The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-08-12
cnrpnrrr 1NnIANs

In proportion as tins unfortunate race oil
people recede before the hitherto resissiess
march OF the white man, every thing con.
nscted with their history, or in any way
calculated 10 throw light upon their char
acier, manners and customs, becomes mat.
Ter OF interest. Il has always been the
misfortune Of the world, that the most ia.
yorable opportunities for collecting bistori
cal facts have been suffered to pass unlm.
proved, and lCsas not, In most cases until
the generation witnessing the events had
passes away, that any one seemed TO have
thought Of making them matters of record.
So It has been IN regard 10 the Cherokee
Indians. North Carolinians have had
abundant opportunities to coliec, fund OF
interesting aud useful historical matter 10
reference TO Ihis people, which, il treasured
up would have been entertaining aud IN.
slruciIye, for generations 10 come. But
those opportunities, TO 4 very great extent,
have been suffered to pass by, and now We
either seek IN vain, or rely upon the vague
statements of Indifferent witnesses for those
/ facts connected with their history, which
Justice 10 the future required thai some
competent witness should have made mat.
ter of record.
+ We lately spent few days among that
portion Of those Indians who, under differ
ent treaties, have been cilIzonIzed, and are
7 noW living IN the bounds of this State
With the law, or policy, under and by
which they were suffered to remain, we al
presen, have nothing TO do, On that sub.
ice. We have not bsen sufficiently informed,
/ 10 make Up az opinion altogether sallsiacio-
I ~ To ourselves, though as yet we have
neither seen or heard any thing contrary
10 TIA, belief that their remaining here, Is
IN psIisc, accordance With equal justice
and good policy. About their present con
diuon, however. We may venture few re-
marks, as We we're somewhat particular 10
acQuaini ourselves with Il correctly.
There are two settlements OF towns 10
this State y. c. one on the waters OK Ozone
Lu0y river IN Haywood county, and the
other Is, we thiak, u Cherokee ccunty,
Oh q creek called Chenee. Tie former,
(,be one we visited contains about seven
hundred people, sud the latter from four
10 FIVE hnadrGd.
OF the seven Hundred 10 Haywood, we
saw a, .eas. five hundred. More than
four hundred we're together at a religious
meeting, and without a sios!e exception
they we're all comfortably clad, and had
every appearance Of being as well fed aud
as healthy as we would expect to inc the
sane number Of paope in any nation or IL
any country. Their clothing was all plain,
nol 10 say coarse, bat It was such as would
make them altogether comfortable mos!
cases II was clean, ard what was much to
their praise It was mostly OF their own
manufacture. Their cabins presented, to
be sure, bot little neatness, or what the
mose civilized aud refined would call com
fort, bu, they, With their corn fields, pola
Zoe and bean patches, presented al assur.
ance taaI their owners were like, for the
ensuing year at least. 10 have 40 abundance
+ of The necessaries Of life, and to basahle 10
eli y them under full protection from the
t8c!emenCies Of the season. In reference
10 their sI:usiion, as il regards sus,enance,
a.
disappointed Ia cur lives.
They s,ll retaln many Of tho ancient
customs Ct their fathers, though We were
informed thai many had been lost. Very
.eg ol them speak OF understand the Ia
gilaa language, AMI We are much inclined
. To oPiaioa that Il wi!I be well for ;hern
+ 70 femala 50, At ieas, for considerable
TIE 20 come, as knowledge OF that Ian
guage sgs.d bring .aen taio an association
With class Oh the Ahltes, from whom they
would b. ike TO learn many vices, and PER
5sps 70 virtues. 4 pseseat they are pro
verbally sober, and :oF the uost part njus
'fsoas- They have temperance society,
% aaich vih i've or SIX individual excep
tous, hey al belong and no people Oh
earth adhere more Idly 10 their pledeo.
lie principal Chef informed Us thai there
we're bot three or foeg individuals among
them ~ho druHk spirits al ALL "apd these,
le added, "aerer drtak kere-THEY Al
SAYS co AMONG THE WHITES TO GET
DRINK A fact ;bat mus, be looked up
On By all, as any thing else than credtabIe
70 the white maa. we are satisfied our
selves that The true cause why the Indian
race has always been found to decline, and
10 some irbes, 10 become extinct, when
surrounded IN their settlements by the
whites, $ 10 be sought for 10 this very fact,
" they 60 among tie ukites 10 GET drunk =
BY irt1gIug 10 this propensity, they ne.
g-eci 70 make the necessary Oxehions %
procure susteDance, and 10 consequence,
lie grea! portion 81 the summer season
% weeds and roots, Which naturally, pre-
pared as they are by them, induce disease,
particularly among the children, and az
eateTm.aatng death ensues. In place Of
declining, We have no sort Of dsybi bot
that they Hi.I prosper and do we'll, though
euire,y surrounded by settlement Of whites,
Il they cah be kept sober. And W. have
as ia'le doubt Of their beng kept sober, If
proper exertons be made OF the part Of
those whites who act as their agents, and
osheralsc have influence among them.
Those 1f whom 80 have been speaking,
hsgp Ffgtd lava agafnst drunkaponss sab