Edenton, March 19th, 1788.
Sir:
Your Letter covering the Resolution of Congress of the 26th of
October respecting the appointment of a Commissioner to treat with the Creek and Cherokee Nations of Indians, did not come to me till after the adjournment of the General Assembly and considering the powers vested in the Commissioner by the instructions of Congress, I did not think myself at liberty to act on it without the directions & Instructions of the Legislature.Having lately received a Letter from the Governor of South Carolina informing me that his State had appointed a Commissioner for the purpose of Carrying that resolution into effect, I laid all the papers relating to that Business before the Council of State. They were of opinion that it required the interference of the Legislature to fix permanent Boundaries between the State and the Indians. I have at the same time the satisfaction to inform Congress that I have no intimation of any Hostile intentions of the Cherokees against the Inhabitants of this State which renders the necessity of appointing a Commissioner to treat with them at this time the less urgent. Should the State of Georgia intimate that the Co-operation of this State will in any manner tend to further the Success of their Negotiations with the Creeks, we will be ready to do anything in our power to assist in carrying the Resolution into effect as far as it relates to them.
Your most obedient humble Servant,