Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-10-31
ORIGIN OF THE WHITE, RED Ann
BLACK MEN. 'o
A SEMINOLE TRADITION

territory OF the United States, one of n.
earliest cares Of Governor, William p
DuyaI. was directed 10 the instruction
and civilization Of The natives. For mi,
| purpose he called a meeting Of the chiefs
in which he Informed them Of the wish II
their Great Father at Washington, lhnt
they should have schools and teachers =.
mong them, and that their children should
be instructed like the children of wbita
men. The chiefs listened with their cns.
tomary silence and decorum TO lone
speech setting forth the advantages tbNl
would accrue to them from this measure
and when he had concluded, begged The
interval Of day to deliberate or It.
On the following day, solemn conyo.
cation was held at which one of the cbiels
addressed the Governor in the name Of II
The rest. "My broIher," said be, @we
have been thinking over the proposition Of
our great father at Washington, TO send
teachers and set up schools among US,
We are very thankful for the interest ho
takes in our welfare; but after much DELHI.
Grafton, have concluded to decline his Of
fer. What will do very well for white
men, will not do for red men. | know
you white men say we ell come from the
same father and mother, but you are mis-
taken. We have tradition handed down
from our forefaihers, and We believe II
that the Great Spirit when Ee undertook
10 make men, made the black man, Il
vas his first attempt, and pretty well for
beginning; but he soon saw he had bun.
gled; SO he determined TO try his hand
again. He did 80, and made the red man.
He liked him much better than the black
nun, but still he was not exactly what he
wanted. So he tried once more, and made
the white man; and then he was satisfied.
You see, therefore, that you were made
last, and that is the reason call you nv
youngest brother.
"When the Great Spirit had made tho
lhree men, he called them together and
showed them three boxes. The first was
hlled with books, and maps, and papers;
he second with bows and arrows, knives
and tomahawks; the third with spades,
lxes, hoes, and hammers. sThese, nv
'ons,' said be, ARE the means by which
'ou are 10 live; choose among them &C.
'ording to your fancy
he white man, being sho favorite, had
he first choice. He passed by the box
! working tools without notice; but when
&c came to the weapons for war and hunt-
ng, he stopped and looked hard at them.
he red man trembled, for he had set his
cart upon that box. The white man.
o"ever, after looking upon it for NO.
tent, passed on, aud choose the boy of
ooks and papers. The red mans turn
ame nert; and you may be sure he seiz.
9 with joy upon the bows and arrows,
nd tomahawks. As 10 the black man.
g had no choice left, but to put up with
20 box of tools.
From this Il is clear that the Great
plrit intended the white man should
arm 10 read and write; to understand all
9out the moon Aand stars: and 10 rake
'ery thing, even rum and whiskey. That
= req man should Be first rate hunter
~ mighty warrior, but he was moi to
arr any thing from books, as the Great
''rlt had not given him any: nor was he
make rum and whiskey, lest he should
! himself with drinking. As to the
ack man, a. he had nothing but work.
8 tools, II was olaaf To was 10 work for
2 white and red man, which he conlin.
d to dO.
\, must 90 according to the wishes
me Great Spirit, or We shall oct into
'uoie. 1o know how 10 read and write,
very good for white men, But very bad
req men. Ii makes white men better.
! res men worse. Some of The Creeks
y tnerokees learnt ID read and write,
Y 'hey are the greatest rascals among
VIZ Indians. They went On TO Wash.
s.on, ana said tney were going to SEQ
elr Great Father, 10 talk about he GOOD
1ne nation. And when thew rot there.
sy Ri wrote upon little piece Of paper
1noat we nation at home Knowing any
w about u. And the first thing tho
noh % home knew OF the matter. they
ITO called together BY the Indian agent,
Il showed them little piece of paper.
'lcn ne told them was treaty. which
III brethren had made in their name,
e their great Father at Washington,
y ~ they knew not what treaty was.
held up The little piece Of paper, and
Y looked under il, and 10 ii covered
az extent Of country, and they found
I their brethren, by knowing how to
g and write, Ind sold their houses, and
" lands, and The graves ofiheir fathers;
tnas the white man, by knowing how
fead and write, had gained them. Tell
Gront Father Al Washington, there