It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress
that the benevolent policy of the government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty
years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is
approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the
provision made for their removal...and it is believed that their example will
induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages.
The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to
individual States, and to the Indians themselves.... It puts an end to all
possible danger of collision between the authorities of the General and State
governments on account of the Indians. It will place a dense and civilized
population in large parts of country now occupied by a few savage hunters. By
opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the
south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the
southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to repel
future invasions without remote aid. It will relieve the whole State of
Mississippi and the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable
those States to advance rapidly in population, wealth and power. It will
separate the Indians from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free
them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own
way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the progress of decay,
which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually...to cast off
their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian
community....
Toward the aborigines of the country no one can indulge a more friendly feeling
than myself, or would go further in attempting to reclaim them from their
wandering habits and make them a happy, prosperous people....
Humanity has often wept over the fate of the aborigines of this country.... To
follow to the tomb the last of his race and to tread on the graves of extinct
nations excite melancholy reflections. But true philanthropy reconciles the mind
to these vicissitudes as it does to the extinction of one generation to make
room for another. In the monuments and fortresses of an unknown people, spread
over the extensive regions of the West, we behold the memorials of a once
powerful race, which was exterminated or has disappeared to make room for the
existing savage tribes.... What good man would prefer a country covered with
forests and ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive Republic, studded
with cities, towns, and prosperous farms...and filled with all the blessings of
liberty, civilization, and religion?...
Doubtless it will be painful to leave the graves of their fathers; but what do
they more than our ancestors did or than our children are now doing. To better
their condition in an unknown land our forefathers left all that was dear in
earthly objects.... Can it be cruel in this Government when, by events which it
can not control, the Indian is made discontented in his ancient home, to
purchase his lands, to give him a new and extensive territory, to pay the
expense of his removal, and support him a year in his new abode? How many
thousands of our own people would gladly embrace the opportunity of removing to
the West on such conditions!
©2005 W. W. Norton & Company