Download (PDF): Document Images     Transcription

Andrew Jackson to the Choctaw Indians (Sent)
Franklin 26. Aug. 1830
Friends & Brothers of the Choctaw Nation
The talk of the Chiefs, Captains, and warriors of the North Eastern, &
Southern Districts, of the Choctaw nation of Indians in full council assembled,
has been presented to me by your trusty friend Major Pytchlyn. I have listened
to your complaints; feel for your distress, & will immediately appoint trusty
and faithful friends to you & me, to see, & to confer with you. If possible the
Secretary of War, will come, to explain fully every thing for me, as if I myself
was present. Your old & tried friends Genl. Jno. Coffee, & his Excellency
genl. Wm. Carroll, in whom I have every confidence, will be present with you
as Commissioners to speak my sentiments, & advise you to your true interests.
Confide in them. They are charged to act justly towards you, & see, that no
wrong is practised. They will be instructed to meet in the nation and make a
treaty with you in Council, that those of the Choctaws who have a desire to
remove, may have the means afforded to them of doing so. They may then
settle upon lands, given to them by Grant, which shall be theirs, & their
childrens forever
Friends & Brothers
I have directed my commissioners to receive & acknowledge as medal
chiefs, those who have been elected & acknowledged such, by the warriors
within their respective Districts. It is the right of a majority to rule; and those
who are so appointed, are in reference to the rights of the people are to be
respected
Friends & brothers
Hear well, & listen! The time appointed for my commissioners to meet
you is the 15th. of September, at Dancing Rabbit Creek, near to where the
trace crosses it, leading from the agency, to the Counsha Towns, where from
the talk sent him, your Father expects you all, both medal, & the other chiefs
to meet him. There he hopes a treaty may be made, which shall make you
happy, & settle you finally on land west of the Mississippi, that shall belong
to you by Grant always, & make you happy forever
Brothers Listen
You must now make a voluntary choice: remove-seek a home beyond
the Mississippi, or else remain, where you are, under the laws of the State, &
as good people endeavour to conform to them. No other alternative is

Images Source: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.75