [undecipherable] the Commissioners [undecipherable] hoped that [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] by giving a preference [undecipherable] they had accepted the trust reposed in them with the intention of executing it in a manner strictly in conformity with their best judgment of the meaning of the [undecipherable] in the Treaty, and they had [undecipherable] to respect the whole of the Cherokee line when [undecipherable]. No relief could not be made. To October [undecipherable] to apply to the Government for redress and to state [undecipherable] in that Survey the President to afford it. They state that the line [undecipherable] question called Campbells line was [undecipherable] 1796, it was operated at [undecipherable: Hopewell] in 1785, in the Holston Treaty of 1791, and was the same as contemplated in the Treaty of 1794. For giving effect to the Holston Treaty. That the guarantee in the Holston Treaty was a solemn and important act which committed the whole Government. That the Indians had expressed on various occasions their desire that the line might be adhered [undecipherable] to the Treaty. That the President had sent a message to the whole nation in August or September last inviting them to send some of their principal Chiefs to Philadelphia for the purpose of fixing on the line for running the [undecipherable: line]. That the Indians went on this invitation and were promised it should be run, and that men should be appointed [undecipherable] might prefix to run the same, and the [undecipherable: running] was fixed for April. They further stated that in the present situation of our public affairs, it appeared to them of the highest importance particularly that the United States should preserve their faith plighted to the Indians. That the United States had some difficulties to encounter in the adjustment of those political concerns, with Spain and with France. That if any thing should arise from that quarter