Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone

Ladies and gentlemen of Congress,

        If I am standing before you today, it is because I am in staunch opposition to the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act is a grave departure from the fundamental principles of justice and humanity that we, as representatives of the American people, must uphold. When we forced the removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral land, we raped their rights. Even, we didn’t respect the compromises and our past agreements. Our nation was built thanks to liberty and equality, we can’t forget that.

        Sure, I understand that you want, Americans, to find a job, and start a new life; but because of us, 15,000 Native Americans had to leave their homeland and 4,000 died. Now, we need to find dialogue and negotiate with these tribes, who through our fault have lost everything they had. It is our responsibility to honor the treaties we have made and to seek solutions that preserve the sovereignty and dignity of these nations. Moreover, we have to cooperate, to find common ground, to repair all the damage we've done, and to coexist harmoniously. Let us strive for unity, justice, and compassion rather than perpetuate the suffering and injustice that this act represents. In conclusion, I implore you, American lawmakers, to vote for the values of our democracy, for our open-mindedness, and for our awareness.

Sources :

Cosmos. United States History. Module 2: A Civil War and Industrial Revolution. Section 2.3 Expansion to the West. 30 September 2023.

...