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John Marshall And Indian Land Rights: A Historical Rejoinder To The Claim Of "Universal Recognition" Of The Doctrine Of Discovery, Blake A. Watson

Blake A Watson

Contrary to the statements of John Marshall in Johnson v. McIntosh, 21 U.S. (8 Wheat.) 543 (1823), the native inhabitants of America were considered by many as the absolute and "true" owners of the lands they occupied, and could retain or transfer title to their lands as they saw fit. The founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, argued that Europeans could justly occupy lands in America only through purchase from the Indians. Likewise, individuals in New Jersey who based their title on Indian deeds championed native land rights in the eighteenth century. It is evident that Marshall's statement that Indians …