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 at the last session of Congress, 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. The pecuniary advantages which it promises to
the Government are the least of its recommendations. 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 tracts 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, under the protection of the Government and through
the influence of good counsels, to cast off their savage
habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian
community.
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 embellished
with all the improvements which art can devise or industry
execute, occupied by more than 12,000,000 happy people,
and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civilization
and religion?
The present policy of the Government is but a continuation
of the same progressive change by a milder process. The
tribes which occupied the countries now constituting the
Eastern States were annihilated or have melted away to make
room for the whites. The waves of population and civilization
are rolling to the westward, and we now propose to acquire
the countries occupied by the red men of the South and West
by a fair exchange, and, at the expense of the United States,
to send them to land where their existence may be prolonged
and perhaps made perpetual. 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. Our children
by thousands yearly leave the land of their birth to seek
new homes in distant regions. Does Humanity weep at these
painful separations from everything, animate and inanimate,
with which the young heart has become entwined? Far from
it. It is rather a source of joy that our country affords
scope where our young population may range unconstrained
in body or in mind, developing the power and facilities
of man in their highest perfection. These remove hundreds
and almost thousands of miles at their own expense, purchase
the lands they occupy, and support themselves at their new
homes from the moment of their arrival. 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! If the offers made to the Indians were
extended to them, they would be hailed with gratitude and
joy.
And is it supposed that the wandering savage has a stronger
attachment to his home than the settled, civilized Christian?
Is it more afflicting to him to leave the graves of his
fathers than it is to our brothers and children? Rightly
considered, the policy of the General Government toward
the red man is not only liberal, but generous. He is unwilling
to submit to the laws of the States and mingle with their
population. To save him from this alternative, or perhaps
utter annihilation, the General Government kindly offers
him a new home, and proposes to pay the whole expense of
his removal and settlement.
Source: A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of
the Presidents 1789-1908, Volume II, by James D. Richardson,
published by Bureau of National Literature and Art ,1908