History of the Indians, of North and South AmericaGoodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
History
History of the Indians, of North and South America
Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
Indians of North America -- History; Indians of South America -- History
The evils attending the proximity of the whites to the Indians, while
the latter remained within the bounds of the States, have induced the
general government to adopt the policy of their removal to an extensive
country west of the Mississippi. The measure was one which was,
indeed, attended by great present inconvenience and injustice to those
tribes which had become, in a degree, somewhat civilized, as they were
forcibly torn from their loved homes, and compelled to commence their
journey to an untried country, where they must, as it were, begin life
anew. Many perished during their march, from fatigue and disease. But
resistance was hopeless, and the only chance that remained of their
preservation, as distinct tribes, was in their consent to go; and so
they obeyed the mandate, and departed far from their ancient seats of
power, and the burial-places of their fathers. They left behind them,
in many instances, good houses, well cultivated fields, and various
improvements, which were the fruit of the labor of years; and, to the
great disgrace of the whites, they were subjected, in some cases, to
outrage and rapine, dispossessed of their property, and even wounded,
or put to death, while defending it.
The Indian Territory, as it is called, is a tract of country bounded
on the south by the Red River, east by the States of Arkansas and
Missouri, on the north and northeast by the Missouri and Punch Rivers,
and west by the western limit of habitable country on this side of the
Rocky Mountains. This has been purchased, at various prices, of the
indigenous tribes. The soil is said to be most excellent, abounding in
fine water, timber, mines of coal, iron, and lead; at the same time, it
is the resort of numerous buffaloes, so that it seems well adapted for
the purposes to which it is destined.
The plan adopted by the government has been by purchase to extinguish
the Indian title to those lands which they leave, give them others
within the new territory, transport them thither, and erect a portion
of their dwellings, plough and fence a part of their fields, furnish
them teachers in agriculture, and tools, horses, cattle, &c., build
school-houses and provide instructors, and make arrangements for the
support of those who have not the means at hand, at the outset, for
this purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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