Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-02-03
VAN buren,, ARKANSAS, SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY Ia

6us N.
dered them wholly averse to a settled agricuItn.
raj life. The fact that game Is constantly d..
creasing must and will force them. ere long, to
a bandon their erratic character, and incline them
of necessity, to the more peaceful cultivation of
the soil
AS the immediate agent of the Choctaws. il
will be expected that should 60 more into detail.
in relation to their situation and PROSPECTS, than
have thought 1t necessary to do respecting the
other tribes within my superintendent. Il af
lords me grent pleasure to state to you, that
progressive Improvement in the arts generally of
civilized life is visible throughout the Cboctow
country. They nro an industrious and frugal
people; many of them are enierprisng and intel.
ligent citizens; they are more favorbly located
for .cultivating cotton than any Of the tribes
their lands extend from the Arkansas to Red
river, embracing on tho latter an extensive and
productive cotton growing country. There are
some ten or a dozen cotton gins now erected-
Heretofore stock raising has boon tho general
pursuit of the Choctaws, but their location and
interest will make them turn their attention to
the cultivation Of cotton. Their country, espe.
clally on Red river, is not only suited to raising
this valuable staple, but also the arons necessa-
ries of life; their large and extensive praires af.
ford them abuuinnt range for stock. Many farm
ers exhibit neatness altogether unlocked for 10
the Indian country. They may be truly cIassed
as an agricultural people.
In addition to the four blacksmiths, assistants.
and mllwrlght, furnished by the United States,
the Choctaws have ohors Of their own; located at
convenient points in the nation. Lately they have
been furnished by the United States under treatv
supulatlons, with IL number Of looms and wheels:
many of the natives spin and weave their own ap-
parel. There is also found in the nation salt wa
ter, which is manufactured into salt by an enter.
tiop
priced among the Choctaws. 1t is a source of
pride, as we'll rs pleasure, 10 have it in my power
to state that they are among the FIRST if not the
very first, Of the Indian tribes who have appro-
Pr'ated portion of their regular annuity, hereto
lore PAID per capita, to the support of schools in
thelr nation. The sum which they have SGT apart
is SlS,OOO-an amount sufficient, in addition to
other education funds, if pruden,ly managed, to
afford the means of education to all the children
or the nation; and from the interest manifested,
few will fail to avail themselves of the privilege
But, upon the subject Of education and schools
among the tribes Of my superintendent
cy, It Is my design to address you fully in sep
ora.e report. within The Pnst year the Choctaws
vious!y enacted by legislative council, con.
ssting Of forty members. VIII" convened as one
body annually, on the first Monday in October.
At the opening Of council speaker and clerk
we're elected and in no legI sntve body with which
| am acquainted could there be found greater pro-
priety or decorum in the transaction Of business.
The session usually lasts wo weeks, and the mem.
bers ire allowed per diem pay of two dollars
As stnted in former report the Choctaws have
no principal chief, but, under their constitution.
each OF the four districts. into which tho ton is
divided, three being Choctaw and one a Chickasaw
district. A majority of these chiefs can exercise
tho veto power over any law passed by the gener.
al council of the nation subject. however, to have
the veto removed by two thirds ofthe general coun.
ell. BY the altered or amended constitution, to
which have alluded, their legislature is now in
trusted to a senate and house of representatives,
and their joint concurrence is necessary to The
passage of all laws. Thus will be seen they are
gradually adopting the form of our State Govern
ments as they exist. Judges are elected, AMI tri
al by jury is guaranteed to every citizen. 1t is
gratifying 10 see the Choctaws, who have always
been conspicuous, when contrasted with the Other
Indian tribes for their truthfulneSs and fidelity,
an for their uniform friendship to the whites thus
abandoning all their former habits and adopting
slowly, but surely, all the blessings Of good Gov
eminent, and the comforts and reinemonts Of civ
ilized life. Religion has spread her benign infu-
ence over this tribe, and it may truly DO called
church-gong people. In no country are the laws
more respect ted or more certainly enforced when
violated; an instance of robbery, murder, by
W,
through the nation, is not within my recollection.
The Choctaws, in my estimation, fast ap-
proachng that state to justify the same action in
relation 10 division Of lands that have suggested
for the Chcrokees. know Of no step which could
be taken that would more certainly tend 10 promote
their we'll being and incise them to industry.
The Choctaws have passed some laws against
the introduction of whiskey into their country. |
have found great good resulting from the energy
of body of Lighthouse organized by the nation,
and paid by the U. States under treaty stipulation.
They are not only ready to execute orders for the
apprehension of persons improperly in tho nation.
but they seize and destroy whiskey wherever
found, in execution of their own laws. This de-
cidody is the preferable mode to prevent the intro
duction of sprituous liquor into the nation, little
good can be done unless the authorities of the ma
ton act in concert with the agents or troops Of the
United States.
Many of the Chickasaws still reside out Of the dis
trict allotted to them settling, as it is their right
and privilege. promiscuously among the Choctaws
Their district is however filling up. Their inter-
ests require that they should be brought together,
rs with their largo means they canno, receive the
same benefit, in schools and the mechanic arts.
that they could do they more densely logeth-
er. Tho Chickasaws exceed but little over five
thousand in number; they have invested near two