Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-12-22
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The follouingis part of the Presidents
\Iossoge and was omitted in our last.

Message, anu was o''i'''N "
Il gives me pleasure to announce toI
Congress- that the benevolent policy OF inc
government. steadily pursued for nearly
5brtv wears. in relation TO the removal oil
the Indians beyond the white settlements
j. annroaching TO a happy consummaton.
Two ;mnorlant tribes have accepted the
or,visioa made for their removal, at the
last session of Congress, and 1t Is belIev
cd that their example will induce the re-
naming tribes, also to seek the same oOVi-
Gus advantages.
The consequences of speedy removal
will he important TO the United States, to
individual States, and to the Indians them
selves. The pecuniary advantages which
il promises TO the Government. are the
leort Of is recommendation 1t puts an
end 70 all possible danger OF collision De,
tween the authorities OF The General ana
State Governments, Oh accounted the In
dams. 1t will place dense and civilized
oonulation in large tracts of country now
occupied by a few savage hunters. By
opening the whole territory between Zen
nrssee On the north, and Louisiana on
the south, TO the settlements oil the whIles'
II will iDcalcuably strengthen the south
western frontier. and render The adjacent
Strong enough to repel future invasion
without remote aid. 1t will relieve the
whole State of Mississippi, and the wes'
fern mari of Alabama, of the Indian occu-
nancy. and enable those States TO advance
rapidly in population, wealth and power
Ii will separate the Indians from lmmedl-
ate contact with settlements fwhItes; free
them from the power Of the States; enable
them TO pursue happiness in their own way,
under their own rude institutions; will re-
tard the progress of decay, which is less
ming their numbers; and perhaps cause
them gradually, under the protection OF
the Government, and through the inlu-
ence of good counsels, to cast OIL their
savaqe habits, and become an interesting,
clylTizcd, and Christian community
These consequences, some of them so
certain, and the rest so probable, make
the complete execution of the plan sane
toned by Congress, at shelr last session,
an object Of much solitude.
Toward the aboriginies Of the county,
no one cen indulge more friendly feel
ing than myself, or would 60 further in at
tempting to reclaim them from their wan
dering habits, and make them a happy
and prosperous people. have endeavor-
ed to press upon them my own solemn con-
yctions of the duties aud powers Of the
General Government in relation to the
State authorities. For the justice Of the
laws passed by the States within the scope
ofth3ir reserved powers, they are not re-
sponsible to this Government. AS indl-
vlduals, we may entertain and express
our opinions of their acts. but, as Gov
eminent, we have as little right Ito control
them as we have TO prescribe laws TO for
eign nations.
With full understanding Of the sub.
iect. the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes
have, with great unaBmity, determined TO
avail themselves ofthe liberal Offices pre-
sentedby the act Of Congress, and have
greed to move beyond the Mississippi
river. Treaties have been made with them,
which, in due season, will be submitted
for consideration. In negotiating these
treaties, they were made to understand
their true condition; and they have prefer
red maintaining their independence Ia the
Western forests TO submitting 10 the laws
Of the STATES IN which they now reside
These treaties beng probably the last
which Will ever be made with them, are
by great iiberalrty on the
part Of the Government They give the
Indians a liberal sum in consideration of
their removal, and comfortable subsistence
on their arrival at their new homes. II i'll
be their real interest to maintain a separ-
ate existence, they will there be at liberty
to do SO without the inconveHiences and
vexatlons 10 which they would unayoida-
bly, have been subject in Alabama and
Mississippi.
Humanity has often wept over the ado.
rhymes Of this country, and philanthropy
has been long busily employed in deyising
means to avert it. But is progress has !
never Tor moment been arrested; and one
by one have many powerful tribes disap-
1eafed from the earth. To follow to the /
om0 the last of his race, and TO tread on
ne graves OF extinct nations, cxcrtes mel
incholy reflections. But true philanthro-
~ reconclles the mind to these yIcissi.
udeS, as II does TO the extinction of one
generation to make room for another. In
he monuments and lortresses OF an IN.
lho"n people, spread over the extensive
eg'ohs oil the West, we behold the memo
iaiS Of once powerful race, which was
or has disappeared, to make
oo'h lor 'he existing savage tribes. Nor