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Indian Removal Act of 1830
The
Indian Removal Act of 1830
CHAP.
CXLVIII.--An Act to provide for an exchange of lands with the
Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for
their removal west of the river Mississippi.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall and may
be lawful for the President of the United States to cause so much
of any territory belonging to the United States, west of the river
Mississippi, not included in any state or organized territory,
and to which the Indian title has been extinguished, as he may
judge necessary, to be divided into a suitable number of districts,
for the reception of such tribes or nations of Indians as may
choose to exchange the lands where they now reside, and remove
there; and to cause each of said districts to be so described
by natural or artificial marks, as to be easily distinguished
from every other.
SEC.
2. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful
for the President to exchange any or all of such districts, so
to be laid off and described, with any tribe or nation within
the limits of any of the states or territories, and with which
the United States have existing treaties, for the whole or any
part or portion of the territory claimed and occupied by such
tribe or nation, within the bounds of any one or more of the states
or territories, where the land claimed and occupied by the Indians,
is owned by the United States, or the United States are bound
to the state within which it lies to extinguish the Indian claim
thereto.
SEC.
3. And be it further enacted, That in the making of any such exchange
or exchanges, it shall and may be lawful for the President solemnly
to assure the tribe or nation with which the exchange is made,
that the United States will forever secure and guaranty to them,
and their heirs or successors, the country so exchanged with them;
and if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent
or grant to be made and executed to them for the same: Provided
always, That such lands shall revert to the United States, if
the Indians become extinct, or abandon the same.
SEC.
4. And be it further enacted, That if, upon any of the lands now
occupied by the Indians, and to be exchanged for, there should
be such improvements as add value to the land claimed by any individual
or individuals of such tribes or nations, it shall and may be
lawful for the President to cause such value to be ascertained
by appraisement or otherwise, and to cause such ascertained value
to be paid to the person or persons rightfully claiming such improvements.
And upon the payment of such valuation, the improvements so valued
and paid for, shall pass to the United States, and possession
shall not afterwards be permitted to any of the same tribe.
SEC.
5. And be it further enacted, That upon the making of any such
exchange as is contemplated by this act, it shall and may be lawful
for the President to cause such aid and assistance to be furnished
to the emigrants as may be necessary and proper to enable them
to remove to, and settle in, the country for which they may have
exchanged; and also, to give them such aid and assistance as may
be necessary for their support and subsistence for the first year
after their removal.
SEC.
6. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful
for the President to cause such tribe or nation to be protected,
at their new residence, against all interruption or disturbance
from any other tribe or nation of Indians, or from any other person
or persons whatever.
SEC.
7. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful
for the President to have the same superintendence and care over
any tribe or nation in the country to which they may remove, as
contemplated by this act, that he is now authorized to have over
them at their present places of residence.
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