The Trail of Tears is a very sad episode in our nation's history when 60,000 people of five major Native American nations including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee or Creek and the Seminoles were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands east of the Mississippi. In 1831, the Choctaw were the first nation to be removed and became a model for all future relocations. By 1837, the Seminoles and the Creeks were also removed, and President Martin Van Buren considered removal to be the "settled policy of the country". These were not uncivilized peoples but rather nations that had highly sophisticated ruling systems and called the "Five Civilized Tribes" by White America.
In Martin Van Buren's first State of the Union address, he described a change in the Indian Removal toward a "more philanthropic and enlightened policy", where the United States would not just take their land, but rather purchase their lands. His words sound like a political spin. The change in policy was neither philanthropic nor enlightened. Rather, according to Chickasaw history, the Chickasaw leaders had foresight and used their skilled negotiating practices to obtain a favorable sale of their land in Mississippi. The Chickasaw had a long history of sophistication and even were revered in ancient times as the "Spartans of the Lower Mississippi Valley". As early as the 16th century, they lived in sophisticated towns and were successful trading partners with both the French and English. Unlike the prior tribes that were removed, the favorable terms on the sale of the land allowed the Chickasaw Nation to pay for their own removal. They still met many hardships but were able to travel during favorable seasons and saved many lives. It was a sad part of their history, but the resilience and strength of the Chickasaw remained a source of pride. The Chickasaw brought with them their agrarian way of life, their leadership and civility, but were met by more nomadic tribes in the Plains that did not understand or respect the property rights negotiated with the United States.
According to President Van Buren, the "tribes that first emigrated beyond the Mississippi [had] for the most part abandoned the hunter state and become cultivators of the soil." While this may be true for some tribes, the Chickasaw and the Cherokee were already cultivators of the soil and did not need any inducements to abandon “hunter state”. Van Buren still considered the Indian Removal policy to be benevolent. He stated in his address, that by removing the nations they would be protected from "associations and evil practices which exert so pernicious and destructive an influence over their destinies" and they could be induced to labor and become property owners. It was as if, east of the Mississippi, the tribes lived as savages, but somehow moving them west made them civilized farmers. The truth is, these nations were already civilized, but were no longer welcome East of the Mississippi. This truth could be no plainer than the words of Van Buren,
"The interests of the United States would also be greatly promoted by freeing the relations between the General and State Governments from what has proved a most embarrassing incumbrance by a satisfactory adjustment of conflicting titles to lands caused by the occupation of the Indians, and by causing the resources of the whole country to be developed by the power of the State and General Governments and improved by the enterprise of a white population."
In other words, the white population wanted the land for their own enterprises, and that meant the "Five Civilized Tribes" had to go.
In his first State of the Union Address, Martin Van Buren shared what he considered to be positive progress on the "system of removing the Indians west of the Mississippi". This included not only the Chickasaw, Choctaws and Cherokees but also the " the Six Nations in New York, the Menomonees, Munsees, and Stockbridges in Wisconsin, and Miamies in Indiana." Today, these words are hard to read, but for many folks at the time, it was truly believed to be the best thing for everyone. As they say, ignorance is bliss. Here is the full excerpt.
"The system of removing the Indians west of the Mississippi, commenced by Mr. Jefferson in 1804, has been steadily persevered in by every succeeding President, and may be considered the settled policy of the country. Unconnected at first with any well-defined system for their improvement, the inducements held out to the Indians were confined to the greater abundance of game to be found in the West; but when the beneficial effects of their removal were made apparent a more philanthropic and enlightened policy was adopted in purchasing their lands east of the Mississippi. Liberal prices were given and provisions inserted in all the treaties with them for the application of the funds they received in exchange to such purposes as were best calculated to promote their present welfare and advance their future civilization. These measures have been attended thus far with the happiest results.
It will be seen by referring to the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the most sanguine expectations of the friends and promoters of this system have been realized. The Choctaws, Cherokees, and other tribes that first emigrated beyond the Mississippi have for the most part abandoned the hunter state and become cultivators of the soil. The improvement in their condition has been rapid, and it is believed that they are now fitted to enjoy the advantages of a simple form of government, which has been submitted to them and received their sanction; and I can not too strongly urge this subject upon the attention of Congress.
Stipulations have been made with all the Indian tribes to remove them beyond the Mississippi, except with the bands of the Wyandots, the Six Nations in New York, the Menomonees, Munsees, and Stockbridges in Wisconsin, and Miamies in Indiana. With all but the Menomonees it is expected that arrangements for their emigration will be completed the present year. The resistance which has been opposed to their removal by some of the tribes even after treaties had been made with them to that effect has arisen from various causes, operating differently on each of them. In most instances they have been instigated to resistance by persons to whom the trade with them and the acquisition of their annuities were important, and in some by the personal influence of interested chiefs. These obstacles must be overcome, for the Government can not relinquish the execution of this policy without sacrificing important interests and abandoning the tribes remaining east of the Mississippi to certain destruction.
The decrease in numbers of the tribes within the limits of the States and Territories has been most rapid. If they be removed, they can be protected from those associations and evil practices which exert so pernicious and destructive an influence over their destinies. They can be induced to labor and to acquire property, and its acquisition will inspire them with a feeling of independence. Their minds can be cultivated, and they can be taught the value of salutary and uniform laws and be made sensible of the blessings of free government and capable of enjoying its advantages. In the possession of property, knowledge, and a good government, free to give what direction they please to their labor, and sharers in the legislation by which their persons and the profits of their industry are to be protected and secured, they will have an ever-present conviction ot the importance of union and peace among themselves and of the preservation of amicable relations with us. The interests of the United States would also be greatly promoted by freeing the relations between the General and State Governments from what has proved a most embarrassing incumbrance by a satisfactory adjustment of conflicting titles to lands caused by the occupation of the Indians, and by causing the resources of the whole country to be developed by the power of the State and General Governments and improved by the enterprise of a white population."
References
“First Annual Message.” First Annual Message | The American Presidency Project, 5 Dec. 1837, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/first-annual-message-4
https://www.chickasaw.net/our-nation/history.aspx
https://www.chickasaw.net/our-nation/history/removal.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment