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Savannah
May 25th. 1800
His Excellency James Jackson
Dear Sir/
I arrived here yesterday after a passage of 8 days from Philadelphia. not finding my family here I have only time to drop you a few lines on the subject most interesting to Georgia.
The bill establishing a Legislative Assembly at the Natchez & in it authorising [authorizing] the Commissioners of the U. S. to settle finally with us & accept a cession of territory on such terms as they might think reasonable finally passed in the form I last informed you from Pha. [Philadelphia] the claim to enable the Commissioners to settle with individuals by compromise &c [et cetera] any claims to the lands ceded, was struck out in our house which so much displeased the Senate that they kept the bill in jeopardy till 3 days before our rising. the clause inserted as I informed you before to authorise [authorize] the Commr. [Commissioner] to report a statement of facts to Congress on all claims of setters [settlers] & others to any of the said lands with their opinion thereon those interested said was worse than nothing & threatened frequently to destroy the bell if we did not give way.


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we determined however to risque [risk] the responsibility of breaking off all negotiation which the loss of the bill woud [would] have occasioned. rather than suffer the clause to pass which gave power to three men to set aside the acts of a whole State so solemnly done and confirmed by repeated decisions. finally the Senate gave way & agreed to our amendmt. [amendment] & the bill pass'd [passed] . we had immediately after a conversation with the Commr. [Commissioner] when I was very much provoked and mortified to find the proposals they now spoke of so far fell short of what I had great reason to hope from former interviews, & I then very frankly express'd [expressed] myself. the object dearest to us & which we ever kept constantly pictured before them in the most vivid colours [colors], however we have great reason to hope is put in a train to be accomplished. we stated to them that the oakmulgie lands & Tallassee Country must not be promised but actually obtained before our Legislature woud [would] be disposed to go any further in the business. we obtain'd [obtained] in consequence instructions to the Agent of Indian Affairs & authority for you to appoint an Agent on the part of the State to cooperate with him in bringing about a disposition in the Indians to relinquish their claims, & so soon as they will consent to it to call a treaty for that purpose. these instructions I now enclose you that


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no time may be lost in using them to the best advantage. we obtaind [obtained] also proposals which as I said are by no means pleasing & which I expressly told the Commrs. wou'd [Commissioners would] not be agreeable or admissible. they propose to contract for extinguishing the Indian claims on all our renewed lands at the expence [expense] of the U. S. out of funds to be derived from the lands only. also a compensation in addition out of the proceeds of the same lands. this compensation is not named but I cannot doubt they wou'd [would] go as far as one million. they said 500,000. our objection is to the disputation of extinguishing the Indian rights out of funds to arise from the lands I told the Commrs. [Commissioners] never cou'd [could] be removed. they said well get full powers & we will talk further. if we obtain an extension of our settlements over the Oconee immediately or in any short time, we shall do what is most material to the State & any further progress in the negotiation must rest on after explanation. the army are disbanded. The Secy. [Secretary] of State dismissed by the Presidt. [President] & Genl. [General] Marshall put in Office. he is absent from Philada. [Philadelphia] & his acceptance uncertain. Mr. Dexter Secy. [Secretary] at war in place of Mr. Marshall first named who declined. please make known my arrival to Capt. [Captain] M. I shall in a


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in as short a time as possible repair to Louisville to see you and explain fully the progress of our negotiation which cannot be done on paper. in the mean time I need not suggest to you that perhaps it may be best not to communicate too pointedly our proposals or any particulars to any but confidential men. as they are not such as we approve an alarm might arise that nothing cou'd [could] be expected which wou'd [would] be unfortunate. the State of N. [New] York will be unanimous for J -- n. I forgot to mention the Commrs. [Commissioners] in their proposals suggest to the State a transfer of the deposit into the Treasury of the U. S. on their becoming answerable to those who lodged it. we did all we coud [could] to prevent them making this any part of their object but cou'd [could] not. we told them nothing cou'd [could] or wou'd [would] be done on that subject. this is the point I allude to particularly which may best be kept to ourselves.
I most sincerely condole with you on your late loss in your family & heartily pray that the others who were indisposed may have recovered their healths.

I am with great respect & regard Dr. Govr. [Dear Governor] your Sincere friend & obt. Servt. [obedient Servant]
[Signed] Jas. [James] Jones
Please present my Complts. [Compliments] to Capt. [Captain] M. & Capt. [Captain] Johnson
J [James] Jones
May 25th 1800