254 REMOVAL WEST. 
plains from the borders of the Indian Terri- 
tory to the Rocky Mountains. Of these I will 
speak in their order. 
The most important of the frontier tribes, 
as is well known, are the Cherokees, Choc- 
taws and Chickasaws, Creeks and Seminoles, 
Shawnees, Delawares, etc. It is equally well 
known that most of these tribes were removed 
from within the States, not less because of 
the vicious propensities which they contracted 
and the imposition to which they were con- 
tinually exposed, than on account of the diffi- 
culty of maintaining peaceful relations be- 
tween them and our own citizens, while 
they remained in their midst. Their situa- 
tion within the States certainly presented 
quite an anomaly in government—independ- 
ent powers within the limits of others claim- 
ing sovereign jurisdiction 
A mistaken philanthropy — mistaken for 
want of a full knowledge of all the bearings 
of the subject—among some people, has oc- 
casioned much censure upon this branch of 
the policy of our government. But were we 
to take into consideration the treatment of 
other nations towards the aborigines of Ame- 
rica, that of the United States, when placed 
in contrast, would certainly present a very 
benevolent aspect. They have always been 
removed by their own consent, obtained 
through their chiefs and councils; and have 
not only been given equal amounts of land, 
west of the border, but have generally been 
removed and furnished a year’s subsistence 
a 
