Source 1: Chinnebey (Creek) letter to the U.S.
Government,
1832
...our...reason for sending this petition is the one which troubles our minds
the most... We can not think of our aged people and children taking so long
a journey in the heat of summer, without weeping – we feel certain that
should we remove in this season of the year, many of those we love, as the
white man loves his parents, and children, would fall to the hands of death,
and the bones be left far from the bones of their brethren. Sir, will you not
pity us! O, pity us, relieve us from our troubles and let us go free in the cool
season of the year to the west; and the Great Spirit will reward you for your
kindness, to those whom all white men abuse.
Modern English
…our reason for sending this request is the problem which troubles us the
most… We cannot think of our old people and young children taking so
long a journey in the heat of summer, without crying – we feel certain that if
we leave for the journey in this season of the year, many of the people we
love, just like the white man loves his parents, and children, would die, and
their dead bodies would be very far from the cemeteries where we have
always buried our dead. Sir, will you not feel bad for us! Please, have pity
on us, take away our troubles and let us leave freely in the cooler weather
later in the year on our trip to the West; and God will reward you for your
kindness towards the people who all white people abuse.
Source 2: Colonel Webb (Choctaw) letter to the U.S.
Government 1830
Brother, when you were young, we were strong; we fought by your side; but
our arms are now broken. You have grown large; my people have become
small. Brother, my voice is weak; you can scarcely hear me; it is not the
shout of a warrior, but the wail of an infant. I have lost it in mourning over
the misfortunes of my people. These are their graves, and in those aged
pines the ghosts of the departed. Their ashes are here, and we have been
left to protect them. Our warriors are nearly all gone to the far country west;
but here are our dead. Shall we go too, and give their bones to the wolves?
... Every warrior that you see here was opposed to the Treaty. If the dead
could have been counted, it could never have been made...Their tears
came in the rain drops, and their voices in the wailing winds, but the pale
faced knew it not, and our land was taken away.
Modern English
Brother, when your nation was young, we were strong; we fought by your
side (during the American Revolution & the War of 1812); but our arms are
now broken. Your nation has grown large and powerful; my people have
become small and less powerful. Brother, my voice is weak; you can barely
hear me speak; my voice is not the shout of a warrior, but the crying of a
baby. I have lost my voice in crying over the bad things that have happened
to my people. These are their graves, and in those old pine trees live the
ghosts of our dead. The ashes of our dead people are here, and we have
been left here to protect them. Our warriors are almost all gone away to the
far away land in the west; but here are our dead. Should those of us who
are still living here leave too, and give the bones of our dead ancestors to
the wolves? …Every warrior that you can see still here was against the
Treaty. If our dead ancestors could have been counted, the Treaty would
never have passed a vote… The tears of the dead came in the rain drops,
and their voices in the blowing winds, but the white man did not
understand, and our land was taken away.
Source 3: Andrew Jackson, Fifth Annual Message to
Congress, December 3, 1833
"My original convictions upon this subject have been confirmed by the
course of events for several years, and experience is every day adding to
their strength. That those tribes cannot exist surrounded by our settlements
and in continual contact with our citizens is certain. They have neither the
intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire of improvement
which are essential to any favorable change in their condition. Established
in the midst of another and a superior race, and without appreciating the
causes of their inferiority or seeking to control them, they must necessarily
yield to the force of circumstances and ere long disappear."
Modern English
“My original beliefs about this topic have been confirmed by the way things
have happened in the last few years, and new experiences are every day
adding to the strength of my beliefs. That those Native American tribes
cannot exist surrounded by our (American) settlements and in constant
contact with American citizens is certainly true. The Native Americans do
not have the intelligence, the ability to work hard, good behavior, or the
desire to get better which are necessary for any good change in their
situation. Living in the middle of another and a superior group of people,
and without understanding or caring about the reasons why they are worse
than white people or wanting to change those reasons, they must give way
to the current situation and before long disappear.”
Source 4: Excerpt from Speech in Congress from Senator
Theodore Frelinghuysen (NJ), 1830
I believe, sir, it is not now seriously denied that the Indians are men,
endowed with kindred faculties and powers with ourselves; that they have a
place in human sympathy, and are justly entitled to a share in the common
bounties of a benignant Providence. And, with this conceded, I ask in what
code of the law of nations, or by what process of abstract deduction, their
rights have been extinguished? …
Every administration of this Government, from President Washington’s,
have, with like solemnities and stipulations, held treaties with the
Cherokees… and now, when they have nothing left with which to satisfy our
cravings, we propose to annul every treaty—to gainsay our word—and, by
violence and perfidy, drive the Indian from his home. ...
How can we ever dispute the sovereign right of the Cherokees to remain
east of the Mississippi, when it was in relation to that very location that we
promised our patronage, aid, and good neighborhood?
Modern English
I believe, sir, it is not really denied that the Indians are people, with the
same ability to think and make decisions that we have; that they deserve
human sympathy, and correctly deserve a share of the common benefits of
a good God. And, with this being accepted, I ask what rule in the law of
nations, or by what line of thinking, their rights have been taken away?
Every U.S. government administration, from President Washington to now,
have, with the same seriousness and rules, made treaties with the
Cherokee… and now, when the Cherokee have nothing left with which to
satisfy the U.S. desire for more land, we propose to get rid of every treat–to
go back on our word–and, by violence and lying, drive the Indian from his
home
How can we argue the basic self-governing right of the Cherokees to keep
living east of the Mississippi River, when it was in that very location that we
promised them our support, aid, and good behavior?
