The departure from this thoughtful scheme plnned by the foresight of our fathers at a period called "the era of good feeling." seems inexcusable unless the actual results of its execution demonstrated its disastrous effects upon the Indian or its injury to our people. On the contrary. the evidence proves conclusively. as far as I can gather. that it had worked with marked advantage to the Indian as well as to the white man. While as a general rule we have continued to treat with the various tribes of Indians down to 1871. making with them from threehundred and seventyfive to four hundred treaties and regarding them precisely as other distinct nations. the legislation of Congress and the treatymaking power of the Executive and Senate seem to have made frequent exceptions to the general rule in regard to the subject of naturalization. Under various treaties and laws of Congress citizens have been made of Indians who ceased their tribal relations. beginning with the Choctaws in 1830. who remained in Mississippi ami(I Alabama. and with the Wyandottes and others in 185. and with a number of other tribes during and since the war. until. I find upon examination. to. my surprise. between nine and ten thousand Indians have been thus admitted to American citizenship.
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naturalization