Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-12-14

, the troops and to render them avaia.
bic for the ma n,ainance of the peace and
tranquility of the country. WIN this
view likewise, recommend the adoption
! of tho plan presented by that officer for
the defence of the western frontier. The
preservation of the lives and property of
our fellow citizens who are settled upon
that border country as well as the cxls
,cncc OF The Indian population, which
might be tempted by our want OF pre-
paration 10 rush on their own destruction
aud attack the white settlements, all
seem 10 require tha; this subject sIould
be acted upon without delay, and the
! War Department authorized To place that
country in state Ct complete defence
galnst any assault from tie numerous and
Warlko tribes s. ich are congregatcd on
| that border.
It affords me sincere pleasure to be
able To applize you of the entire rclnoval
of the Cherokee nation of Indians to their
now homes west OF the Mississippi. The
measures authorized by Congress at its
! las, session with view TO the long stand
ing controversy with them by the com
naudng general in that country, who has
performed the Gu,es assigned TO HIM on
! the occasion with commendlble energy
and humanity, their removal has been
! principally under the conduct IF their
own chiefs and they have emlgrated with
out any apparent reluctance.
The successful accomplishment Of this
important object; Tie removal, also oi the
entire Cicck nation, with the exception
Of small number Of fugIlivcsamong the
Seminolcs in Florida the progress al
ready made towards speedy comp elton
Of tie removal Of the Chclasaws, the
Choclaws, the Po,tawatamles the Otta'
was, and the Chippewas, With the extern
size purchases of indian lan4s during the
present year have rendered the speedy and
successful result of the lorr established
policy Of the government upon the subject
Of Indian afl'Iirs entirely certain. The oc'
casion is therefore, deemed Il proper one
to place this policy in sucl point of view
as will cyonerats the government of the
United States from the undeserved TO-
prosch which has been cast upon it ,hro'
several successive administrations.
I'ha, the mixed occupancy Of the same
territory. by the white and red man, i,
Incompatible with tho safety or happiness
Of either, is position 10 respect TO which
there haa long cea ed to be room for a
difference OF opinion. Reason and ex
perlcnce have alike demonstrated its i'm
prac;lbii'y. The bitter fruits of an at
tempt heretofore to overcome the barrier.
interposed by nature, have only been de-
s,ruot!on, both py.ical and moral, to the
Indian dangerous conflicts of authority
between the Federal and State Gov
ermentns; and dstrIment to the indIeidua
prosperity Of the citizen, as well as TO ilt
general improvement Of the country. The
remedial policy, the principles of wlicl
were settled more than thirty years ago
under the administration of Mr.. Jcffe,son
consigt5 in an extinction, for a fair con
. s;deraiion, Of the title to all the lands Still
occupied by the Indians within :he Safe
and Territories of the United States; 'hei
removal TO country west of the MsSs
, sippi, much more extensive and bette
, adapted to their condition, than that OF
which they then resided the guarante
. to them by the United States OF their eX
elusive possession Of that country foreve,
y exempt from all inrUslons by white mcI
: with ample provisions for their security Il
gainst external violence e. internal dlsscn
t sion.. & the extension to them of suitabl
facilities for their advancement 10 civi.iz1
ion. This has not been The policy of p9rtlc
t ular administration only, but of each i
succession, since the first attempt to carr
, it out under that Of Mr.. Monroe. All hav
t abored for its accomplishment, only wit
4. different degrees Of success. The mar
, ner of It's exec luton has, it is true, fror
time to time, given rise to conflicts q
2 opinion ard unjust imputatlons but i
respect to the wisdom and necessity Of ;h
policy Itself, there has not from the be
ginning, existed douo! in the mind {
, any calm, judlcious, disinteres,ed frien
OF II c Indian race accustomed to renec
ton aud enlightened by experience.
Occupying the double character c
{ contractor on its own occount guardia
, for the parties contracted with, it wa
hardly to be expected that the dealing
of the Federal Government with tn
3 Indian tribes would escape misrepreser
; taticu. That there occurred in the earl
! settlement Of this country as in all Other
. were the civilized race has succeeded I
the possessions Of the savage, instances {
: oppression and fraud on the part of til
, former, there is too much reason t
believe. No such offences can, howeve
, be Justly charged upon this Governmet