Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-03-14

hitting to Congress rehort Of the
arogress which has been made in the
civilization qfthe Indian Tribes, and
the Sums gvhich haze been eEhended
on that object.
Department Of War, Jan. Is.
SIR: In compliance with the resolu-
ton of the House of Representatives of
the 9th inst. IS that the Secretary of w ar
be directed to report whether any, and,
if any, what, progress has been made i'll
the civilization of the Indian tribes, and
the sums Of money, fany have been, ex-
pended on that object, under the act Of
the last session." l have the honor to
make the following statement:
No part of the appropriation of ten
thousand dollars annually, made at the
last session, for the civilization of the In
,dians, has ct been applied. The Presi-
dent was ofopinion, that the object of the
act would be more certainly effected, by
applying the sum appropriated in aid of
the efforts of societies, or individuals,
who might feel disposed to bestow their
time and resources to effect the object
contemplated by it; and circular (of
which the enclosed is copy,) was adj
dressed to those individuals and societies,
who have directed their attention to the
civilization of the Indians. The objects
of the circular were to obtain iniorma-
ton, and disclose the views of the Presi-
dent, In order to concentrate and unite
the efforts of individuals and societies, in
the mode contemplated by the act of the
last session. The information collected
will enable the President to apply, early
in this year, the sum appropriated. The
economy and intelligence with which it
will be applied, under the superinten-
dence of Jealous and disinterested in
dividuals, will, it is hoped, carry into ef-
feet, as far as practicable, the views of
Congress.
While many OF the Indian tribes have
acquired only the vices with which
savage people usually become tainted,
by their Intercourse with those who are
civilized; others appear to be making
gradual advances i'll industry and civil
zation. Among the latter description
may be placed the Cherokees, Choctaws,
Chickasaws, and perhaps the Greeks,
most of the remnants of the Six Nations,
in the State of New-York, the Wyan-
dots, Senecas, and Shawanese, at Upper
Sandusky, and Wapakonetta. The
Cherokees exhibit a more favorable ap-
pearahce than any other tribe of Indians.
There are already established two
hourishing schools among them. One
at BARNARD, under the superintendent
of the American Board for Foreign Mis-
sions, at which there are at present about
one hundred youths of both sexes. The
institution is on the Lancastrian plan,
and is in a very flourishing condition.
Besides reading, writing, and arithmetic,
the boys are taught agriculture, and the
ordinary mechanic arts, and the girls,
sewing, knitting, and weaving. At
Spring Place, in the same nation, there
is school on a more limited scale, I'M
der the superintendent of the United
Brethren, or Moravians. Two other
schools are projected in the same nation,
one by the American, and the other by
the Baptist Board, for Foreign Missions
and arrangements are making to cstab-
lish two other schools among that por-
ton of the Cherokee Nation which re-
side on the Arkansaw.-The Choctaws
and Chickasaws have recently cvinced a
strong desire to have schools established
among them, and measures have been
taken by the American Board for For
eign Missions for that purpose. A part
of the former nation have appropriated
two. thousand dollars annually, out of
their annuity, for seventeen years, as
school fund. A part ofthe Six Nations,
IN New.York, have, of late, made con-
siderable improvements; and the Wy
andots, Senecas, and Shawanese, at Up
per Sandusky, and Wapakonetta, have,
under the superintendent of the Socie-
ty Of Friends, made considerable advan-
ces in civilization.
Although partial advances may be
made, under the present system, to civil
ize the Indians, am of an opinion, that,
until there is radical change in the sys-
tenn, any efforts, which may be made,
must fall short Of complete success.
They must be brought gradually under
our authority and laws, or they will in
sensibly waste away in vice and misery.
It is impossible, with their customs, that
they should exist as Independent COM
munitics, in the midst Of civilized socie-
~, They are not in fact an independent
people, Qspeak of those surrounded by
our nnnnlatinn.l nor ought they to be so