[Letter], 1851 July 14 [?], Treasury Department [to] Col[onel] A. M. Mitchell, Washington / William L. Hodge

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Treasury Department
July [unclear text: 14th ] 1851
Col A. M. Mitchell
Washington
Sir --
You having been appointed special agent for paying off Indians in the old States, and particularly the North Carolina Indians their removal and subsistence fund, under the authority contained in the ninth section of the Indian appropriation act approved the
27th February 1851, I transmit herewith for your guidance a statement showing the number and names of the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina entitled to receive payment of interest under the provisions of the act of the
29th July 1848, also the amounts of fees retained, and the amounts due to each Indian on the
29th July 1851, making the aggregate sum due and payable on the
29th of this month, twenty two thousand and six hundred and seventy two 77/100 dollars, as prepared in detail in the office of the 2nd Auditor of the Treasury, upon the report of the Secretary of the Interior of
17th September 1850, made in pursuance of the 4th Section of the act of
29th July 1848. The above sum of twenty two thousand six hundred and seventy two 77/100 will be advanced to you.
In making the


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payments, in pursuance of the foregoing, you will be governed by the following general principles -- viz [videlicet] --
To all Indians of lawful age now living, payment of the respective sums due to each to be made to the Indian direct.
All sums due to minor children now deceased to be paid to the parents if living.
In cases of a deceased wife or husband the amount due to be paid to the survivor --
In all such instances where the deceased left neither father, mother nor husband, nor wife, (as the case may be) then to be paid to the legal representative (using all diligence to ascertain the true representative) and in cases of conflict between administrators upon the same estate to pay to the one who in your judgment you may think most responsible.
Where any portion of the amount to be paid has been legally assigned to other parties for a valuable consideration by those who were legally authorised to receive it, and to make such assignment you are authorized to respect such assignments, and to pay the amount to the assignee, whenever you are convinced that the transaction has been made in good faith and on fair and


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and legal grounds.
At your suggestion, and for the purpose of assisting you, not only in the performance of the duty, but also in the protection of the money [unclear text: Mr. L. R. Smoot ] has been detailed to accompany and act with you, in carrying into effect the object of your mission, and it is desireable [desirable] that the whole business should be closed up with as much promptness as its nature and circumstances will admit.
The sum of five hundred dollars has been advanced to you on account of your compensation and the expences [expenses] of the commission -- the whole appropriation of which being limited to one thousand dollars, that sum must not in any case be succeeded for your compensation and the entire expences [expenses], including those of [unclear text: Mr Smoot ], and all contingencies attending the business --
Such portion of the funds intrusted to your care for the payment of these Indians, as may not be called for by the parties or their representatives, to whom it is due, or which from any other cause may remain in your hands you will immediately on the conclusion of your mission refund into the Treasury

Very Resp'y [Respectfully] Your Obt Servt [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Wm. [William] L. Hodge Acting Sec [Secretary] of the Treasury