An Act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories,
and for their removal west of the river Mississippi.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress
assembled, That it shall and may be lawful for the President of the United States to cause so much
of any territory belonging to the United States, west of the river Mississippi, not included in any state
or organized territory, and to which the Indian title has been extinguished, as he may judge necessary,
to be divided into a suitable number of districts, for the reception of such tribes or nations of Indians
as may choose to exchange the lands where they now reside, and remove there; and to cause each of said
districts to be so described by natural or artificial marks, as to be easily distinguished from every other.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to exchange any or all
of such districts, so to be laid off and described, with any tribe or nation of Indians now residing within
the limits of any of the states or territories, and with which the United States have existing treaties, for
the whole or any part or portion of the territory claimed and occupied by such tribe or nation, within the
bounds of any one or more of the states or territories, where the land claimed and occupied by the Indians,
is owned by the United States, or the United States are bound to the state within which it lies to extinguish
the Indian claim thereto.
And be it further enacted, That in the making of any such exchange or exchanges, it shall and may be
lawful for the President solemnly to assure the tribe or nation with which the exchange is made, that the
United States will forever secure and guaranty to them, and their heirs or successors, the country so
exchanged with them; and if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent or grant to be
made and executed to them for the same: Provided always, That such lands shall revert to the United States,
if the Indians become extinct, or abandon the same.
And be it further enacted, That if, upon any of the lands now occupied by the Indians, and to be
exchanged for, there should be such improvements as add value to the land claimed by any individual or
individuals of such tribes or nations, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such value
to be ascertained by appraisement or otherwise, and to cause such ascertained value to be paid to the
person or persons rightfully claiming such improvements. And upon the payment of such valuation, the
improvements so valued and paid for, shall pass to the United States, and possession shall not afterwards
be permitted to any of the same tribe.
And be it further enacted, That upon the making of any such exchange as is contemplated by this act,
it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such aid and assistance to be furnished to the
emigrants as may be necessary and proper to enable them to remove to, and settle in, the country for
which they may have exchanged; and also, to give them such aid and assistance as may be necessary for their
support and subsistence for the first year after their removal.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such tribe or
nation to be protected, at their new residence, against all interruption or disturbance from any other
tribe or nation of Indians, or from any other person or persons whatever.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to have the same
superintendence and care over any tribe or nation in the country to which they may remove, as
contemplated by this act, that he is now authorized to have over them at their present places of
residence: Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed as authorizing or directing
the violation of any existing treaty between the United States and any of the Indian tribes.
And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of giving effect to the Provisions of this act,
the sum of five hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury,
not otherwise appropriated.
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