3

an act more rash or more impolitic was
never done in any age or country
and it is provoking to the last degree
to know that we were entreating ^unsuccessfully the
Cherokees to cede to us their small
reserve in the settled parts of our state
at the same time that they were obtain
ing from us a vast tract of country,
without ceremony difficulty or evidence
of title.

The committee will exhibit a
mass of evidence, affixed to their report
which will put the Cherokee title [down?]
[?] in the estimation of those who believe
it to be good & valid -

I do not believe that the
excitement prevailing here is the offspring
of any factitious cause, or of personal hos
tility to our senators. Nor do I believe that
our senators had that information on the
subject which they should have had from
the sec^ry at war & the president.

With sentiments of respect
& regard I remain
yr obt serv^y

Alfred Balch.