Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-21


Court have passed while have resided at the Seat
OF Government, at which times great number OF
the people OF oil classes and from all parts to be
seen. Is
The statistical information which has been pub
lished respecting this nation hope you have on
hand, Will receive from other sources it goes
tar towards giving correct view of the people, /
have only to sny, that. Judging from what see a.
round me, believe that q similar enumeration made
the present year would show, by the comparison,
rapid improvement since the census was taken.
Pie printed constitution and laws of your nation,
also, you doubtless have. They show your progress
they are executed with good degree of efficiency
and their execution meets with not the least hind
rance from any hing like spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION
among the people. Oaths constantly administer
ed IN the courts of justice and believe / have
yer heard of an instance of perjury.
1t has been well observed by others, that the pro-
gress, OF people in civilization ito he determined
by comparing the present with the past can
~ Compare what l zee with what ! am told has
been.
The present principal chief is about forty years Of
age When he was boy, his father procured him a
good slut of clothes, the fashion of the of
ilized peoples but he rdiculed by his mates os
nhite boy, that he took Off his suit and refused
to wear it. The editor Of the Cherokee Phoenix is
twenty seven years old. lie well remembers that he
felt awkward and ashamed of his singularity, when
be began to wear the dress of white boy. .No,t
every boy is proud OF civilized suit, and those feel
awkward and ashamed of their sipgularity who are
destitute of it. At the last session OF the General
Council scarcely recollect wing seen nny members
who were not clothed in the manner as the white
inhabitants of the neighborng Sates and those very
few Il am informed that the precise number was four
who were partially clothed in Indian style were ne
verthelcsS. very decenty alfred The dr.ss -,
lized people is general throughout the nation have
seen, believe, only one Chez okee woman, and she
an aged woman, away from her home, who was not
clothed IN at least decent long gown At home
only one, very aged woman, who appnu red wiIno
! tbroa fo,r
who had at their own houses dressed themselves IN
Indian style, bat hid themselves with shame at the
i approach OF stranger. | am thus particular be-
cause Particularly gives more accurate ideas than
general statements. Among the elderly men there
us yet considerable portion, dare not say whether
majority or minority, who retain the Indian dress
IN part The younger men almost all dress like the
whites around them except that the greater number
Wear turban instead of hat, and in cold whe her
q blanket frequently serves for a cloak Cloaks
however, are becoming common. There vet remains
room for Improvement IN dress, but that improve.
menl IS making With surprising rapidity
The arts Of spinning and weaving, the Cherokee
women, generally, put IN practice. Most of thei,
garments are Of their own spinning and weayinp
tom cotton, the produce of their own fields though
considerable northern domestic and much calcoe is
worn, nor is silk uncommon. Numbers of the men
wear imported cloths broadcloths &c. and MANY
wear mixed cotton and wool, the manufacture OF
their wives; but the greater part clothed princi
pally In cotton.
Except IN the arts of spinning and weaving but lit
tie progress las been made in manufactures A few
Cherokees. however, mechanics.
/ Agriculture IS the principal employment and SUD-
port of the people, 1t is the dependence of almost
every family. AS to the wandering part of the peo
pe who live by the chase if they are found in the
nation, certainly have not found them nor even
heard OF them, except from the floor of Congress
and other distant sources of information. 40 not
know of single family who depend, in any copside
rabie degree on game for support 1t is true tina
deer and Turkies free :en,Iy killed but not in suf
hcient numbers to form any dependence the mean.
of subsistence. The land cultivated with verx Aft
ferent degrees of industry but believe tina, few fai
OF an adequate supply of food The ground is uni
forpaiy cultivated by means of the plough and not az
formerly, by the hoe only.
The houses of the Cherokees are of all sorts; from
an elegant painted or brick mansion, downto very
mean log cabin. If we speak, however, o. the mas.
OF the people, they live in comforta bic on houses
generally one story high, but frequently tWo some
times of hewn logs, and sometimes unbewn: common
iy with wooden chimney, and floor of puncheons
or what New England man would cali slabs Their
house. are not generally we'll furnished; many have
scarcely any furniture, though few are furnished
even elegantly, and many decentIy Improvemen,
10 the furniture of their houses appears to follow after
improvement IN dress, but at present is making rapid
progress.
AS to education, the number who can read and
"rite English is considerable, though it bears bu
moderate proportion to the whole population A
mong such, the degree of improvement and inteIli-
gence is various The Cherokee language, as far as
can judge. is read and written by large majority
OF those between childhood and middle age. Only a
few who are much beyond middle age have learned
In regard to the progress of religion, I cannot,
suppose, do better than to state, as nearly as am
able, the number of members in the churches of the
several denominations The whole number of ma
tive members of the Presbyterian churches is not
from $50 In the churches of the United Brethren
are about sd In the Baptist churches do not know
the number; probably as many so. The Metho-
as's believe reckon in society, more than 800; of
whom suppose the greater part are natives Many
OF the heathenish customs of the people have gone
entirely or almost entirely, into disuse, and others
are fast following their steps l believe the greater
glon to be the true religion, although many who
make this acknowledgment know very little of that
religion; and rnany Others do not feel its power
I Is steadily gaining ground.
But 1t will be asked is the Improvement which has
6eep described general among the people, and are the
III biooded Indians civilized, only the half breeds
i answer. N hp rinfio ,ioI r