This collection contains congressional publications from 1774 to 1875, including debates, bills, laws, and journals.

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs issued a report (S.doc.61).

Senator Hugh White, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported A Bill to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the States or Territories, and for their removal West of the river Mississippi (S. 102).

The Senate voted 28 to 19 to pass the Indian Removal Act (S. 102).

The House of Representatives voted 102 to 97 to pass the Indian Removal Act (S. 102).

The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson.

President Andrew Jackson outlined his Indian removal policy in his Second Annual Message to Congress. Jackson's comments on Indian removal begin with the words, "It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages."

Excerpt: "I flatter myself that Mr Bell will do justice to the interesting subject committed to his charge as Chairman of the committee of Indian Affairs— The removal of the Indians would be an act of seeming violence—But it will prove in the end an act of enlarged philanthropy. These untutored sons of the Forest, cannot exist in a state of Independence, in the vicinity of the white man. If they will persist in remaining where they are, they may begin to dig their graves and prepare to die."

Excerpt: "I beg of you to say to them, that their interest happiness peace & prosperity depends upon their removal beyond the jurisdiction of the laws of the State of Mississippi. These things have been [often times] explained to them fully and I forbear to repeat them; but request that you make known to them that Congress to enable them to remove & comfortably to arrange themselves at their new homes has made liberal appropriations. It was a measure I had much at heart & sought to effect because I was satisfied that the Indians could not possibly live under the laws of the States. If now they shall refuse to accept the liberal terms offered, they only must be liable for whatever evils & dificulties may arise. I feel conscious of having done my duty to my red children and if any failure of my good intention arises, it will be attributable to their want of duty to themselves, not to me."

Excerpt: "Brothers! If you are disposed to remove say so, and state the terms you may consider just and equitable."

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Shows the lands occupied by various tribes and includes details about land transfers and cessions. 1889.

A transcript of this letter is also available in this collection. On the third page of the letter Andrew Jackson discusses the removal of the Cherokees.