The Arkansas advocate., 1830-05-05

dently included, and placed in 50 de- graded q point of view, that humanity must siludder at the idea of oftheirWretch- edAess-snd poverty.
 toy. Houston has some partial ac- qtlaiiitanee with cur nation, as he once lived upon our border, and acted in the capacity of sub-agent for twelve months. Since that time their advancement in civilization has been rapid, and they continue still to progress in the acquire ment of such habits as may one day, if not checked, place them upon level with their more enlightened neighhors.
 Perhaps l am better acquainted with the condition aid feelings of these peo- l pie than the Governor, having been nur- tured in the forest, and grownup in the midst of them. Personal observation, to me at least, must therefore be more convincing evidence than the speculat- l ing ideas and bare assertions of persons less acquainted, and made for political purposes. His adoption into a red fami- l lyinthe West, may have afforded facili-
 ties in learning the true character and condition of that tribe, but certainly not with the <smass'' of our citizens, of whom he has proven himself entirely ignorant. l must therefore be allowed to speak with some certainty of facts, which throughout may differ with the plain and positive statements above.
 The Cherokees are an industrious and laboring people. They have well cultivated farms, and live in the com Efortable enjoyment of all that is neces- safy in common life. Their interests arc permanent in the soil, and its culture their delight. Their habitations in ge- neral, are as neat and commodious as those of their bordering neighbors, be- ing of hewed logs, and frame. Their stock range the hills, and supply their wants. They have not only conpe- teney for support, but the Cherokee is often seen in the Southern markets with the products of our soil, and fruit of the red mans labor. They are decently, and iii winter comfortably clothed, and mostly of the manufacture of Cherokee women, as there are but few families in which spinning and weaving IS not car ried to some extent. In a moral and civil point of view, as Indians, they stand unparalleled. Churches and flourish ing schools are established throughout the country, and the gospel is expound- ed by both native and white preachers. The labors of pious and worthy Mis- sionaries have been crowned with happy success, and afford abundant evidence that the aborigines are susceptible not only of civilization, but christianization, even though surrounded by a white pc pulation.
 The Government of the Nation is ad- ministered upon such principles, and by such Grules, as civilization teaches,' and there is promptness to correct vice, that would not be discreditable to more enlightened communities. They are in short a contented and happy peo- pie, save the occasional irruption and annoyance of white intruders upon the persons and property of unofiending and unprotected individuals. Although charged with practising the most de grading vices,'' ! verify believe there are as few in proportion to the popula- tion as in most of the Southern States, and fewer and of a less degrading nature than among any tribe West of the Mis- sissippi, however congenial that country may be to Indian habits and morals.
 Our location near the whites, we con sidcrby no means pernicious to our in- terests. It is from them we learn the arts and sciences, and flourish by suc- cesful imitation of their good examples. Surrounding circumstances propef us onward in improvement, and we dc not care to exchange civilized neighbors, to be transplanted in tfse midst of the un- uttered sons of the West, whose war club remains buried only for a season.
 That few of our people are found begging through the country is fact much to be lamented, since some per sons would hold them up as fair sam pie of the general character of the na- tion. There arc vagrants and paupers in all parts of the civilized world, who are even more wretchedthanthese men, dicants, but it is not from them that we arc to juage of society, or ofthe happi- ness of the people upon broad principles. The numbeffrom OUT country, l am hap