In 1786, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Benjamin Hawkins regarding American conduct towards the Indians.
"The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them, they cannot love us, which leaves us no alternative but that of fear to keep them from attacking us. But justice is what we should never lose sight of, and in time it may recover their esteem."Then in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson became president he pursued an Indian policy with two main goals. First, he wanted to establish treaties to bind the Indian nation and the United States to peace. Second, Jefferson pursued efforts to gradually "civilize" the Indians. In his fist annual address to Congress, Thomas Jefferson introduced his program. Thomas Jefferson explained his program in the most benevolent terms. Through education the Indians had become more dependent on practice of "husbandry and the household arts", rather than through hunting and fishing. Jefferson suggested as the Indians became more civilized, their population was increasing.
"Among our Indian neighbors also a spirit of peace and friendship generally prevails, and I am happy to inform you that the continued efforts to introduce among them the implements and the practice of husbandry and the household arts have not been without success; that they are becoming more and more sensible of the superiority of this dependence for clothing and subsistence over the precarious resources of hunting and fishing, and already we are able to announce that instead of that constant diminution of their numbers produced by their wars and their wants, some of them begin to experience an increase of population."But two years later, in 1803 Jefferson wrote to William Henry Harrison, governor of the Indiana territory regarding the purchasing of Indian lands. As America expanded, and the desire of new land grew, Jefferson's "civilization program" thus became very important. In this letter, Jefferson provides us with a secondary reason for his "civilization program". Jefferson did not want his agents to coerce Indian nations to sell lands, but rather to entice them into selling their lands with the purchase American goods. Jefferson explained his plan to "civilize the Indians". Due to the decrease of wild game, their ability to sustain themselves through hunting will soon prove to be insufficient, and Jefferson wished to draw them to agriculture, and to spinning and weaving. Once they do this, they will begin to "perceive how useless to them are their extensive forests, and will be willing to pare them off from time to time in exchange for necessaries for their farms and families." Jefferson continued, that to promote the sale of their lands, "we shall push our trading houses, and be glad to see the good and influential individuals among them run in debt, because we observe that when these debts get beyond what the individuals can pay, they become willing to lop them off by a cession of lands." And to guarantee that the Indians buy from the government rather than from private merchants, "we mean to sell so low as merely to repay us cost and charges, so as neither to lessen or enlarge our capital. This is what private traders cannot do, for they must gain; they will consequently retire from the competition, and we shall thus get clear of this pest without giving offence or umbrage to the Indians." Jefferson explained that in this way, the Indians will either slowly assimilate into American civilization or be removed beyond the Mississippi. But these actions needed to be done in such a way that it does not provoke fear. Jefferson explained that "it is essential to cultivate their love", and that our motives should be perceived of "pure humanity only". But if any tribe was foolish enough to "take up the hatchet at any time", Jefferson warned that the "seizing the whole country of that tribe, and driving them across the Mississippi" would serve as an example to others. Thus Thomas Jefferson's "civilization program" would both aid the Indians in accordance with Enlightenment principles and at the same time further the interest of white Americans.
By 1806, Thomas Jefferson, convinced that his "civilization program" was working addressed Congress with the news that more and more Indians were placing "all their interests under the patronage of the United States". America would continue to "reap the just reward" of gaining Indian lands through promise of justice and welfare.
"We continue to receive proofs of the growing attachment of our Indian neighbors and of their dispositions to place all their interests under the patronage of the United States. These dispositions are inspired by their confidence in our justice and in the sincere concern we feel for their welfare; and as long as we discharge these high and honorable functions with the integrity and good faith which alone can entitle us to their continuance we may expect to reap the just reward in their peace and friendship."
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29443
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29448
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/indian_removal/jefferson_to_harrison.cfm
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-10-02-0159
https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/american-indians
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Alfred_Jacob_Miller_-_Snake_Indians_-_Testing_Bows_-_Walters_37194060.jpg
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