But every effort was to
be made to bring about a voluntary migration. One thing was to be
clearly understood: any tribe or group that chose to remain in Georgia
must submit to the laws of the State and yield its claim to all land
which had not been improved. The President was not indifferent to the
well-being of the red men; but he refused to recognize the Cherokees
as a "nation" having "rights" as against either Georgia or the United
States. A few weeks after the message was received Congress passed a
bill creating an Indian reservation beyond the Mississippi and
appropriating five hundred thousand dollars to aid in the removal of
such Indians as should choose to accept the offer of the Government.
The outlook for the Cherokees was now dark. Both the executive and
legislative branches of the Federal Government were committed to a
policy which offered only the alternatives of removal or subjection;
and, thus encouraged, the Georgia Legislature voted to proceed with
the extension of the full authority of the State over both the
Cherokees and the Creeks after June 1, 1830.
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