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Private
Washington

23d Feby [23rd February] 1826
Sir
The situation of our Treaty is doubtless known to you; & I am therefore relieved from the necessity of going into detail on that subject
From all that I can learn the Senate will refuse to advise the ratification of the one negotiated by the administration, with the Red Sticks -- In this event the President will lay Ours before congress, with a view to its revocation; it being the only course left for him to pursue, with his present erroneous opinions as to its validity Unless indeed a third treaty could be made, securing to us all the lands within our limits- Altho [Although] I deem the latter almost a forlorn hope, yet I consider it as not entirely improbable for the following reasons -- From an attentive examination of the Map which was before the commissioners who entered into the compact of
1802


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(which has been supplied by Mr Gallatin) also the map of the Chattahoochie as laid down by Colo [Colonel] Hawkins, which was Sturges' guide for that river in his map of Georgia- I am induced to believe that if our line leaves the river at the first bend above the mouth of Euchee Creek, for Nickojack, it would cross the river almost immediately-.
Of this I think your excellency will be convinced if you will examine Sturges Map, and at the same time correct an error into which he has fallen as to the length of our northern boundary -- The distance from Commissioners Island to the Tennessee river is there laid down fifty miles too great; as will appear from Ellicott's & [unclear text: Camaks ] surveys. Now Sir if Nickajack is removed fifty miles east you will readily observe that according to Sturges a line from the first bend above Euchee to that place would cross the river immediately
You will perceive that this opinion is founded on the supposition


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that Colo [Colonel] Hawkins map is correct- it was made [deleted text: by ] from notes taken on a journey to the Cherokee [deleted text: [illegible text] ] country, aided by a pocket compass; which altho [although] it precludes the idea of [added text: perfect ] accuracy; yet admits of considerable correctness in the General bearing of the Stream -- These hints will be sufficient to give you the idea I entertain on this subject & by reference to the materials to be found in the Office of the Surveyor General you will have it in your power to test its correctness -- Mr Gallatin in a letter addressed to Mr Cobb on this subject; which was forwarded to Majr [Major] Crawford, says in substance that the reason the line was not to commence at the mouth of Euchee, but at the bend, was, that a starting point should be selected, so as to prevent [deleted text: the ] it from crossing & recrossing the river [deleted text: & that ] This has since been confirmed by Mr G. [Gallatin] in conversation with Mr Cobb The idea then seems to [added text: have ] been, that we are to seek for that point, no matter how far up the river- & Sir my opinion is that it will not be found very


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far from the point designated in the Administration traty [treaty], forty seven miles in a direct line down the river below Buzzard roost -- Should this conjecture be correct we shall lose but a very small part of our land by the ratification of this new treaty This however does not change the principle if we are entitled to any we are to the whole & no one can feel more disposed to insist upon our right than I do- It is has occurred to me that if we are driven far up the River for our starting point, that upon the rejection of the treaty now before the Senate, if a representation of these facts are made to the Administration; they might be induced to enter into another arrangement with the Indians securing all the lands within our limits, especially if it could be made [missing word: to ] appear, that such an arrangement would vary very little from the one now under consideration- such an adjustment of our difficulty is a "consumation [consummation] devoutly to be wished" -- I have determined not to intimate


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any thing of this kind to the administration, untill [until] I hear from your excellency
Permit me to request you to Send me a map of the country, prepared from the materials in the office of the Surveyor Genl. [General] hearby [hereby] representing the relative positions of Nickajack, Commissioners Island Milledgeville Macon the Agency & Fort Mitchell, from which I shall be able to judge more correctly upon the subject matter of this letter; & which may be of use should circumstances render it proper to communicate farther with the administration
Mr Cobb accords with me in the opinions I have here expressed --

I have the honor to be very respectfully &c [et cetera]
[Signed] Jas [James] Meriwether
His Ex. [Excellency] G [George] M Troup





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Hon: [Honorable] James Meriwether

23 Febry [February] 1826.
Not Ansd. [Answered]

Treaty