Speech of Mr. Everett, of Massachusetts, on the Bill for Removing the Indians from the East to the West Side of the Mississippi. Delivered in the House of Representatives, on the 19th May, 1830.

“The evil, sir, is enormous; the violence is extreme; the breach of public faith deplorable; the inevitable suffering incalculable.”

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An important speech during the debate for the removal of the Cherokees, as advanced by President Andrew Jackson. Everett’s eloquent speech records his fierce opposition to remove the Cherokee Nation, in part:

“Sir, this policy cannot come to good. It cannot, as it professes, elevate the Indian. It must and will dishearten, depress, and crush him. If he has within him a spark of that pride, without which there can be no rational improvement, this gloomy policy would subdue it. I have labored hard to take an opposite view of the subject; but there is no bright side to it. It is all unmingled, unmitigated evil. There is evil on the other side, but none commensurate with that of this compulsory removal.” (p32)

Everett’s opinion was in the minority and subsequent events would lead to the Cherokee Diaspora. Everett is perhaps best remembered today for the length of his speech at Gettysburg compared with the brevity of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Price: $125.00