The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-03
aboriginal.
Our Indian Tribes.

away. Not vestige remains of many
once powerful tribes, and even those fur
thest removed from the settlements of the
whites evince the effects of the ruin which
civilization has ever brought upon them.
The tide of emigration to this country
drove them step by step into the interior,
and now an equally resistless tide threat
ems them from the Pacific. They have
become completely fenced in; the whites
are upon them on all sides; no new hunt
ing grounds invite them where they can
rest secure from the invasions of civil
ization to them so ruinous where they
may hide themselves from the white man,
and yield up to the pursuits of their IA
theirs. The rush of emigrants across the
plains to californis, New Mexico, Utah,
and Oregon, brings them within the con-
slant influence of all the vices of civili-
ization; and it is evident that they must
either yield to its power, and become ed
ucated in the ways of civilized life, or
cease to exist.
Civilization, it is said, has ever proved
a bane to the Indian race. To an extent
this is true, because the instances where
in civilization has been detrimental to
them are those where they have been ex-
posed to its vices, and not been subjected
to the influence of its virtues. The ira
ders and trappers who 60 among the In
dians are themselves, as a general rule,
among the worst specimens of civilized
race, deeply schooled in all the vices of
cultivated life, often fugitives from JUS
tice, and are perhaps the best emissaries
of mischief and degradation, and the
poorest teachers of morals. 1t may be
regarded as fact, that the influences of
civilization, wherever exerted upon the
Indian tribes, have resulted precisely as
the character of the influence would have
led an observer skilled in the philosophy
of associations to anticipate. To say that
a man or race of men can absorb all the
vices of civilization, and still be mentally
incapacitated from being Influenced by its
better traits, is paradox in itself, and
even were it not, is not supported by his
tory. That he can be thus educated
there is no doubt; the advances which
some of our Indian tribes have already
made prove it. We refer to the Choc-
taws, the Chickasaws, the Greeks, and
the Cherokees All these tribes are much
further advanced than many of our read
ers are aware.
The Choctaws reside on the north bank
of the Upper Red river. They have a
representative government, and it is gen
orally administered with fidelity. They
have written constitution, and they have
Legislative, judicial, and executive depart
ments of government. They have a
printing press, and printed laws are an
nually issued from it. The inferior part
of their Judiciary is elected by the peo-
pie, and the superior judges by the Le-
gislature. Like us, they have two branch
es of law making power, and their Legis-
latures are elected in districts. They
have common schools, for the support Of
which they contributed last year $685.
coo.
The Chickasaws are less advanced than
the Choctaws, but it is said that they are
anxious to have their children educated
They are very industrious in the pursuits
!, of agriculture, and raise large quantities
of corn, which they sell to government
contractors.
The Cherokees have government re,
semhling that of the Choctaws, and are
represented as industrious and advancing
In knowledge, some of their chief meH
being very well educated. and living like
gentlemen on their estates. They arr
not behind, either, in manufactures, and
ANNUALLY produce large quantities of cot
ton and woolen goods. That they alse
have taste for reading, is evident from
the fact that there were ole, 900 copie.
of books printed In the nation last year.
The Greeks have not progressed so fal
as the Cherokees, but they ara improving
raise every year large quantities 0
corn and other fruits of the soil for sale
land take kindly to civilization. The Sen
ecas and Shawnees also have large ant
well-cultivated farms. s8 a q, - 2
In view of these facts, which are Sc
forth at large in a late number Of the Aus
tin State Gazette, it should be the duty 0