Smyrna times., 1859-12-22
The Ch0ctaW Nation.

the following interesting account of the Choc-
taw Indians to the Boston Journal:
The Choctaws have a permanent fund OF
more than 81 100000 in the hands of our gov
ernment, including 100000 set apart for
school purposes. The interest is paid annually,
atiording them a revenue of 100000, which
meets all their governmental and educational
expenses, and obviatng the necessity of taxes
Another large fund, accruing from the net pro-
ceeds of the sale Of their former lands east of
the Mississippi, has recently been awarded
them. Until within the last six years, each
member of the nation received an annuity from
the United States but since the discontinue
ance they have improved much more rapidly in
thrift and industry.
The lberality with which they provide for
free education is a worthy example for the ad-
joining State OF Arkansas. They punish no
child for poverty, by compelling him to grow
up in ignorance. There are ten +" Mission
boarding schools in the nation, at which, in ad-
dltIon TO the common and higher English
! branches, the boys are sJ Systematically exercised
at farm labor, and The girls Initiated into the
| manifold mysteries vi houSewltery. The Me-
| thodlsts have charge Oi most OF these inStitu-
tons, but several are conducted by the Pretby
terlans. The respective churches, however,
them; they are supported mainly by the Choc-
| taws, who appropriate for them annually SIS
600 Of the public funds. Their chief superb
urity consists in the fact that they are under
the conduct of fcompetent teachers, who inCul-
cate industrious habits as well as theoretical
knowledge. Some 600 children are receiving
| instruction. in these schools.
A lady, who was formerly teacher at one of
them, relates some amusing characteristics OF
Young Choc aw. The school was for girls ex-
clusively, and superiutended by a Methodist
clergyman. The pupils, 60 in number, slept
in a spacious apartment, and sometimes in the
dead of the night, one would strike up a re-
! lgIocs hymn. One by one the sleepers would
wake and join her, until, before the conclusion
of the hymn, the Whole building would ring
with the chorus. Then some little copper
hued lady, in her night habllaments, would
mount a chair and commence an earnest cxhor-
tation. Others would follow. until at last the
assembly was worked up to strange pitch Of
excitement, with groans, sobs or shrieks pro-
ceedlng from every mattrass.
At other times their midnight slumbers would
be broken by single girl chanting low, wild
refrain. Ere many minutes had passed. the
one voice would be increased to sixty. Gra-
dually the chant would swell in volume and ra-
pidity, until at last it burst out into the old
wa:-whoop of the Choctaw tribe, fairly making
night hldeous, even when coming from those in
fant throats. The teachers and other occu-
pants of the building naturally objected to this
nocturnal music; but could only check it by
vigorous and persevering application of the
switch
Occasionally "homesck girl, when her
parents were expected to visit the school, would
don the Oldest and most untidy garments she
could find, and receive them in rags and dirt,
with hair unkempt, to give the impression that
she was not we'll treated. The pupils ac-
quired English with great ease; were often
quick and intelligent; and as q class had fair
capacity. There are district schools scattered
through the nation for children who cannot at
tend the boarding schools. The people are al
ways anxious to procure white teachers; but
as the salary is only 5000 per annum, 500 OF
which is deducted for board. the standard of ex-
cellence cannot be very high. Boys who have
attained a certain degree Of proficiency are
sent to some institution in the States to com.
plete their education at the public expense
Others, who show mechanical talent, are sent
East to learn trades. Some of tho educated In
dans, especially the clergymen, are men oi
fine capacity.
There are many white merchants in the ma.
tion, with heavy stocks of goods. They are
compelled to procure q license from our govern
ment but this costs nothing, and when salts
factory evidence of good character can be Civ
en-, it is easily obtained. They evidently dc
business to make money. Even in this vicin
ty, near the Arkansas river, where freight from
the markets in which they purchase-Clncin
natl, ST. Louis, and New Orleans-are only
from 81 to 81 25 per hundred, they charge q
profit of from 80 to 100 per cent.
Their trade is nearly all cash, aud often very
heavy. A Massachusetts firm at Scullyvile,
few hundred yards from this place, does bust
mess of 100000 per annum. 1t is not dliicul
to understand how the senior member, after re
siding here dozen years, has realized enough
to retire to costly country seat in the old Bay
State, leavingthe house in the hands of th
younger partners.
The Choctaws are Empowered by treaty will
the United States to impose a moderate tai
:. upon the merchants The National Council
has fixed it at two per cent on the capital in
vested The traders are required to make n
other contribution TO the public revenue; the
are allowed the free use of all the land, WOO
and coal they wish: and they often eeceiv
substantial Accommodations in the form c
large loans of the public money, without intel
est. But they declaim loudly against this ia,
as oppressive and unreasonable and have neVe
yet paid it, though it has accumulated in tIi
aggregate to $4,000. Was it ever human ma
ture to receive nine.tenths of a loaf wilhOl
graspng after the remainder! a. ID. K.
MARRIAGE OF CUsrNs.-Gov. Magofin of KY
"a recommends the Legislature of tina. State
a prohibit by law. under severe penalties, th
C. marriage of cousins. lie says, that the imb
., Giles insane, deaf mutes, and blind IN the d
:. - ferent asy ums of that State, who are the o
~ spring Of cousins, is from elk to twenty p
ur cent. Of the whole number; aed he claims th
ht it is the right and duty of the State to prote
10. herself against the evil and expense, by forbi
~ ding such unions. which nature plainly forbi
'" by the natural penal.she uniformly inflcts.
THERE are some men who will walk up
ial the cannon's mouth, and some women who wa
up to lovers without shrinking.
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