[The Indian Removal Act, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, was controversial and divisive at the time, passing the Senate on a vote of 28 to 19 and the House 102 to 97. The bill stemmed from Jackson's first State of the Union address (December 8, 1829), where Jackson set his priorities-to emphasize the sovereignty of states over the sovereignty of Indian nations, and to recommend removal of eastern Indian nations to lands west of the Mississippi River. In a sense, this act is Congress's answer to the question Jackson raised in that address-"whether something can be done, consistently with the rights of the States, to preserve this much-injured race." "I suggest for your consideration the propriety of setting apart an ample district west of the Mississippi, and without the limit of any State or Territory now formed, to be guaranteed to the Indian tribes as long as they shall occupy it." Congress followed his suggestion. But note carefully what the act actually did and what it did not do. How would removal be arranged? How were the rights of tribes protected? Did the act force removal? Why did opponents fear that removal would nonetheless be the clear result? For the Cherokees relocation occurred in the 1838 "Trail of Tears," one of the most shameful events in the history of federal domestic policy.]
CHAP. CXLVIII.--An Act 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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall
and may be lawful for the President of the United States to cause so
much of any territory belonging to the United States, west of the
river Mississippi, not included in any state or organized territory,
and to which the Indian title has been extinguished, as he may judge
necessary, to be divided into a suitable number of districts, for the
reception of such tribes or nations of Indians as may choose to
exchange the lands where they now reside, and remove there; and to
cause each of said districts to be so described by natural or
artificial marks, as to be easily distinguished from every other.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to exchange any or all of such districts, so to be laid off and described, with any tribe or nation within the limits of any of the states or territories, and with which the United States have existing treaties, for the whole or any part or portion of the territory claimed and occupied by such tribe or nation, within the bounds of any one or more of the states or territories, where the land claimed and occupied by the Indians, is owned by the United States, or the United States are bound to the state within which it lies to extinguish the Indian claim thereto.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That in the making of any such exchange or exchanges, it shall and may be lawful for the President solemnly to assure the tribe or nation with which the exchange is made, that the United States will forever secure and guaranty to them, and their heirs or successors, the country so exchanged with them; and if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent or grant to be made and executed to them for the same: Provided always, That such lands shall revert to the United States, if the Indians become extinct, or abandon the same.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That if, upon any of the lands now occupied by the Indians, and to be exchanged for, there should be such improvements as add value to the land claimed by any individual or individuals of such tribes or nations, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such value to be ascertained by appraisement or otherwise, and to cause such ascertained value to be paid to the person or persons rightfully claiming such improvements. And upon the payment of such valuation, the improvements so valued and paid for, shall pass to the United States, and possession shall not afterwards be permitted to any of the same tribe.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That upon the making of any such exchange as is contemplated by this act, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such aid and assistance to be furnished to the emigrants as may be necessary and proper to enable them to remove to, and settle in, the country for which they may have exchanged; and also, to give them such aid and assistance as may be necessary for their support and subsistence for the first year after their removal.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such tribe or nation to be protected, at their new residence, against all interruption or disturbance from any other tribe or nation of Indians, or from any other person or persons whatever.
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to have the same superintendence and care over any tribe or nation in the country to which they may remove, as contemplated by this act, that he is now authorized to have over them at their present places of residence: Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed as authorizing or directing the violation of any existing treaty between the United State and any of the Indian tribes.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That for the purposes of giving effect to the provisions of this act, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated.