Gentlemen:
The Treaties lately entered into by the Commissioners appointed by the United States in Congress assembled, with the Cherokees and other Indians to the Southward of them, are so repugnant to our Bill of Rights and Constitution, and so great an infringement on the Rights of the Legislature of this State that it becomes my duty to require that you do not by any means consent to the Ratification of the Treaties made by the Commissioners aforesaid with the Cherokees, Chickasaws and Choctaws, or with either of the said
Nations. On a recurrence to the Bill of Rights and Constitution of this State, the impropriety of such a measure will appear in the most glaring point of view, and I trust your own good sense and your known attachment to the Rights and Interest of your Constituents, will make it unnecessary for me to observe further than it is expected you will by all possible endeavors exert your powers to prevent a ratification of those Treaties which may have such pernicious tendency to the injury of this State. To shew that this is not my sentiments alone, I have the honor to enclose you a Resolution of the Council of State on this subject, the only Body by which the executive, in the recess of the General Assembly, is to be advised.