> "this principle...gave to the nation making the discovery...the sole right of acquiring the soil and of making settlements on it... it regulated the right given by discovery among the european discoverers; but could not affect the rights of those already in possession..." 31 u.s. at 543. marshall clarifies that this european principle only governed interactions between european powers and did not strip native americans of their original rights to the land. it merely prevented competition between european claimants. ``` > "the relation between the europeans and the natives was determined...by the particular government which asserted and could maintain this pre-emptive privilege in the particular place." 31 u.s. at 543. the european powers, including britain, established relationships with native american tribes through treaties and alliances, asserting limited rights over them, rather than full sovereignty. ``` > "soon after great britain determined on planting colonies in america, the king granted charters... the first of these charters...purport, generally, to convey the soil, from the atlantic to the south sea... this was the exclusive right of purchasing such lands as the natives were willing to sell..." 31 u.s. at 543-44. early british charters claimed broad territorial rights over north america, but marshall notes that these charters primarily granted the right to purchase land from native americans, not to take it by force or govern their internal affairs. ```
United States