Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth

University of St. Mary | Leavenworth, KS

Land-history research for 4200 S. 4th Street, Leavenworth, KS, 66048

European Treatment Report

Contextualization Call Recording

“Ho! For the Kansas Plains” songbook cover by Jas. G. Clark (1856)

"A plat of the world" by Edward Wright (1655)

“Simon-François Daumont de Saint-Lusson,” rendering by Charles W. Jefferys (1934)

The Doctrine of Discovery at Leavenworth

European Contact

“Indian Treaty of Greenville,” by unknown artist (1795)

Concessions.

You have talked to us about concessions. It appears strange that you should expect any from us, who have only been defending our just rights against your invasions…. We desire you to consider, brothers, that our only demand is the peaceable possession of a small part of our once great country. Look back and review the lands from whence we have been driven to this spot. We can retreat no farther, because the country behind hardly affords food for its present inhabitants[.]

Final action of the General Council of the tribes (including the Delawares) at Sandusky (1793)

Settler Colonialization

The Treaty Period

Portrait of Catharine Beecher by unknown artist (c.1840)

Annihilation.

[I]t has become almost a certainty, that these people are to have their lands torn from them, and to be driven into western wilds and to final annihilation, unless the feelings of a humane and Christian nation shall be aroused to prevent the unhallowed sacrifice.”

Catharine Beecher, “Circular Addressed to Benevolent Ladies of the U. States” (December 1, 1829)

“Andrew Jackson, President of the United States,” by Albert Newsom (1830)

Annihilation.

“ And is it supposed that the wandering savage has a stronger attachment to his home than the settled, civilized Christian? Is it more afflicting to him to leave the graves of his fathers than it is to our brothers and children? Rightly considered, the policy of the General Government toward the red man is not only liberal, but generous. He is unwilling to submit to the laws of the States and mingle with their population. To save him from this alternative, or perhaps utter annihilation, the General Government kindly offers him a new home, and proposes to pay the whole expense of his removal and settlement.”

President Andrew Jackson’s Second Annual Message to Congress (Dec. 6, 1830)

Portrait of James Knox Polk by George Peter Alexander Healy (1846)

Duty.

But eighty years ago our population was confined on the west by the ridge of the Alleghanies. Within that period—within the lifetime, I might say, of some of my hearers—our people, increasing to many millions, have filled the eastern valley of the Mississippi, adventurously ascended the Missouri to its headsprings, and are already engaged in establishing the blessings of self-government in valleys of which the rivers flow to the Pacific. The world beholds the peaceful triumphs of the industry of our emigrants. To us belongs the duty of protecting them adequately wherever they may be upon our soil. The jurisdiction of our laws and the benefits of our republican institutions should be extended over them in the distant regions which they have selected for their homes.

President James K. Polk’s Inaugural Address (March 4, 1845)

Portrait of George Washington Manypenny by unknown artist (c. 1855)

Civilization.

“The faith of the nation was pledged in the most solemn form, before these tribes removed to the region west of the Mississippi, that they should have the undisputed possession and control of the country, and that the tracts assigned to them therein should be their permanent homes . . . . The emigration consequent upon our acquisitions from Mexico and the organization of our new Territories, necessarily subjected the Indians to that kind of contact with the whites which was sure to entail on them the vices, while deprived of the good influences, of civilization.”

Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs George W. Manypenny to Secretary of the Interior R. McClelland (Nov. 25, 1854)

Photograph of James W. Denver by unknown artist (c. 1860)

Impossible.

They are now becoming rapidly surrounded by such a population, full of enterprise and energy, and by which all the surplus lands, as far west as any of the border tribes reside, when necessarily soon be required for settlement. . . . With large reservations of fertile and desirable land, entirely disproportioned to their wants for occupancy and support, it will be impossible, when surrounded by a dense white population, to protect hem from constant disturbance, intrusion, and spoliation. . . . There reservations should be restricted so a to contain only sufficient land to afford them a comfortable support by actual cultivation, and should be properly divided and assigned to them, with the obligation to remain upon and cultivate the same."

Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs J. W. Denver to Secretary of the Interior J. Thompson (Nov. 30, 1857)