Race Relations
The three articles Bartoleme de Las Casas: Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies (1542), Andrew Jackson's Speech to Congress on Indian Removal (1830), and Helen Hunt Jackson, A Century of Dishonor (New York, 1881) all speak about the slavery and mistreatment of the Indians. They give suggestions on ways to fix the problem of the mistreatment of Indians and give testimony on the mistreatment.
In Bartolome de Las Casas: Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies (1542), he talked about how Indians were enslaved and killed. The lands of Hispaniola which were extremely populated became less populated as more Spaniards arrived and began to kill and enslave Indians. The author stated “Yet into this sheepfold, into this land of meek outcasts there came some Spaniards who immediately behaved like ravening wild beasts, wolves, tigers, or lions that had been starved for many days.” Also, Indians from Puerto Rica and Jamaica were being brought from their land to Hispaniola to be sold as slaves some were killed.
In Andrew Jackson's Speech to Congress on Indian Removal (1830), he talked about removing the Indians from their current homes to a new home to avoid them being killed. He describes that they (the government) will pay to relocate the Indians. Jackson says that since two Indian tribes have already accepted the offer and that because of that he hopes more will accept it. Jackson writes that “It will separate the Indians from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the progress of decay, which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually, under the protection of the Government and through the influence of good counsels, to cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community.”
In Helen Hunt Jackson's, a Century of Dishonor (New York, 1881). She talked about how the Indians are treated and despite the actions of the government they are still treated poorly. Helen Jackson says “Cheating, robbing, breaking promises--these three are clearly things which must cease to be done. One more thing, also, and that is the refusal of the protection of the law to the Indian's rights of property, "of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When these four things have ceased to be done, time, statesmanship, philanthropy, and Christianity can slowly and surely do the rest. Till these four things have ceased to be done, statesmanship and philanthropy alike must work in vain, and even Christianity can reap but small harvest."