How would you characterize the position of each historical actor? How specifically did each actor support his or her position? Ultimately, why was there an Indian Removal crisis?

An Elderly Creek Indian Chief Laments White Encroachment (1831)

By the Treaty of Washington in 1826, the Creek Indians had relinquished their remaining lands in Georgia while the U.S. guaranteed to them “all the country, not herein ceded, to which they have a just claim.” The Creeks were now confined to a five-million acre domain lying entirely within Alabama. Emulating Georgia, Alabama in 1829 adopted a law to extend state jurisdiction over their territory. The Creeks protested and appealed to Jackson for protection. Jackson and Secretary of War John Eaton responded that the Creeks would be protected in their property, but that they would have to submit to Alabama’s laws. The Creek population was divided between Upper and Lower Towns. At the time that this letter was written, the Yuchis were living among the Creeks, but they had once been a separate people. On March 24, 1832, a Creek delegation in Washington signed a treaty ceding all Creek lands east of the Mississippi.

Tuskeneah to Andrew Jackson

Creek Nation Cusiatah Town 21st May 1831

Brother

I am very old and feebhle and am not able, to make along talk. I have thought for Some years I should never make an other. But the Situation of my country makes it necessary for me again to Open my mouth. I have been a Cheif for fifty five years I have witnessed all the Treaties of my Nation with your Government Since the old British war. I have ever been the friend of the white man. I have never taken up a gun against your white children. I have always taken the Presidents of the U.S. by the hand with that friendship which is due from a child to his Father. They have always treated me and my people as if though we had been there white children. I have never Seen the necessity of complaining untill now All my white Fathers and brothers untill now or a few months back have prevented there white sons and daughters from making fields and settling in my Country they have always protected us in the lands that we did not cede away to there government. At this time your white children are fast settling up my country—they are building houses Mills making fields and destroying all my timber & game. This I have always been taught by my Former Fathers and Brothers was not a right which these white children were entitled to. We have always required your Government to protect us on the lands that we did not sell. Your Government promised to do so. I was informed by the deputation that visitted you winter before last that you stated to them that you would not allow of such conduct, that you had placed Soldiers among us that would remove all persons that would settle in our Country without our consent and the Agents or had an Indian family. This was strictly attended to untill a few months back, when to my surprise on application for the removal of some white Settlers we were answered by your Soldiers that they could not relieve our wants without your Consent. This talk was like a clap of thunder upon me. All this we have more than once Communicated to you We have never received any answer. our deputation told us on there return to the Nation this winter that the Secretary of War had promised to answer us when more at leisure than He was when they were at Washington City. I should not make this talk only the situation of my Country greatly demands it.

I can only repeat in my talk what we have said to you before your white Sons and daughters are moving into my Country in abundance they are spoiling my lands and taking possession of the Red peoples improvements that they have made with their own labour. Contrary to the consent of the Nation And your Soldier have refused to prevent it. This makes me Sorry and have caused me to give you this talk. Believing at the same time that you will not give a deaf year to it. For I am contending for nothing but what my People are entitled to and that which your Government has promised repeatedly by Treaty stipulations.

There are dreadful consequences to be anticipated by the emigration of your white children amongst us. they are bringing whiskey and opening drinking Houses nothing but what is bad can result. There are bad white people as well as Red. That neither me nor you can control.

These are the kind of characters that settle among us. They steal our property they swear to lies. they make false accounts against us they sue us in your State Courts for that we know nothing of The Laws that we are immeaneable to are in words that we have no possible means of understanding. Only a few days since an affray took place at an intruders Camp who was selling whiskey to the Red people when a white man was severely beaten. Such conduct makes me unhappy—but I can not help it. I would to the great Spirit above prevent such conduct was it in my power. Affrays alone are not only to be expected, but the Sheding of a quantity of blood I am affraid will be the end. this fills my old head with trouble. I talk to you altho I am not in person before you I tell you the truth. my tongue is not forked. That such of your white citizens that intrude upon us are of your bad children. they have run away from your laws they cant live with honest white people. There are a number of my Red children in dreadful Condition without any means of subsistance. they have been Compell’d to resort to there guns

The uchees a small part of our Tribe have in small parties cross’d in the Settlements of Georgia where Game they believed more plenty. it is likely such of them as did cross the line may have kill’d white people stock. The whites have collected themselves in bodies and hunted up such as did cross into Georgia and shot them as if though they were deer. From the best information I can Learn in the course of the three last months there has been seventeen Red people kill’d by the whites and nothing thought of more than if they had been so many wild Hogs. I can only feel sorry for it they done wrong in crossing the Line. It was contrary to my wish & orders. But yet such conduct is in your white sons. they drive there stock into our Country they spoil our Range. they kill or hogs & Cattle. they kill your white childrens stock running in my Country and lay it to my red children they have to bear the blame. They hunt and kill our game. We treat them kindly. I don’t wish them [harm.] But still I believe it wrong. When my people cross to the white settlements I dont want them kill’d. but should they commit a wrong they should suffer in the way your law points out. I shall endeavour to prevent the Red people from doing any thing that will offend you or my white Neighbours. All I want is peace and be protected in what belongs to the Red people, and have been Solemly garanteed to them by your Government. With everey Respect I have the Honor to be your unfortunate old Brother

Tuskenehah-haw his X mark

Daniel Asburry Inter[preter].

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