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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
ties, & Bowles in conjunction with other developments which had been and were daily being made, induced the Government to vary its policy towards them, so far as to insist upon their immediate removal. Com- missioners were accordingly appointed, with instructions to negotiate with them on the most liberal conditions for their peaceful departure. They were directed, not only to furnish aid in the transportation of their women and children, but to pay the.m promptly, under a fair appraisement, for all their improvements, and for such other property, as they could not conveniently carry with them; and for this purpose the necessary specie was deposited in Nacogdoches. Thus will the Congress perceive, that there was no disposition on the part of the Executive to offer wrong to the erring and guilty tribe; but on the contrary, a strong desire, riot only to render them ample justice, but to deal with them in the most exalted spirit of liberality. Their crimes. having rendered· their removal indispensable, they had no right to expect remuneration for their losses. The tender of it, under such circumstances, was but the voluntary sacrifice which humanity pre- ferred to the shedding of blood. But no liberality or benevolence could restrain their sanguinary temper-they flew to arms, and their expul- sion followed. The commissioners entrusted with this object, were further author- ised to make the same proposition to the Shawnees, which was accord- ingly done and promptly accepted. The expense of their removal, as far as asertained, will be seen in the Treasurer's report. 76 Thus has the nation been rid of some of its most offensive enemies, whose re- moval has. opened to civilized industry an extensive and fertile region which, it is believed, will soon be occupied by a hardy population, dense and strong enough to protect themselves against all future ag- gressions. Whether the Cherokees and Shawnees will attempt a re- turn to their old haunts is a matter of conjecture. That they have the dispsition to ass!l,il us, whenever it can be done with safety to themselves, is certain; and it is the policy of a prudent people to be at all times prepared to repel a cunning and malignant foe. In my opinion, the proper policy to be. pursued towards the bar- barian race, is absolute expulsion from the country. Nothing short of this will bring us peace or safety. It is vain to flatter ourselves that amicable relations can be preserved with them by virtue of treaty stip- ulations, or by adopting towards them a course of moderation and for- . bearance; for experience has long since confirmed the truth, that public or private pledges have no restraining influence with a people who are insensible to all moral obligation; and every attempt which has hitherto been made to propitiate the friendship of savages by the practice of benevolence and kindness, has only resulted in disappointing the hopes • of the philanthropist, and placing additional victims in the reach. of their ferocity. The humane policy which the American Government 16 This report, which is in the Texas archives, "Financial Affairs Papers," under date of October 20, 1839, does not, however, state the amount expended for this purp9se. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury of Nov. 3, 1839, printed in the Telegraph and Texas Register of Dec. 18, 1839, a copy of which is in the Texas archives, states that the :1mount expended in re.moving the Shawn·ees, "which does not appear in the Treasurer's report," was $8,000.
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