Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-07-06
The Southwestern Indians, their COuatr!
aud Condition.

We find in the Holly Spring (Miss.) Ga.
Setie, the following letter dated,
LITTLE RIVER. Seminole Nation, April %.
In travelling thus far we have passed lhro'
the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek
and Seminole nations, and find that many
Of these wandering tribes Of the family Of
Adam arc in an advanced state Of improve
ment and civilization. Many Of them APP
pear 10 be engaged in agricultural pursuits.
are in aflluent and easy circumstances. 1t
appears that nature, in the arrangement Of
The country now in possession of the tribes
Of Indians, was trying her best 10 make a
place for mans abode, no part or portion OF
which could be objected TO, even by fault
finding men. The rivers, the valleys, the
p%rairies, aud the mountains, all appear TO
have been planned by dame Nature 10 assist
man in contemplating the works of Him
who rules and governs all things, and prepa-
ring him for the enjoyment Of that bliss
which is promised only 10 the true and faith
ful beyond the grave.
Uncle Sam, in giving this splendid coun-
try for the country of these tribes East Of
the Mississippi. got badly cheated land 1 would
not give even the small portion | have seen
III NY hhNSIo W Ut plHNFf q ~ ihtJ "" "
ed on our side of the /" Big Drink" as they
call the Mississippi River.
The Choctaws, from what | could learn
in passing through the nation, are a advancing
more rapidly in civilization than any Of the
tribes on our route. They have a large NUM-
Der OF schools interspersed throughout their
whole conntry, and many Of the Indians are
men Of good, practical English educations.
They publish a respectable paper at Doak-
willie in the Nation, one portion in the Choc.
iaw language and the balance in English
They have a code Of laws which they rigid
ly enforce, as | can bear testimony. a day
after we crossed a ferry through their Nation,
two Indians were tried before one Of the
Chiefs, for horse stealing ; found guilty, and
stripped, tied up, and given 40 lashes, well
laid on their naked backs; the whole trans.
action occupying about two hours. The
poor fellows were almost dead when %releas-
ed, and were taken to tie tent Of a humane
California;. and their wounds, which were
CHASTITY for The whip, were rubbed over nth
sweet oil. They appeared greaiful for the
kindness Of the Californians, but breathed
vengeance against the Chief and Sheriff.
1t would have amused you, Mr. Gazette, to
have seen the imperturbable old chief, with
a stick scoring the stripes, as they were CIV
en-. At 80 he caused the Sheriff 10 halt a
moment, and then ordered him to lay on ten
more for good measure. Such is the sum
mary mode Of Indian Justice.
The Cherokees, as a nation, are not as far
advanced in agriculture and civilization as
the Choctaws, but | found many refined and
well educated half-breeds and quarterunes a.
mong them.
The Chickasaws we saw but little Of, as
passed through but a small portion of
their country. They, however, appear to be
rapidly improving in agricultural pursuits
Their country, however, Is the m2st delight.
full IN the globe.
The Greeks and Seminoles are a power.
full tribe, mastering probably eight or ten
warriors. They, too, are impro-
wing rapidly in all that tends to peace or
civilization. Some Of the largest and most
athletic men we have ever seen belong 10
these tribes. Government is now building
a mission near North CANADIAN which will
cost $50. 1000, and in a few years all Of the
tribes whose country we have yet travelled
through, will have abandoned the rowing
life Of the Red Man, and settled down on
their rich and fertile bottoms and ~prairies as
an agricultural people. Many of those
whose huts we passed on the road are. ! am
informed, strict observers of the Sabbath /;
others still work on that day. The Indians
appear remarkably peaceable and friendly.
and could whiskey, that bane Of all social
happiness, and that destroyer of the Red
Man, be kept out of the Nation, in few
years a man might travel through Ill the
tribes, from Fort Smith to the Pacific, with
out fear or molestation. 1t is only when
drunk, or in their drunken @!evels, that they
commit dePredations against the White
Man, and how could we expect anything
better from a savage, when the use of same
articles makes very demons Of lhe most re-
fined aud ciyilizedl