Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-15
REPORT OF The SECRETARY OF WAR
CConciuded 7

The act of Congress of Nav %. 1880. Great.
ed barrier, beyond which the dispersed rem
nan,s of our various Indian tribes may be collect
ed and preserved. The provisions OF thar ACT
are plain. saiutary, and comprehensive. IL Is
solemn national declaration, containing pledges,
which neither Government nor the country VIII
suffer to be violated. II secures TO the Indians,
forever, the undis puted possession and control Of
the region allotted to them. and makes such ar
ranyemepts as are essential To the subsistence,
safety, and comfortable establishment Of the
luniS,s. No similar attempt has ever been here
tofore made. aud therefore no unfavurabe deduc-
tions can be drawn from the failure of preceding
efarts, having 10 view the same general object,
bit endea,or,ng to attain IL by far different means.
M organized government exists. or can exis', I'd
assert jurisdiction oyer these tribes anu .rea"tS
of cession are Incompatible w''h the who're oaS's
OF the pian of settlement.
All the testimony before this Department con-
eur, in representing the country assigned Tor
f,,oa of refuge. as abundantly extensive and FER
file for the support Of the Indians, aud as pre-
sen,ino in its climate, its animal and agr,cultu
raj nro,iuC tons. and ITS general circumstances,
features admirably adapted To their situation aud
wants Important benefits are anticipated from
the act of the last session, authorizing the ap.
no;ntmen, of Comnis sioners to visit the several
tribes IVES, Of the Mississippi, and TO arrange the
various interesting and unsettled questions, ars-
;np ou, Of the new relations which the system of
emigration has created A majority OF these
Commissioners, il is supposed, Is now IN that re-
yion engaged IN tue performance "i iheir duties;
6ut the time Whit h has interviewed since their ar
,;v,i ,b,re. ba, been too short 10 enable them to
communicate 10 the Department the progress and
nrosncets of their mission. The accompanying
cony Of their instructions will show the general
nature of their duties, and the great Importance
OF an able and faithful discharge OF them. These
d.Ges embrace the settlement OF conflicting
cIsims: the arrangement Of disputed boundaries;
the ;uxtaposition of kindred bands; the commu.
tatiUn of permanent for temporary annuties; the
reconciliation OF hostile tribes; the redemption
of the solemn pledge Of protection offered by the
act of Nav 90, 1850; the establishment OF sts-
tenn of government over them, aud OF lntercom
munication among them; and, generally, the ex-
animation and suggestion of any topics calcoia'-
ed 10 improve their condition, and To enable the
Government the better To discharge the great
moral debt, which circumstances aud the sItua-
tion of this helpless race, have imposed upon
them. Every facility IN the power Ut the Exc.
cutive has been granted tn aid the operations oi
the Commissioners; and IL is tn be hoped that
,heir repnrt will b. full and satisfactory, and that
The measures founded upon II viii iDirodace
new era into the histor, oil our Indian intercourse
In my repnrt of November 81. 1851, | stated
il chad b en- suggested that a considerable 'por-
tinn Of the Clcrokees we're deslrous OF avsitins
the m>''ves "a. the provisions OF The treaty u MAY
6. Is g. for their removal" And that, - win
,Iew 20 ~ ertain this fact. and to afford them
IA, All offered by that treaty, II they were incln-
ed To adopt il. a system Of operations had been
adopted and persons appointed to carry u into
ef.ri" Bat that suih cent time 10 form
4 - hp al
then elapsed"
Under thls svstem. about seven hundred Cher
Ok es have claimed the benefit Of the treaty Of
1928. and have been renewed, IN conformity
with it, slipuiations. 10 the country West OF
the Mi,sis,lppi. But the operations have. for
the present, been suspended Aud, until
gently. there was reason TO hope that their re-
sumption would have been rendered unnecessary
b. an arrangement for the cession OF the whole
Cherokee title East OF the Mississippi. and for
the emigration of that tribe TO the country offered
for their permanent residence. With this view.
the liberal proportions authorised by you were
made to them. a copy of which is annexed TO
thi, report 1t will seen, by reference to it,
that the offers conceived in spirit ol kind
ness and libersty, With justified the expecta-
ton at their prompt acceptance. They contain
ed ample security for the permanent establish
ment OF the Cherokees, and for the perpetual oc-
cupation Of the country allotted to them. They
provided the means for their moral, social, aud
political improvements; and they offered all the
pecunidry aid necessary to their present and
future subsistence. Their acceptance would
have terminated the difficulties, IN which the
Cherokees are Involved, would have united the
dispersed portions Of the tribe, and would have
laid the foundation Of their permanent Improve
ment aud prosperity. But it will be seen, BY
the answer which is submitted to you, that this
eiior, has been unasaing, and that, unless there
- a change in their councils, no favorable change
in their condition can be expected.
The Choctaw treaty Of 1880 allowed that tribe
three years to emigrate. In 1851. about 5000
of them removed TO their new possessions be-
tween the Canadian aud Red rivers. They are
highly gra,i6ed With the climate and country,
and satisfied with the exchange they have made.
Fram the returns which have been received, it
is estimated that about 1000 more will cross
the Mississippi this season, and the residue Of