Letter from James Barbour to John Coffee, May 24, 1826

[Page 1] Department of War

th 24 ​ May 1826 ​ To Genl Wm Clark Genl Thos Hinds Genl John Coffee Commissioners to Treat with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations.

Gentlemen, The Sum of Twenty thousand Dollars, having been appropriated by act of th Congress, approved 20 ​ Inst, to defray the expenses of treating with the Choctaw and ​ Chickasaw Nations of Indians, for the extinguishment of their titles to lands within the limits of the State of Mississippi, The President of the United States has appointed you joint Commissioners to carry into effect the object contemplated by the act aforesaid. No particular instructions are deemed to be necessary either as to the time or place of holding the Treaties- these are left to your discretion, except, that it is expected the trust now reposed in you will have been executed and reported to the Department, by the first of October next, unless insuperable obstacles shall lie in the way of completing it within this period. In no case is the Sum appropriated by the act [Page 2] act, to wit: Twenty Thousand, to be exceeded- It is intended to embrace your own pay, as Commissioners, which will be at the rate of Eight dollars, a day, and your necessary expenses whilst actually engaged in the duties of this Trust, and all other expenses incident to holding the Treaties- Any stipulations which you may enter into, as to compensation for any cession you may acquire, will be subject to the ratification by the Senate, of the Treaties, and to be supplied out of the subsequent provision by the Congress for carrying the same into effect. Should the Indians incline to exchange their lands for lands West of the Mississippi, and West & North of Missouri and Arkansas, you are authorized to include such provision, acre for acre, (and provisions for their transportation) the Section of Country, in that quarter may be left to the Selection of the Indians, with no other reservation than that which shall prevent any interference with previous locations. Major B. F. Smith, Agent to the Chickasaws, and Col. William Ward, agent to the Choctaws will be directed to aid you with the influence of their respective stations. You will keep the Department informed from time Letter from James Barbour to John Coffee, May 24, 1826

[Page 3] time to time of the progress of the negotiation. Your bills on the Department for the means to carry the above negotiation into effect, will be honored. You will take care to accompany them with letters of advice. I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt James Barbour