The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-07
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\oUs iSpiTSTAiSEs. ~y

We have looked into the report and document
submitted TO the Executive by the Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs with deep interest and while we re
greet that no broad comprehensive and energetic sys
TEN Of policy for the benefit of the Indians Is urged
upon Congress, We rejoice in the evidences OF nm
provement among several Of their tribes, aud that ~
the view Of the Department education - 10 DO re-
gaIded as the great and primary OBJECT
IL seems 10 US a matter OF high consequence, that
we should seek to Unite the Indian tribes in one bo
dy poic-or if scattered over too extended a coun-
try for this, in twoand as soon as they may be qua
lifted for the privilege allow them representation, as
or States, in the Congress of the United
States. An avowed purpose of this nature, ON our
part, would biad these tribes TO forever, stimulate
them 10 civilized pursuits plant hope ana generous
purposes ia their minds, and elevate and dignity their
character Il might, and probably would, save them
from extinction. Never should the friend OF the red
man abandon this purpose, honorable 10 US, and oil
much promise 10 a deeply injured. and unless some
owtru causes ncrPose tosave, an inevitably perish
ing race
The following extract from letter ofthe Commis'
sioneI Mr. CIawfo TO Capt. w. Armstrong, super
intenden Of Western Territory discloses plan de-
serving much conmendation;
have" says the Commissio "attentively con-
sidered the erpediency Of establishing manual labor
Indian school at Fon Coffee. Since Il became my
especial duty To advance the civilization and general
welfare II the Indians, by all lawful means IN my
control have uniformly considered education as the
be fortunate il can, while charged with the admin
israon OF their affairs put the application Of Indian
school funds into such channel as will afford them
all the advantages they can receive from them or II
this may not be- even to give such an impulse to OH
cial effort their behalf may ultimately but soon
place their schools upon the best footing.
1T appears TO me that the establishment proposed
will be, with proper direction, measure Of great
consequence. The buildings have been abandoned
fort. They are suitable for extensive school
psfa leh Hhaf IL In con
manual labor and farm benefits, with the Others the
situation Is healthy, and although IN the Choctaw
country, it is on the Arkansas river, near the boun-
dairy hne, and quite convenient to the Gre KS Chero-
tees, Senecas, and Shawnees, Semlnoes and not We
ry remote from the Chickasaws and Osages. All
the advantages that could he reasonably looked for
to be here combined. indulge the hope that
shall be able 10 make the beginning OF opening foun
tain of many blessings 10 the Indian race This
school should in my Judgment, be on an extended
plan. For the present, reading, writing, and com
petent knowledge OF figures, will be all that is re-
CURED [or could be used by them, As they advance,
tthe disappointment that has attended all exertlons
hitherto shall not continue, their education may be
at once, the teaching of the males to farm as most,
if not the most important auxiliary in leading them
into the walks Of civilized life and necessary to their
comfortable subsistence. The females, of whom !
would have, at all times at least one half at school,
should be taught sew spin, and weave and, as we
progress, il would be an excellent feature in the
plan Chat at the proper time will endeavor to exc
cute) to buy the materials for clothing the whole
school, which, under proper tuition the girls should
make up for wear would farther have the Inherent
nee lanic arts taught in this school. know all this
will take time but it is the outline Ola plan, which
would be much gratifed to be the instrument OF car
rying out and which, if l remain where am, will
try 10 execute. With primary schools, where the
young could be taught their first lessons all over the
Indian country, and from which, at suitable ages and
stages Of advancem as any circumstances, capa
city and other made proper to educate
farther at Fort Coffee would be removedo the larger
esta blishment This would be system analogous
to those prevailing among ourselves, and give the
Indians all the opportunities for Improvement which
hold it TO he my imperative duty, as far as in my
power, to extend to them. To my mind it is full Of
promise"
This last remark is true if the plan be wisely exc
cued, and the Institution be such TO afford the
means of thorough and extensive education. The
Principal should not be equal only to those who pre-
side academies in the States, but in all respects,
to the ablest Presidents of the best Colleges in the
Union Nothing can tend more effectually TO raise a
people than endue with the best gifts of learning
and WISDOM and adorn and streng hen 10y all lntelec-
tual and moral discipline, some choice minds from the
midst of them Twenty individuals Of first rate abb
lily and education will accomplish more towards civi-
liking barbarous nation than thousand with just
knowledge enough 10 make them vain, and too little to
render them either humble or great
i commissioner
of the Manual Labor School under the supernten-
dence of the Methodist Missionary Society at Fort
Leavenworth, where 50 Indian boys and % girls,
pressing regret only that the number of girls IS SO
small and adding that the conviction Is settled that
the civilization OF these unfortunate wards Of the Go
vernment will be effected through The insrum entaly
of their educdisd pomen, much more than by their
tuught men"
1t delightful to learn, that the Cherokees and
Choctaws have writer constitutions and laws well
l..-l -, knl tha shrs-
taws and Chickasaws have become politically identi-
fed that these last mentioned tribes will probably
have 1000 bales of Cotton for expectation this year.
and that in the opinion Of the Commissioner they as
well the Cherokees, promise soon TO be dis'in-
pushable from citizens only BY color
Perhaps still brighter omen OF good 10 me poor
Indians is ,iiscernble in the fact that the powerful
tribe of the Creeks (twenty thousand s'rong) nave
PASSED very severe law against the Introduction oil
splri,uous liquors INTO their country" such u law
enforced rig ,rousiy by all me trtoes, wouiu prove IA
lite from The dead 10 the Indian race
The immediate adoption of some broad system o
policy by the Government to civze ana oring in''
our SIC al and political system, the Indians upon ou
borders appear, TO us demanded as well py REGARD &c
our as by the solemn voice OF Christian du
w. The suggestions of the Commissioner III regar.
to ducaton, far as they 20, are excsllent and WI
hope they will speedily be carried INTO effect.
NAyAL-The frigate United States was towet
down from the Naval Anchorage 70 HamP.om noaa
Yesterday, by the steamer POnsett. She viii Pro6a
bly, put to sea to day for her destination, the Pacific
List of officers attached to the u s. Frigate United
States, bound to the Pacific.
THos. Ar CATEsBY JONES, Commodore
James Armstrong, Captain.
Lieuteuants, Isaac S. Sterritt, Murray Mason
James l.. Henderson, c. F. Dulany, w H. Hall, l.
B. Avery.
VIM. johnson, Surgeon Of the Fleet.
Edw. Fitzgerald, Purser.
w A. Parker. Master