Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-24
More about the Civilized Indian States.

Some silly persons talk about the impossi-
bility of civilizing the North American In
dian. The man who asserts as impossible the
civilization Of the race which gave to history
the undying names of Red Jacket, a Teeum-
sch, Keokuk and host Of other great aborigi-
nal characters equal in native strength and
grasp of intellect to the proudest mental mon
arch that ever crowned his head with immor.
tality, is an ignoramus-utterly ignorant ofthe
history of this continent. For even while he
speaks. there are Indian civilizations growing
up in the very heart Of the Union. A proud
er, a nobler spectacle was never presented,
in oil the lapse of time, than that which
these civilized Indian nations now present
The growth of the civilization, intelligence and
refinement Of other races, now boastful of
their greatness, was slow and gradual, the
tedious work of centuries But here are a
people who have leaped, as it were in q mo
ment from the utter night of barbarism into
the broad and perfect day Of civilized life
With all their wbacks-with all their
uprootings from their native soil-with all
their removals, forcible and violent, from the
homes which they had hoped were perma-
nent-with all their temptations to relapse
into savagery, from the uncertainty of their
fate in the hands of the white man-with all
these and a thousand other obstacles and
disadvantages, they have marched steadily
on in the path of improvement. 1t is spec
tacle, we say, to be wondered at, and it
stamps the aboriginal North American intel
power
But, we merely intended to make few re-
marks predatory to the following extract,
which we take from the Winona (Nlinnesota)
Democrat, and which speaks volumes in
ITSELF
The progress in civilization of several of
the Indian tribes occupying Territories west
of the States will soon bring up new ques-
ton for the decision of Congress. What shall
be done with the Indian governments or
states that are now fully organized? Are
they to be finally admitted into the Union
Is new removal, at some future time, to be
made Of the tribes civilized and christian
lied, to make room for the Caucasian wave
rolling west? Or are foreign governments
to grow up in the very heart of the terrific
ry of the United States?
The Cherokees organized regular GOV
ernment as early as 1889, copying the pecu-
liar features Of the Constitution of the United
States. The forms of legislation and the ar
rangement of the courts Of justice 50 nearly
resemble those of the States that, but for the
tawny skins around him, thetraveler into the
Cherokee territory would scarcely find any
indication of having passed its boundaries.
This tribe, if we may believe what we rea1
Of them has improved in all the erts of civ
ilization to such degree that many of its
principal men would grace the refined socie-
ty OF any nation. In respect for the law,
popular education. and public NOR lity, and
the adoption of all the elegancies and advan-
tages of civilization, the Cherokees have ta-
ken position which forbids any fortible in
reference with their rights to the territory
they occupy, to suit the conyeniences or Oh.
viate the anomaly which the existence of
their state now presents
The Choctaws formed their government,
taking the institutions of the United States
for their model, in 1884 Initiating their
more progressive white neghbors, last year
they revised their constitution and adopted
even the minute forms Of government and
names of officers which prevail in each of
the States Of our confederacy
The Chickasaws, lately separated from the
Choctaws, have also followed the example of
the two tribes mentioned, and thus the third
government, with institutions identical with
our own, exist on the borders of the Sonth-
western states, occupying territory ceeded to
them by the General Government.
The Greeks are taking steps to create the
fourth Independent organization of state
form of government, and will soon present
an example Of the influence of civilization
in subverting the customs and traditions of
the race indigenous to the continent
And now we have, away up here in Min
nesota, another spectacle Of the same kind
presented for our reflection, Several of the
Sioux tribes under the teachings of the Mis-
sionaries among them and through the pros.
porous example of that civilization which has
encroached upon their ancient hunting ground
are laying aside their tribal relations, and
adopting the habits and governmental forms
of the white man; and will they not soon
ask to be formed into municipalities SINH
lar to those Of their southern brethren? ?