Litchfield enquirer., 1829-04-23
INDIAN CLANS.
The writer is a Scotc hman.

Most ot our readers probably know what is meant by Indian clans. It is no more than division of an Indian tribe into large families. We believe this custom is uni- versal with tho North American Indians. Among the Cherokees are seven clans. such as Wolf, Deer, Paint, Sc. This simple division of the Cherokees formed the grand work by which marriages were regulated, and murder punished. A Cher okee could marry into any of the clans ex- cept two, that to which his father belongs, for all ofthat clan arc his fathers and aunts. and that to which his mother belongs, for all of that clan are his brothers and sis- tcrs, child invariably inheriting the clan of its mother. This custom which origin- ated from time immemorial was observed with the greatest strictness. No law could be guarded and enforced with equal cau- ton. In times past, the penalty annexed to it was not less than death. But it has scarcely, perhaps never been violated, ex- cept within few years. Now it is evad- ed with impunity, though not to an equal extent with other customs of the Chero- keeS.
 But it was the mutual law of clans as connected with murder, which rendered the custom savage and barbarous. We speak of what 1t was once, not as it is now, for the CherokeeS, after experiencing the sad effects from it, determined to, and did about twenty years ago, in solemn coun- Gil, abolish it. From that time murder has been considered as a governmental crime. Previous to that, the following were too palpably true, viz:
 The Cherokees as nation, had noth. ing to do with murder.
 Murder was punished upon the princi- pie of retaliation.
 1t belongs to the clan of the murdered to revenge his death.
 If the murderer fled, his brother or nearest relative was liable to suffer in his stead.
 If man killed his brother, he was a. menable to no law or clan.
 If the murderer (this however is known only by tradition) was not as respectable as tho murdered, his relative, or man of his clan of more respectable standing is liable to suffer-
 To kill under any circumstances what- ever, was considered murder, and. punish- ed accordingly.
 Our readers will say, !" those were sav- age laws indeed" They were, and the Cherokees were then to Dc pitied, for the above were not mere imperative laws, but most vigorously executed. But we can say with pleasure, that they are all repeal ed, and are remembered only as yestiges 1of ignorance and barbarian. ,PkOe. s4
 Two open female academies were re- gently established at Santiago, the capital of Chili. Nothing ofthc kind existed before: "A lyceum for boys has also been founded under the auspices of the government. For ty-two free scholarships are annexed to it. which are to be filled from the several Provinces of the Republic. There is be- sides, an establishment called the National Institute, upon the most liberal footing as to instruction. Its number of pupils is between three and four hundred. An athe- neum has been formed by subscription, for which the Government has provided spa cious saloons, and at which most of the Journals of America and of Europe are received. It is stated that upwards of goo persons came to violent death, du- ring the last year, in Santiago and its neighborhood. but the number is probably exaggerated.-Nat. Gag.
 Be moderate in all your pleasures, that your relish for them may continue.
 Let fame be regarded, but conscience much more. It is an empty joy to appear better than you are, but of the utmost con-