Washington City DC June 24th 1839
Dear Sir,

Mr. Crawfordhas not as yet answered my communication on the subject of the 17th article of the treaty. A few days since in conversation with him, he informed me he was inclined to think no final decisions could be made until the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners were investigated which could not be done before the last of next September. At present he was of opinion he would decide that the decisions of the Commissioners on claims provided for by the treaty would be final, where they had acted in accordance therewith but sais [says] he has not examined enough of the business to give an opinion he [unclear: bound] by the right of [unclear: constraing] the treaty as to the claims provided for he seems to think belongs to the Department, but has not fully satisfied himself on that point. Should he finally determine that the Commissioners had not the right to construe the treaty different from the construction placed upon it by the Department it appears to me that he must then come to the conclusion that their decisions are not final, for if the Department have the right to construe the treaty and the commissioners are bound thereby a different construction may be given to the treaty from the one given by the commissioners and consequently a change must take place in their decisions. I have informed Mr Crawfordthat I am willing an investigation of the business transacted by the commissioners shall take place, and that I have no doubt the claimants would be benifited [benefited] thereby, as the Department would be certain to place a more liberal construction on the treaty than was given to it by the commissioner. Mr Rogersmost of the time since you were here has been insisting that the decisions of the commissioners should be regarded as final and that such was the understanding of the parties to the treaty but I have at length got him to believe it would be his interest to have the rejected claims investigated

and he seems contented to stay at home with his Washingtonwife without troubling the Department much about decisions. I expect to be detained here until sometime in next month making out the claims of Cherokeesremaining east which if allowed must be deducted from the amount sent west during my stay here should I receive any information in relation to our claims which I think would be interesting to you I will inform you of it. Mr. MeexClk [Clerk] of Reservation Department requested me to say to you he had delayed an answer to your letter waiting to ascertain the commissions opinion by his answer to me it is probable I shall pass through KnoxvilleShortly after my return when I can inform you more fully in relation to the business here

yours & c [et cetera]
[Signed] Wm [William] H Thomas

George W Churchwell Esqr [Esquire],
Knoxville
Tennessee
forwarded by Mr Starritt