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mong the documents I have referred to； is almost always favorable to the Indians。 〃The intrusion of whites；〃 he says； 〃upon the lands of the Cherokees would cause ruin to the poor； helpless； and inoffensive inhabitants。〃 And he further remarks upon the attempt of the State of Georgia to establish a division line for the purpose of limiting the boundaries of the Cherokees； that the line drawn having been made by the whites； and entirely upon ex parte evidence of their several rights； was of no validity whatever。＇
Washington said in one of his messages to Congress； 〃We are more enlightened and more powerful than the Indian nations； we are therefore bound in honor to treat them with kindness and even with generosity。〃 But this virtuous and high…minded policy has not been followed。 The rapacity of the settlers is usually backed by the tyranny of the government。 Although the Cherokees and the Creeks are established upon the territory which they inhabited before the settlement of the Europeans； and although the Americans have frequently treated with them as with foreign nations； the surrounding States have not consented to acknowledge them as independent peoples； and attempts have been made to subject these children of the woods to Anglo…American magistrates； laws； and customs。 *u Destitution had driven these unfortunate Indians to civilization； and oppression now drives them back to their former condition： many of them abandon the soil which they had begun to clear； and return to their savage course of life。
＇Footnote u： In 1829 the State of Alabama divided the Creek territory into counties； and subjected the Indian population to the power of European magistrates。
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part III
In 1830 the State of Mississippi assimilated the Choctaws and Chickasaws to the white population； and declared that any of them that should take the title of chief would be punished by a fine of 1；000 and a year's imprisonment。 When these laws were enforced upon the Choctaws； who inhabited that district； the tribe assembled； their chief communicated to them the intentions of the whites； and read to them some of the laws to which it was intended that they should submit； and they unanimously declared that it was better at once to retreat again into the wilds。＇
If we consider the tyrannical measures which have been adopted by the legislatures of the Southern States； the conduct of their Governors； and the decrees of their courts of justice； we shall be convinced that the entire expulsion of the Indians is the final result to which the efforts of their policy are directed。 The Americans of that part of the Union look with jealousy upon the aborigines； *v they are aware that these tribes have not yet lost the traditions of savage life； and before civilization has permanently fixed them to the soil； it is intended to force them to recede by reducing them to despair。 The Creeks and Cherokees； oppressed by the several States； have appealed to the central government； which is by no means insensible to their misfortunes； and is sincerely desirous of saving the remnant of the natives； and of maintaining them in the free possession of that territory； which the Union is pledged to respect。 *w But the several States oppose so formidable a resistance to the execution of this design； that the government is obliged to consent to the extirpation of a few barbarous tribes in order not to endanger the safety of the American Union。
＇Footnote v： The Georgians； who are so much annoyed by the proximity of the Indians； inhabit a territory which does not at present contain more than seven inhabitants to the square mile。 In France there are one hundred and sixty…two inhabitants to the same extent of country。＇
＇Footnote w： In 1818 Congress appointed commissioners to visit the Arkansas Territory； accompanied by a deputation of Creeks； Choctaws； and Chickasaws。 This expedition was commanded by Messrs。 Kennerly； M'Coy； Wash Hood； and John Bell。 See the different reports of the commissioners； and their journal； in the Documents of Congress； No。 87； House of Representatives。＇
But the federal government； which is not able to protect the Indians； would fain mitigate the hardships of their lot； and； with this intention； proposals have been made to transport them into more remote regions at the public cost。
Between the thirty…third and thirty…seventh degrees of north latitude； a vast tract of country lies； which has taken the name of Arkansas； from the principal river that waters its extent。 It is bounded on the one side by the confines of Mexico； on the other by the Mississippi。 Numberless streams cross it in every direction； the climate is mild； and the soil productive； but it is only inhabited by a few wandering hordes of savages。 The government of the Union wishes to transport the broken remnants of the indigenous population of the South to the portion of this country which is nearest to Mexico； and at a great distance from the American settlements。
We were assured； towards the end of the year 1831； that 10；000 Indians had already gone down to the shores of the Arkansas； and fresh detachments were constantly following them； but Congress has been unable to excite a unanimous determination in those whom it is disposed to protect。 Some； indeed； are willing to quit the seat of oppression； but the most enlightened members of the community refuse to abandon their recent dwellings and their springing crops； they are of opinion that the work of civilization； once interrupted； will never be resumed； they fear that those domestic habits which have been so recently contracted； may be irrevocably lost in the midst of a country which is still barbarous； and where nothing is prepared for the subsistence of an agricultural people； they know that their entrance into those wilds will be opposed by inimical hordes； and that they have lost the energy of barbarians； without acquiring the resources of civilization to resist their attacks。 Moreover； the Indians readily discover that the settlement which is proposed to them is merely a temporary expedient。 Who can assure them that they will at length be allowed to dwell in peace in their new retreat？ The United States pledge themselves to the observance of the obligation； but the territory which they at present occupy was formerly secured to them by the most solemn oaths of Anglo…American faith。 *x The American government does not indeed rob them of their lands； but it allows perpetual incursions to be made on them。 In a few years the same white population which now flocks around them； will track them to the solitudes of the Arkansas； they will then be exposed to the same evils without the same remedies； and as the limits of the earth will at last fail them； their only refuge is the grave。
＇Footnote x： The fifth article of the treaty made with the Creeks in August； 1790； is in the following words： … 〃The United States solemnly guarantee to the Creek nation all their land within the limits of the United States。〃
The seventh article of the treaty concluded in 1791 with the Cherokees says： … 〃The United States solemnly guarantee to the Cherokee nation all their lands no