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Andrew Jackson, “On Indian Removal” (1830)
It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the Government,
steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond
the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have
accepted the provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is
believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious
advantages.
The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual
States, and to the Indians themselves. The pecuniary advantages which it promises to the
Government are the least of its recommendations. It puts an end to all possible danger of
collision between the authorities of the General and State Governments on account of the
Indians. It will place a dense and civilized population in large tracts of country now
occupied by a few savage hunters. By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on
the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably
strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to
repel future invasions without remote aid. It will relieve the whole State of Mississippi and
the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable those States to advance
rapidly in population, wealth, and power. It will separate the Indians from immediate
contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to
pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the
progress of decay, which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually,
under the protection of the Government and through the influence of good counsels, to cast
off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community.
What good man would prefer a country covered with forests and ranged by a few thousand
savages to our extensive Republic, studded with cities, towns, and prosperous farms
embellished with all the improvements which art can devise or industry execute, occupied
by more than 12,000,000 happy people, and filled with all the blessings of liberty,
civilization and religion?
The present policy of the Government is but a continuation of the same progressive change
by a milder process. The tribes which occupied the countries now constituting the Eastern
States were annihilated or have melted away to make room for the whites. The waves of
population and civilization are rolling to the westward, and we now propose to acquire the
countries occupied by the red men of the South and West by a fair exchange, and, at the
expense of the United States, to send them to land where their existence may be prolonged
and perhaps made perpetual. Doubtless it will be painful to leave the graves of their
fathers; but what do they more than our ancestors did or than our children are now doing?
To better their condition in an unknown land our forefathers left all that was dear in
earthly objects. Our children by thousands yearly leave the land of their birth to seek new
homes in distant regions. Does Humanity weep at these painful separations from
everything, animate and inanimate, with which the young heart has become entwined? Far
from it. It is rather a source of joy that our country affords scope where our young
population may range unconstrained in body or in mind, developing the power and
facilities of man in their highest perfection. These remove hundreds and almost thousands
of miles at their own expense, purchase the lands they occupy, and support themselves at
their new homes from the moment of their arrival. Can it be cruel in this Government
when, by events which it can not control, the Indian is made discontented in his ancient
home to purchase his lands, to give him a new and extensive territory, to pay the expense
of his removal, and support him a year in his new abode? How many thousands of our own
people would gladly embrace the opportunity of removing to the West on such conditions!
If the offers made to the Indians were extended to them, they would be hailed with
gratitude and joy.
And is it supposed that the wandering savage has a stronger attachment to his home than
the settled, civilized Christian? Is it more afflicting to him to leave the graves of his fathers
than it is to our brothers and children? Rightly considered, the policy of the General
Government toward the red man is not only liberal, but generous. He is unwilling to submit
to the laws of the States and mingle with their population. To save him from this
alternative, or perhaps utter annihilation, the General Government kindly offers him a new
home, and proposes to pay the whole expense of his removal and settlement.