The document by Lewis Cass discusses the resistance of the Cherokee people to the influences of European civilization over two centuries. It argues that despite the persistent efforts of Europeans to improve their situation, the Cherokees have remained stagnant in both their moral and intellectual development. Cass suggests that this resistance is not due to the neglect of the white settlers but rather an inherent difficulty within the Indian institutions and character. In the context of evaluating the influence of supporters and opponents of territorial expansion, this document highlights how opponents, like Cass, viewed Native American resistance as a rationale for policies that favored assimilation or removal, thereby shaping government policy towards territorial expansion in a way that sought to justify their actions and intentions toward Native tribes.