Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-12-08
From the knickerbocker f,r October.
a SEMINOLE TRADITION.
By WASHINGTON IRVING.

When the Floridas were erected into a
territory Of the United States, one of the
earliest cares Of the Governor, William p.
Duva, was directed TO the instruction or
civilization OF the natives. For this pur-
pose he called meeting Of the chiefs. in
which he informed them of tho wish of
| their Great Fatherat Washington, that they
| should have schools and teachers among
| them, and that their children should be
| instructed like the children Of the white
| men. The chiefs listened with their GUS
tomary silence and decorum to long
speech, setting forth the advantages that
would accrue to them from this measure,
and when he had concluded, begged the in
terval of u day to deliberate upon it.
On the following day, a solemn convo-
cation was held, at which one Of their chiefs
addressed the Governor ia the name of all
the rest. My BROTHER" said he, eve
have been thinking over the proposition OF
| our Great Father at Washington to send
teachers and set up schools among U.S.
We are very thankful for the interest he
takes in our welfare; bat after much de-
liberation, we have concluded to decline
his offer. What will do for white men,
viii not do for red men. know you whites
say we all come from the same father and
mother, but you are mistaken. We have
tro lition handed down from our forefa-
theirs, and we believe it, that the Great
Spirit when he undertook to make men,
made the black man; it was his first at
tempt, and pretty we'll for q beginning; but
he soon saw that he bungled; SO he deter
mined to try his hand again. He did so,
and he made the red man. He liked him
much better than the black man, but still
he was not exactly what he wanted. So
he tried once more, snd made the white
man-and then he was satisfied. You see
therefore, that you were made last, and
that is the reason call you my youngest
brother.
When the Great Spirit had made the
three men, he called them together, and
showed them three boxes. The first was
filled with books, and maps and papers
the second with bows and arrows, knives
and tomahawlls: the third with spades.
axes, hoes, hammers. ''1hesc, my sons"
saiG he, /" are the means by which you
are to live; chose among them according
TO your fancy.
The white man being the favorite, had
the first choice. He passed by the box of
working tools, without notice; but when
he came to the weapons for war and hun
ting, he stopped and looked hard at them.
The red man trenbled, for he had set his
heart upon that box. The white man, how
ever; after looking upon it for moment,
passed on, and chose the box of books and
papers. The red mans turn camo next,
and you may be sure he seized with Joy
upon the bows and arrows and tomahawks.
AS 10 the black man, he had no choice
left, but to put up with the box Of tools.
From this it is clear that the Great Spi-
rit intended the white man should learn to
read and write; 10 understand all about the
moon and stars; and to make every thing,
even rum aid whskcy. That the red man
should be first rate hunter; and mighty
warrior, bat he was not to learn any thing
from books, as the Great Spirit had not
given him any; nor was he to make rum
and whiskey, lest he should kill himself
with drinking. AS TO the black man, as
he had nothing bat working tools, it was
clear he was 10 work for the red and white
man, which he has continued 10 do.
We must go according to the wishes Of
the Great Spirit, or we shall gel into trou-
bic. To know how to read and write is very
good for white men, but very bad for red
men. 1t makes white men better, but red
men worse. Some of the Greeks and
Cherokces learntto read and write, and they
are the greatest rascals among all the ~
dams. They went on to Washington and
said they were going to see their Great
Father, to talk about the good Of the nation.
And when they got there, they wrote up
on little piece of paper, without the ma
ton at home knowing any thing about it,
And the first ming the nation at home
knew of the matter, they were called TO-
gether by the Indian agent, who showed
them little piece Of PAPER, which he told
them was treaty, which their brothers
had made IN their name, with their Great
Father at Washington. And as they knew
not what a treaty was, he held up the lit
tit piece of paper, and they looked under
it, and 10 it covered great extent Of
country, and they found that their brethren,
by knowing how TO read and write, had
sold their houses, and their lands, and the
graves Of their fathers; and that the white
man, by knowing how 20 read and write,
had gained them. Tell our Great Father
at Washington, therefore, that we are We
nv sorry that we cannot receive teachers
among US; for reading and wiring. though
very good for white men, is verv bad for
Indians.