The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-01
From fhs Nspark Dniy Adpsrtser,
THE NEW INDIAN EMPIRE.

government, more interesting 10 ITSELF fraugla with
important consequences, than the settlement Of
the native tribes beyond the is Of the Union
There IN the territory apart by Congress for
their permanent residence about 55 900 lndans belong
ing to 22 separate tribes. sud speaking many differ
ent languages. About 20 thousand Of the whole mum
her belong to tribes nsse To the soil Bot the estimate
does not include the wild Indians Of The prairie or the
mountains those residing north Of the Missouri. or
around the sources II the Mississippi as all Of these
are without the limits uf the Territory.
The average breadth Of the Territory Is something
200 miles, aid It's length about 600 IL contains
an area Of about eghy millions Of the public land and
is healthy, well wstered sufficiently numbered, and
great deal OF il remarkably fertile, and Is well adapted
for agricultural and pastoral purposes Lead ore, iron
ore, coal and salt springs have been discovered 10 H.
And is said that all Who reside there arc well pleased
with their situation.
Some few Of these the Choctsws, the Cbckssaws,
tho Cherokees have TO some extent written laws for
the internal government OF their respective tribes
The Delswares are about initiating their example
With these exceptions, the whole Of these $4,000
Indians divided into upwards Of 20 tribes Who speak
different languages and man. Of whom entertain for
each other mutual hereditary snimoses, have or their
no international law. IL Is maniestly both
the duty and the policy Of government to provide
against the possible consequences OF this CRUCIAL state
OF things And il with that view that the Senate
once passed bill for Territorial Government, TO be
framed by convention Of the tribes themselves reqpr
appointed by the President and Senate. aud that the
laws should be approved by the President and provd
ing for the appointment by the Indians OF Indian
delegate to Congress. We trust the subject will be
resumed and successfully prosecuted by the next ses-
sion Of Congress
Much valuable information concerning the condition
and prospects Of these tribes given work entlled
!" An Annual Register OF Indian Affairs in the Indian
territory by the Rev. Isaac Mccoy who has devoted
the last twenty years Of his life to their improvement
II appears by this work, that the best Informed and
civilized the Choctaws, the Chickasaws the Chero-
KEGS, and Creeks, Many Of them have learned our
language, our religion, literature, our agricultural
pursuits. and mechanic arts. Some OF them studied
our forms Of Government. and have organized their
Government for their respective tribes in imitation
Of ours. They have printing presses among them
they publish newspapers in the Engsh aud lndan
languages. They print their school books aud alma
macs, &c.
We quote brief notices Of three Of the most advance
or the Ch0etaus il is said
They improving in civilization and comfort.
Their houses and fields indicate good degree Of in
dnstry. They have large farms They own much
live stock, such horses, cattle sheep and sane are
pretty well supplied with farming utensils They own
about six hundred negro slaves.
They own three Touring mills, two cotton gins,
eighty-eght looms, and two hundred and twenty SPIN
mug Ghe,s. They have thirteen native merchants be-
SIDES white men, engaged M the same business
In respect civilization, there is great difference
among them. Some have fully adopted The habits OF
civilized men; many are IN comfortable circumstances
ia life aud some may be SAID to be wealthy. From
these favorable circumstances all grsdes Of condi
ton exist, down the Indian who is advanced but ltc
in civilization.
"1'he best evidence Of the improving condition OF
the Choc,aws is IN entire change IN their go.
vernneD which they have effected, from the bsrbarous
TO the civilized We cannot, assemble chiefs and
headmen among them, and transact business with them
relating to be people, is the custom among nncvi.
lied trtes. The system Of chleitancIes has been
abolished
/" The tribe denomna,es itself The Choctaw Ma
ton II has adopted written Constitution Of govern
ment, similar TO the Constitution of the United States
Their declaration Of rights all equal privileges,
liberty Of consci fence, excluding all religious tests;
secures 'ral by jury and IN word provides Tor all
that felt to be necessary IN the incpen stages OF po-
liical existence The Constitution may be amended
by the national council. "
" Their country is divided into four judicial districts
Three Of these annually elect by popular vote, each,
nine members Of the naiio is council, and the fourth
elects, by the same mode, thirteen membcrs-in all
forty These allowed three dollars day, while
gagged in legsaling. Within each district an officer,
denominaled chef is elected for tho term OF four
years. The national council meets annually the
first Monday 10 October. IL consists OF forty members,
the necessary number OF clerks, light horseinan (ser-
gean arms) and door-keeper II is also attended by
the CHIEFS who have honorary provided for them
ny the size OF the speaker out they nave no voice III
debate IN council. Their signatures are necessary to
| the passage Of law. They may veto act, but it
may become a law by the concurrence OF the council,
notwithstanding. The council is styled The General
Council of the Choctaw Nation II adopts bylaws
for It's own government while in session; 1t elects
speaker and other requisite officers, and appoints sp
proprlae committees adjust matters for legislation.
All writings are in English, but read of IN the
Choctaw language. Each member, when about TO
speak, rises and respectfully addresses the Speaker,
using he Choctaw word for speaker. adding the syla-
BILE which nearly corresponds with the English Mr..
| or sir The question is put in tho form customary in
legislative bodies, and the vote is gwen by rising The
preliminary of law is. BE il enacted by the General
Council of the Choctaw Nation In future the Con-
s'tution and laws will be printed in both the Choc,aw
and English languages BY the Constitution, the 90
is composed OF four departments, VIZ. Legs
latve, Executive, Judicial and Military Three judges
elected by the people in each district who hold in
feor and superior courts within their respective dis
trics. The light horscnen in each district perform the
duties o! sheriifs, AND the Of $500 per snnum is
allowed to each district for their compensation An
act has recently been passed for the oganzaon of the
militia
!" Individual Indians have frequently become civil
lied and subject to the laws OF white men but the
Choctiws furnish the first ms ance among the aborgi
nal tribes of America Of self government, Invested of
the baarous which belong to the savage state.
A company OF 1000 Cherokees, it appears by Mr..
McCoys work, emgrated in 1917 upwards of 20 years
ago. and instead OF pursuing the chase expected,
turned then attention under the advice Of the excellent
Missionaries, to agriculture, and the Of civilized
life. Their present state is thus described:
They own numerous salt springs, three Of which
are worked by Cherokees. The amount Of salt manu-
featured is probably about hundred bushels per day.
They also two lead mines, The salt works
and their lead mines in the portion Of their
country; and all the setem yet formed within
this eastern portion, which embraces about two and
half millions Of acres
Like the Choctaw, the Cherokee nation embraces
all conceivable conditions between refinement, inclli.
g"ncc and wealth. and The opposite hut ltrle
removed from the original state. The ea,r enigrants
are, perhaps, IN comfortable condition than the
same proportion Of any other tribe within the Territory