878 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



the Creek and Seminole Indians in that Territory, known as "Okla. 

 homa," together with the attempts to unlawfully occupy the same by 

 Captain Payne and his colonists, known as "boomers," see Senate Ex. 

 Doc, Ko. 50, second session, Forty-eighth Congress, January 28, 1885. 



GRANTS FOR RAILROAD RIGHTS OF WAY IN INDIAN TERRITORY. 



For names of and history of grants of rights of way for railroads 

 through Indian Territory, see Senate Ex. Doc, February 18, in re- 

 sponse to resolution of February 3, 1887, together with map. 



REMOVAL OF INDIANS TO WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 



RIVER. 



For many years prior to 1831 the subject of the removal of Indians lo- 

 cated east of the Mississippi Eiver to reservations west of that river was 

 agitated by public men. These reservations were to be permanent homes. 

 The State of Georgia also wanted the Cherokee Indians removed from 

 that State. The President January 27, 1825, sent to the Senate a com- 

 munication for colonization of the Indians west of the Mississippi. The 

 Secretary of War, Hon. James Barbour, also sent a commu nication to 

 the Indian Committee of the House February 3, 1826, calling attention 

 to the dreadful condition of the Indians, and favoring the co.lonization to 

 west of the Mississippi Eiver. December 8, 1829, the President in his 

 annual message called attention to it again, and o n May 30, 1830, an 

 act was passed " To provide for the exchange of lands with the Indian 

 tribes in any of the States and Territories and for their removal west of 

 the river Mississippi." The War Department removed them. It was a 

 sad event and a fearful loss of life was the result. 



Up to 1834, 77,497 Indians were so removed, viz : 



Creeks, 25,000; Choctaws, 18,500; Cherokees, 15,000; Chickasaws, 

 5,400; Winnebagoes, 4,600 ; Seminoles^ 3,000; Potawatomies, 3,540 

 Shawnee, 1,250; Delawares, 826; Wyandots, 623; Kickai)00S, 470 

 Weas, 282 ; Senecas from Sandusky, 251 ; Senacas and Shawnees, 211 

 Ottawas, 200 ; Piankeshaws, 162 ; Peorias and Kaskaskias, 132. A few 

 thousands were afterwards added to these. 



Mr. Catlin was with these Indians prior to and during their removal, 

 and afterwards. In his Itinerary for 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, herein, he 

 gives much matter of interest. He found them about Fort Leaven- 

 worth and Gibson. He greatly deprecated this removal, believing it 

 but a pretext to get the land from the Indian and to destroy him. 



Mr. Catlin's map (facing this page) of the locations of the removed 

 tribes as settled west of the Mississippi Eiver, is from Vol. 2 Catlin's 

 Eight Years. Mr. Catlin made the map in 1840, from authority gathered 

 in 1831, 1832, and 1833. 



