Farewell Letter to the American People

Main article: Choctaw

The "Farewell Letter to the American People" was a widely published letter by the Choctaw Chief George W. Harkins in 1832.[1] The letter denounced the removal of the Choctaw Nation to Oklahoma. The letter is still considered one of the most important documents in Native American history.[2]

“ It is with considerable diffidence that I attempt to address the American people, knowing and feeling sensibly my incompetency; and believing that your highly and well improved minds would not be well entertained by the address of a Choctaw ... We as Choctaws rather chose to suffer and be free ... ”

—-George W. Harkins, George W. Harkins to the American People[3]

References

  1. ^ George W. Harkins, "Farewell Letter to the American People," 1832. The American Indian, December 1926. Reprinted in Great Documents in American Indian History, edited by Wayne Moquin with Charles Van Doren. New York: DaCapo Press. 1995; 151.
  2. ^ 1831 - December - George W. Harkins to the American People
  3. ^ Harkins, George (1831). "1831 - December - George W. Harkins to the American People" (HTML). http://anpa.ualr.edu/trailOfTears/letters/1831DecemberGeorgeWHarkinstotheAmericanPeople.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-13.