The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-02
From tie National IateHigeneer.

From tie National InteLfyeneer.
IT is with unalloyed qualification, thar we
are enabled To lay before our readers the fol-
lowing interetting fatemcnt of the progreis of
the aborieines of the United States in agricul.
ture, in the arts, and in the mott important
branches of ufeful knowledge. We have al
ways entertained the hope, that the time would
come when the INTAKES of the recluf ftpdent.
or the infatuated theoriR, as to the infufcepthi.
lity OF the favage fate to civilization, would
he difipated by fyfem Of practical education.
That time has now arrived. Under the aufpi-
ces OF wife and humane Administration, the
true character of our weltern brethren heyins to
unfold itfelf; and it appears ts contain the
germs of every fpecies of refpectability and i'm.
provement. Who can read the picture Mr..
Meigs prefents without feeling an honef pride
at the far different means pu.fued in this coun-
try, from thofe praetifed, in like circumstances,
by other countries Other nations, aiuated
by the fprit of avArice and cenqueit, extirmina-
ted or entlaved the unofending natives Of the
regions occupied by their arms we add to
their comforts, elevate them to the rank of in
teiiectual beings, and attach them to us by be-
nevolent Offices. Is il going too far to FAY that
this IS the effect of our republican inititu,ions
and that the contrary treatment has flowed
from mo archie or ariifocratic fyftems; of the
one of which Affection, while of the other. force
IS the main fpring. 1t was tho tyranny of kings
and the fuperifition of prieas, that made the IA
wage nations they ffrove to civilize, heroicaily
refolve to lofe their lives rather than their IL
herty; and il is the honrt treatment Of repub-
lIcan rulers, and the enlightened precepts of
philofophy, that now 70 honora5ly infpire them
with an attachment to the arts of civilized life.
TO THE EDITOR.
SIR,
The late arrival in this city of 4 denp,,.;on
OF Cherokee chiefs having from their appear.
ance excited Considerable attention has ;pdu.
ced tie following ftatement and o!frrvations
relating to that nation. To fpeak generally.
the progrefs of the ufeful arts, variety of mn.
nafaetures, and purfuts of agriculture is 4,
great amongit thefe people az ought effef9us,,r
to remove prejadices that formerly ex;fted a.
gainR the red men of America. A perfon FRA
Yelling through the Cherokee country is aore-,-
bly, firpriied to find the cards and the foinnin,
wheel IN uie in a'not every family. They
ra'ie the cotton and the indigo, fpin and dv.
the yarn, and weave il into handfome cIotb.
win which they c'oathe their families in de-
cent and comfortabie manner IN the habits of
the white people. There is more than or.
thoufand fpnning wheels aud upwards of nne
hundred looms IN the Cherokee nation vi,icb
are all IN uie with much induftrv. AmonpR
them are found flver-fmiths, black. fmiths.
cooPers, ladders, tanners, floe-makers and
""sei wr'ghts; fperimeps of thefe mapufac
lures may be feen ar the houfc of Mr.. M,.;n
,n this CITY. Thefe mecanics are pr;rc;na,,v
ieit taught, part of their tools are f,rn;ii,r,i hv
the public, aud part by themfelves the o,ougb
ana the hoe are in common ufe amapeG tb-m
ny the aii'ftance of fomc white men thew mai
arg Quantities OF talt-pesre, and powder with
winch tne'r own people are fupplied at A much
cheaper rate than formerly, and fome carried
GU. or .heir country to fell to the white peo-
pie IN Georgia and TcuueiIee. They have e.
veral grin mills and one faw mill. So Ear bsv.
they changed the hunting life for purf,;ts lea
ding 10 civilization, and all this has becp done
ilnce the year 1894, when there was no, n,;r
or cards, fpinning wheel or loom, or even :.
inechanic IN their nation. They have large
ltocks OF black cattle, horfes and otb.r donec
TIC animals; they make fpme butter. q chef
OF good quality is made in a number of f,n;.
lies. Since agriculture aud the domef;c ar,s
nave oecome the principal Objects of purfrit,
their population has evidently increaf.d'
mere are now fesen fthools in their country
""ere more IMAM one hundred children are
laushi Iede'hg ana writing, and fome Of them
a !, hey are fait emerging from a
tate OF barbarity TO fate Of imDrovcd and a
'able focety, and under the coln,enancc and
oner'ng hand OF government will become ufe.
+ul citizens, aud will contribute no inconGd.r.
lble portion to the ftrength Of our couotrv !, RI
WHICH they are every day becoming more and
more attached from in,eren and ,Era;on
Ihere mas formerly cxiffed an erroneous oo;n;-
IN that the aborigines Of this country could not
DC brought to fate of civilization. A rre,,
part OF the Cherokees are now a,stna,lv civ;r;-
ed to Tx the precifr point where barl,aritv
'easrs and wkere civilization begins IL pcrbans
mpoih be- Many of thefe people have conf
'erable information and great decr-cv of m,n.
lers /; thefe are hrong marks of ciyifa,ion.----
+ III any ioc'ety II be requiretfthat every indi.
rduai be well informed, and decent in man.
Iers before that fociety could be entitled 20 the
ppeliation OF civi,ifed f1ciety, don't know
What comfortable difttiGf OF any country yy,,ld
,e entitled to the appellaton. The faef Is,
hat The Cherokees have made comfortable adj
'ancesin civilization, the confederation of which
|ill afford much fatisfacfion TO the government.
q the administration. and 10 the friend of man
very where. II has been fome cxpeuce to the
government, but it has f3ved more typcuce.
I has a'mof deftroyed their tlirt for war.
which although it BATTERED the pride Of ,le
warriors, muit II periiited in eventually termis
la'e IN their extinction but in the revolution
1t events their deitiny has been placed in the
lands ofthe United States, whole magnsnini-
Y II is prelJmed will not let them perrin. r
ave ieyeral times viiited the principal fchcol