Re: Indian Genocide
From: vaproto@optonline.net
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There is absolutely no evidence that the American Government had an official (or as some claim unofficial )policy of exterminating all Indians…>>>
While there was probably no “written” policy on the matter, the treatment of Indians at the time of Andrew Jackson certainly shows a consistent and persistent effort to remove the native peoples from areas desired by whites.
As for the policy after the War of Secession, I think the sentiments of Gen. William Sherman settle the matter most succinctly. Sherman, as general-in-chief of the army, had much to do with post-war Indian campaigns. This is covered in Michael Fellman’s book, CITIZEN SHERMAN (Random House, 1995). Sherman wrote in 1866, "It is one of those irreconcilable conflicts that will end only in one way, one or the other must be exterminated …" And again, "We must act with vindictive earnestness against the Sioux, even to the extermination, men, women and children." Valerie Protopapas