Posted by
john on Monday, December 01, 2008 7:21:52 PM
Today on Michael Medved's show a very informed (he said he was a history teacher) caller raised a point concerning Indian Removal which I had never before encountered in all my reading on this subject. The caller pointed out that because of the very real threat that existed, even in the 1830s, of secession, Jackson felt it was paramount that he do whatever may be within his power to make sure that the ringleader, South Carolina, remained isolated. Hence, Removal as a policy was advanced largely as a sop to Georgians who were anxious to "remove" the Indian threat from their midst.
I think this is a point worth considering. Although it is certainly accurate, as Jon Meachum has said, that Jackson's Indian policy can be explained, but never justified, Jackson, like Lincoln, placed preservation of the Union above all other interests and considerations. Thus I believe it is likely that, had Jackson any notion that pursuing Removal would keep Georgia in the Union camp, that would have been enough reason right there.