Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-18

I'd in he Appendix to Sir. Frclinghuyscn's speech.
exhibiting the state of civilization among the Choc-
laws
Prom Gc Rev. Cyras kingsouyy 10 Thomas L.. .Nc-
Kenaey
MATHEW, 9th February, 1880.
ihoMAs L. McKENNEY, Esq.
GCfce IF indian .f5airs:
Si-: take the liberty Of transmitting to tho War
Department I few remarks and statements designed
to show the progress which has been made by the
Choctaws towards a state of civilization.
Such u statement VIII, hope, be acceptable to
the government, and II is certainly due tn the Choc-
laws who have made such commcnda5e cNertious
Tor thcir own improvement. Ia turning their attei-
ton to the ofcvilizcd lii the education Of
their children. and to the pr-cep,s of the Gospel,
they feel the satisfaction of having follow ed the nd
vice OF their great Father. the President, and Of the
Secretary OF War. often repeated both in written
Communications, and by those who have spoken in
their names.
am aware that very d;fieren, views arc entertain
cd of the Improvements reported to have bsen made
by some OF the Indian tribes. Those who ure not
in,inste!y acquainted with the Indians and who form
their estimate bv comparing thcy, with the citizens
Of our own highly favored oountr will regard them
az still in very degraded and wrctched condition
Those who are better acquainted with them, and
who able TO compare their Prc.ent state with wa,
It formerly was must admit thu; grca, advance has
been made. Comparing the present condition of
the Chuctaws IN those parts Of the nation which have
enjoyed tho advantages OF instruction with what IL
was eight, or even five years ago, may he doubted
whether any considerable pa, tons of tho civilized
weird present specimens of equal Improvement ac-
cisnriIshcd within the same space of time. In the
statements which follow shall con!inc myself prn-
cipally tn facts that the Department NAV be able 10
Judge 20. themselves the correctness of the O.
borc rom0rkS. Eish; years ago in,emncrancc pre-
vailed from end vi the land to tho other In the
space If tao months, ten nions his district alone
.ost their hives BY wh@kcy. a. this time intcmpcr.
ance within the nation Is hardly known
In jay 1923 | a'tehLc, tlti distribution of the
districts. nsin,,f Enr.
were present from 4 ~ 3 900 lntians-rn-n wo,nen
and children. Ircy were together four days, md
aot an intoxicated one was seen until after the bu-
Sirass was closed. Some whi.keY had been secret
cd al distance II om the place, Gud Us the law pro
,buirg the introduction of it into that part of the
nation was not tn go into effect until fifteen days rou
thai u'no soni" after leaving the place obi AIMED it.
and became intoxicated. Since that t'nr | ain Not
aware THAI whkey has been used a. any council or
collection OF Indians held by order Of the chiefs for
the transaction OF business.
Fes Choc'a~s, however, have not Ill los, their an
petite Tor wnsAcy, nor IS II supposed that MAORI
- If thcm rcs.ssined from intcmpcrancc by tho
lorcc of moral p5inciple but sensible had they he
come OF the destructive effects of this vice. that
law prohibiting entirely tho Introduction of wbskev
inn the ua lion. article of traffic was proposed
by the chiefs, and obi aimed alnos, universal sup
port general council of the warriors There can
not DE question, that less ardent spirit is now used
III he Chociaw nation, whether consider the cx-
tent Of territory, or the amount of population than
In any other part OF the Il. Sntes II rs only when
go To- the b"rdCrs of hr surrounding settlements
thnt W. see lndiOns intnXsated. There, few I'm.
prncpled white men, equally regardless of the laws
of God and of their country, continue for filthy lu
ere sa ke. 10 sell the deadly poison to those Indians
who roSo,t Lhittcr.
Other sridnnus ; of Improvement we have in thr in
crese OF industry, and co1H~ 1bsnt advance in dross
furniture, aud all the comforts and cunycp,epses of
Ir. ihaod life. II has becu remarked by many that
the fields Of the Indians have never eon kent in 50
good o'der aud managed with 70 much industry as
rfI Il h.
ing, the lcaans especially in te northern s. west
eTD districts, appear comfortably and deeen,Iy and
some OF them richly clad great desire is nanifes-
led 10 obtain furniture fer their houses; and some are
already supplied in 1 not inferior TO that of
new Sc tiers III country.
The Sesu!. OF taken in 1895 in the
Northern district, WIS Us follows, VIZ: population
5,c27; nsat cattle, SOL; horses 3g7I; oxen II2:
hogs, 2047. sheep i3G; spinning wheels $50:
lo"uis l2I; ploughs, ECO; wagons 81, blachsmiths'
shops, :. coopsFs' shops, 2; carpenters shcps 9:
wiise mcn with Choc.aw FAMILIES, GO; schools, 5;
scholars IN q course OF instruction, sbout i5o In
Que can, with population Of 10 who einht wears
ago almost entirely destitute of properly gross
Iy intcinosEatc. and roam ny from place To place
there are now 1873 hor.es. 81 cattle, G53 hogs
loans, 63 spinning wheels % pi.Jughs oxen. !
school, and 20 or % scholars.
Some of their mechanical shops, and many Of
their tools bear q poor comparison with what VIC
lind III civilized lands and would be considered of
li;tie use by those who have good ones, vet to-
these pcopic they OF great value. And it mus,
excite pity in every who looks into their cir
ca.asiancas, To then aboring to cultivate ;he
soI. build houses. manufacture CLOTH and struggling,
10 rise from their deep poverty. by the aid
Of su;h miserable tools as may Of them arc obliged
to-
The northeast district in 1898 appropriated $500
Of taer annuity for the establishment and spport of
5lacSnmuhs shops. 10 1899 they appropriated their
whole ANNUITY to similar objects As an evidence
Of industry sud public spirit, would mention that in
one neighborhoud the natives have built a smiths
shop, chopped wood fer large coal pit, and carried
It on their backs TO the place of scttiug have built
house for their bln cksnith, and cleared for him field
Of tveve acres, all with their hands; they have
purclAscd with their annuity set OF tooIs and iron
and steel TO the amount ofS2O0, and have engaged 10
pay their smIth $500 annually, for three years
Similar provision has been made for shops III other
places.
Another evidence Of the progress OF improvement
among the Choctaws, is the organization Of a civil
government. la sec general council was CON
vcned. at which constitution was adopted, and le-
glsIatIye powers were delegated 10 national COM
oa "A trrsl