Read the excerpt from “George W. Harkins to the American People.” We were hedged in by two evils, and we chose that which we thought the least. Yet we could not recognize the right that the state of Mississippi had assumed, to legislate for us.—Although the legislature of the state were qualified to make laws for their own citizens, that did not qualify them to become law makers to a people that were so dissimilar in manners and customs as the Choctaws are to the Mississippians. Admitting that they understood the people, could they remove that mountain of prejudice that has ever obstructed the streams of justice, and prevent their salutary influence from reaching my devoted countrymen. We as Choctaws rather chose to suffer and be free, than live under the degrading influence of laws, which our voice could not be heard in their formation. The Tenth Amendment states The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Which option most accurately describes how Harkins applies the Tenth Amendment to strengthen his argument that the government has failed the Choctaw people? He conveys the idea that the Choctaws should not have to conform to the legislation established by the state of Mississippi.

He expresses his concern that the state of Mississippi was not authorized to make any laws because it should have relied on the federal government to create all legislation.

He highlights the idea that the state of Mississippi was not competent to legislate for the Choctaws because of the differences between Choctaws and Mississippians.

He explains the issue that the Choctaw people are loyal citizens and should follow the same laws as everyone else.