Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-08-26
Origin of the Human Races.

The Charleston Mercury, IN giving some oflei
but interesting "reminiscences OF Nehemalhia,
chief of the Seminoles, relates the following to
show what is the tradition, among this tribe oil
the indians at least, in relation TO the origin
of the white, red and black races: +" In The
progress of the negotiation a, Camp Mouirle,
in 1923, between the u. S. Commissioners and
the Indians, it became important 10 ascertain
the population of the Seminole nation. BY re-
quest. census was handed in by the chiefs,
and OH the commissioners asking If the state
men, embraced the blacks, and VINO were slaves,
there was so violent burs, of indignation from
Nehemabla as to require rejoinder and re-
proof from those who represented the United
States. On explaining The motive OF the inqul-
nv, however, that the commissioners IN The
allotment Of erritory,' were desirous OF proyld-
ing for the negro we'll as the Indian, Nehe-
mahla was reconciled 10 the supposed ihdignty
cast upon his people, and the negotiation pro-
ceeded and terminated harmoniously. On the
exchange of documents and treaties, the COM
missioners received The head chiefs OF the Semi.
noles al an entertainment. On the removal oil
the cloth, (for Nehema,hla, Blunt, and many
others, were not ignorant OF the forms and cour-
teses of the dinner-able, and while the glass
was'circuIaling Nehemahla adverled to The un-
pleasan, incident of the morning, in which ne
had exhibited so much temper. He stated that
they had among them wise man, philosopher,
who had communion with the Great Spirit, and
lha. if agreeable to the commissioners, i, would
be gratifying to him lha, he should be heard,
that they might read in his revealmen,s the on
" apology he had 10 offer for the displeasure
| he had expressed on the negro being considered
| f,bo Qad w
commenced =
"In The beginning, the Grea, Spiri. made
this earth and he was pleased with rs hunting
grounds and rich soils, its mountains and val
leys, lis oceans and its rivers. He decreed
that he would people it. He labored for sever
days and he made negro. Though grained
at this frs, of human beings, into whom he hat
blown the breath Of life, he, was not satisfied
He worked seven days more, and produced al
Indian. Though more pleased with this secont
than the first Of his creation, he was not alto
ge,her reconciled to the Red Skin. He re
turned for seven days more TO his labors, ant
the result was the White Man. He gazed with
admiration upon this las. as the perfection o
his works Blu. the negro and Indian were
still alive, and what was TO be done 10 promote
harmony, and preserve peace. The spin
thought awie, and assembled his three races
of human beings, at The same time placing De
fore them three huge boxes On one wa
marked Hoes and Axes on another Bow
and Arrows and on The third Books Ii
said 10 the negro, as made you first, In Jus
tice you shall have the first choice He Sc
lected the hoes and axes. The Indian became
restless, frantic, with apprehensons, and un
der his native impulses, was almost in posses
sion of the box of bows and arrows before ih
Grea, Spirit said: You now choose. Th
box of books fell TO the white man., not by &C
cident bu, design" With the most emphatic
action, then said The Indian philosopher -
THE Great Spiri. has decreed that the negr'
shall fell the forest and ill the soil 10 mak'
subsistence for man. The Indian shall roam
the wilderness, and canoe on the rivers. and II
hunting and fishing seek his pastime and sup
port The white man shall read and gaihe
these stores of wledge, from which ne is Il
derive the rules for insruciing and governin!
the others While these relations exist, peace
and harmony will prevail disturb them, ant
, no other result can follow bu, annihilation Il
the Black and Red race. The negro and In
dian will disappear before the march and ra
paci,y of the white man."