Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-04-01

Velopmen and growth of the great North ohectiug
to whatever expenditure either of money BLOOD that
may be called for to subdue to exterminate if need be-
the Indian tribes that may obstuct the onward
OF the country? lie may inquire especially whether
would nterpose any land policy and forego pre-
sent expansion glory and dominion for the sake of pos
terity To all such inquiries would at once, by
saying to him, Wait a season be not impatient to
build up great northwestern empire. In due time all
your great plans of development will be accomplished
without any great sacrifices any Kind and without
hicting with any other great public interest In few
years by the regular law of progress and settlement
which swept first all the Atlantic States and then the
eastern slope Of the great valley of the Mississippi of the
Indian tribes which held possession of them by
greatly accelerated process they will disappear from the
plains and the whole of the vast region beyond the Mis-
sssppi and then, without any abrupt departure from
the old and established policy of Government in
laon to the Indians the public domain, all obstruc
tions viii be removed In very few years the advanc-
lines of settlement both sides Of the Rocky Noun
tans but moving in adverse directions will meet,
take, and destroy bOthhe buffalo and the Indians in their
last retreats
If the honorable Senator will indulge me- and not think
it offensive, must say here, because it me,
think for long time he has had passion amount
4 tories and the foyhding of States Sir to my GER
tain knowledge the honorable Senator drew up the Utah
and New Mexico bills, and almost in the very il
which they finally passed into laws believe he is also
entitled to the credit Of having originated the bills for the
establishment of the Territories of Oregon, Minnesota,
and Washington 1t from present indications that
ing three four Not content with the fame
which may attach to him condtor inper to borrow
the language Of Bacon quoted by the learned and eo
quen Senator from Massachusetts,, (Ar. EvERETT) he
is emulous of the title Of carissmus eondor periorua.
1t seems to me that whatever other rewards he may
ceve from his counrymen, if they should initiate the
policy of the ancient Greeks and Romans in bestowing
honorary citizens who distinguished themselves
the service their country the honorable Senator will
be entitled, not to one but to ten civic crowns hope
the honorable Senator will not be offended at any thing
| have said on this point. ... 1,>G
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly not. GLaughter. I ,5 -
| Mr.. BELL. come now to further objection urged
by against the bill of the last session. that is the
provisions affecting the emigrant Inap tribes. do
aude to it merely objection, but presenting
nsuperabe obstacle to the passage of this BILL unless
it shall be found to contain different provision.
Mr. President, hasit to this that at liberty
to disregard treaty spulaons with the Indian tribes
because they weak and feeble people, unable to
sst power, any more than would treaty obi
cations with the powerful nations Of the earth Can
we, Government people, act on such principle,
aside at discretion and trampe under foot the
most explicit and solemn guaranteess
know that is not the sentiment Of any honorable Sena
here but sir to the Nebraska bill of last session,
although the Indian tribes and their lands included within
the boundaries of the proposed Territory, expressly
excepted from the operation of that bill, the honorable
chairman Of the Committee Territories will remember
that denounced that BILL if it should pass disgrace
to the national character and wanton and deliberate
violation Of the public faith. In order to demonstrate
the justice of that denunciaton, must 60 into brief
4 review of the policy of Indian removal.
This policy was suggested in 1908 by Mr. Jefferson.
His plan those members of the several
tribes then residing of the Mississippi who prefer
red seek their subsistence by the chase suta
BILE country within the limits Of the United States west of
the Mississippi and to protect those who were disposed to
cultivate the arts of civilized life in their possessions east
of the Mississippi and also to encourage them in their
efforts improve their condition. That policy frus
rated by the conflicting obligations contracted between
Georgia and the United States in the compact by which
q her. The
ed by Mr. Jefferson consequently enlarged, and th
Government adopted the policy of removing entire tribe
the West The treaty of 1917 was based in part upo
r this policy. In 1925 Mr. Calhoun, then Secretary
O. War, in report made upon that subject first suggested
the Importance Of systematic policy of Indian removal
embracing all the tribes in States east of the Mississippi
The country west of the Missouri and Arkansas b
him pointed proper to be selected and set apart
the tribes which might be induced to emgrate; and hi
recommended that there ought to be the strongest
most solemn assurance that the country given to then
should be theirs permanent home for themselves anc
their posterty without being disturbed by the encroach
ments of our citizens" ..,.
u But the policy not then settled upon permanent
basis The difficulties and embarrassments in which the
Il Government was involved with Georgia, and the 90
sructions interposed in the execution Of the policy of
mova by two of the Southern ribes-he Cherokees and
the the whole subject to be examined ant
discussed every part of the country 1t gave rise tt
great agitation and excitement Perhaps but few Sena
tors here have any conception of the intensity of thu
interest and feeling which awakened, particular
connected with this policy. The tables of the tw
Houses Of Congress groaned under memorials and re
, monstranees presented from day to day during th
| session of 1S2g-30 against the policy of remova
adopted and insisted upon by the Administration Ant
so it continued for months The ferceness of the trug
GLE and the obstacles to be in the settle
ment of the question: knows better than the Sen
ator from Michigan, (Mr CAss. But in March, 1880
the policy of Indian removal received the sanction of bot
Houses Of Congress- and became the law of the land b.
the of 1880 the President expressly authorized
in treating with the Indians for the exchange OF the
lands for lands west Of the Mississippi "soemnly
assure the tribe nation with which the exchange
might bel made, that the United States will (would
and guaranty to them aud their heirs
successors the country exchanged with them.
The by which the policy Of Indian removal wa
sustained will be found in official documents
the speeches of members of Congress- and in the pub
lie journals of the day
The grounds upon which the argument was maintaine
for the removal of the Indian tribes were taken from tn
early as well as the more history the country
was conended that all experience had demonstrate
that long tho Indians remained in contact with an
surrounded by white population they sure to
all the vices without adopting any OF the virtues
civilized communities and that long as they remair
ed in that condition their early extinction neyit
be that their only escape from this destiny depende
upon their removal to country where they would
protected by the Government from all the evils and
noyances which they thus exposed in all futu
time The country which they were invited to rcmo
to be Indian country forever or as long as they
listed as tribes the white to ntrude upt
their lands form settlements around them; Teri
torial or State Governments to include the
e within their boundaries. In their new homes they
be free be governed by their laws and customs
70 less they thought proper to change them to be
terered with by the Government but for their prote
ts tion in the enjoyment Of their privileges.