"The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their land and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in the property rights and liberty, they never shall be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them."
The Organic Act (1848) created the Oregon Territory, extended the Utmost Good Faith Law to Oregon Territory, and confirmed all Indian land titles in the territory. The Indian lands were not to be taken from them without their consent. The Oregon Donation Land Act (1850) granted 320 free acres to all settlers in Oregon over 18 years of age.
In two years conditions were established that would lead to an inevitable clash over valuable land with precisely those Indians whose property and land claims were supposedly protected by the Utmost Good Faith Law. The land grab was on, to the dismay of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indians.
Also in 1850, a removal plan was hatched to remove all Indians from western Oregon, including the Cow Creek Umpquas. The office of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs was created to carry out the removal plan.
The contradictory nature of the United States Congress' actions regarding Oregon Indians is transparent.
