The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-24
OUR CIVILIZED INDIANS.
Council OF the Tribes OF
the Indian Territory.
Progress o. Tho Various Trioes IN civillranoR-
School Eoasos-AgrieE'trre-c Of All
the 7. ibss-rr0p1,iasa OF UE.oa-
Speeches by Various Parties.
ocnurenr, CREEK NArros. lxor.x rnnurenr.

ocMuLGEn, CREEK NATION. iSpt.S rEEwroHy.l
Dec. T., 1870. (
The last treaties made between tue government
OF the uniled states ANA tins larger rlbcs IA the In.
dian Territory. provide f,r The holding u gcaegal
council, TO be constituted OF delegates selected by
each Tribe resident In the Territory The sapern-
tendent OF Indian Anairs is, ex-ogdo President ot
the Council Each tribe, however small 4 enttled
to one delegate ana an additional delegate for every
thousand people or fractional part Of q thousald
above five hundred. This General Council Is
clothed With legislative powers upon tac following
subects-"ihe intercourse ANA relations OF the Ia.
dian nations and tribes, and colonies oil lreednea
resident in the Indian Territory: The arrest and
tradition OF criminals and offenders escaping from
one tribe 10 another, or into any community OF
freedmen; the administration OF Justice between
members of different tribes OF said Territory ana
persons other than Indians and members or said
tribes and nations, aud the common defence and
safety OF the nations Of said Territory"
The Congres of the United States had failed uniil
its last session TO make an appropriation, as pro-
vded by treaty. for meeting the expenditure caused
by converting the Council. IL had therefore, never
met until the 2Tth OF September last. and, as the
Southern supernendency had been discontinued ~
Presidential order. The whole Indian Territory was
annexed to the Central SUPPLEMENTARY, and thus
the duty OF presiding over the Council devoived upon
superintendent Enocn hoag lie was directed u
convene the Council AT Ocmul.ec, the capital OF the
Creek or Muscogee nation, on the day just named
The Council continued in session Tor five days, but
as, for several reasons, some OF the nations and
tribes were not represented, 1t concluded to ad
1ourn until the 9Th inst, ard IN The meantime 10
extend an invitation TO the wd tribes In the west.
crn part OF The Territory 10 participate by eecga
tons in the proceedings OF the Council.
Ar fha .lalar
vened. representing twelve nations and tribes.
powers, OF good education, and OF some experience
in legislative matters. 70 those VINO have never
the Indian except ia his wild and uuciviiizcd
condition II would be matter or great surprise 10
hear some or the members OF this Council express
ing themselves in the English language. with all
clearness ana force ana precision which character
lie the Efforts Of standard speakers at Washington
In cur State Legislatures. The Cherokees, Ihoc-
laws, ChcSasaws, Seminocs and Greeks, who were
removed into the eastern part of the Indian Terri
tory about thirty years ago, have made great adj
vance IN education agriculture aud Christian civil
llzltion generally Their country suffered excess
siyely m tue late war. and they have not yet re-
covered their former condition, but again
rapidly improving. Tue Cherokees, with a popula-
ton OF 1900 have already rcestabished fory two
OF their public schools ald devote thirty-fve per
cent or al tllir nat onal funds to educational pur-
poses. the population Of the ChocIaw nation,
each about the same as that or the Chero-
kee The Chickasaws number $500, and the
seminoss LOO All these tribes are making com
nendaDe efforts Tor their own Improvement in
everything that constitutes good and prosperous
people. A large proportion OF them arc processing
/ Christians The Governor OF the Muscogee or Greek
ma ion Is q minister OF the Gospel. The Governor
OF the Seminoles Is also devout member OF the
church. The annual message OF Governor Down
ing, OF the Cherokee nation abounds In expressions
| Of piety ana dependence upon Divine Providence.
One. not more, OF the delegates from the Chocaw
| nuftn ia a min n npp
are lss,s,iye OF the character and advancement OF
Sse S saa Wv sfmYa s " A. gga
the Methodist Church. and native Cherokee, wmct
did great credit both TO his heart aud TO his head
ana IL was spoken in English and Interpreted Will
much spirit In Muscogee or Creek, as most o. IN
hearers were Of that nation.
inc p ta "a sSf Dsaore e Gpanc up 10
tribes resident IN the Indian Territory under Ole
general gogerhment, while each tribe shall reto I
its own distinctive individuality, rights and piivi'
leges. The committee have reported ayorahy upon
the subject aud their report has been adopted. A
committee or Twelve were nj once charged with the
responsible duty OF reporting draft OF a const,tu.
ton for such government, TO be republican In form,
providing executive legislative and judicial de.
partments, to be based upon and strictly IN con
lormity with the treaties Of 1866, arranged to
protect the weaker tribes from oppression by the
consent to and adopt IT,
II may be of some interest to report the remarks
OF Francis King delegate OF the Ottawas, on being
invited by President Hoag TO give some account OF
his people. he said:--
| "Mr. President-My people have only been III the
Territory two years but they are now decidedly
improving in civilization. The most OF them have
comfortable houses. We have a sawmill, and very
good school taught by Mr.. Tu,tle and his wife
We have religious meetings every sabbath. and we
consider them OF very great value TO u.s. bo,h IN
religious point OF view and as c,viizing ,nstitu
tion. Before these sabbath meetings were opened
II one Went over to his neighbours mouse Sabbath
morning at eight or nine O'Clock he found the wori
OF the house unfinished; the dishes were lyiBa
upon the table unwashed the children had on theiI
solled clothing, ana there would be other evidences
OF soth and carelessness. But now It s very diher
ent We work all the week TO get ready for the sab
batn and when it comes we rise early, the house II
put In order. the children are washed and cleanly
dressed for the sabbath school, aud with then
parents go promptly aud Joyfuy to the meeting
My people are deeply interested IN The proceedings
OF this Council, aud hope tha' the stronger tribe
represented herein VIII be careful Of the rights Of
the weaker For my own part feel an obligation
own interest, and trust that all OF us Will he in
nuenced by the same consideration IN our delibera
tons in this body. Many OF the delegates mere are
men Of education ana OF legislative experience and
capable OF expressing themselves nuently clearly
and forcbly, while many others who, ike myself have
had fewer opportunities OF Improvement, can speak
the English language with diificuty, or not at all
and must necessarily appear at disadvantage.
The former class do not like to say much, because
they suppose that 1t will not be understood APP
preciated; and the latter because they feel dlsrlst
ful OF their capacity to express themselves as they
would ike TO do ! believe that these hlndrances
Will gradually disappear, and look forward to the
future with hOpelulness aud good cheer"
At the opening OF the adj burned session President
Hoag encouraged the delegates to confer toge her
| and endeayOr 10 mature their views and
form plans for legislation, that they might be
able to act promptly and wisely. lie advised them
to consider that they had been sent here to devise
measures not for their own personal promotion or
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT but for the good OF their people at
home-to remember that the power vested In them
had been derived from their people, and that the
interests OF the people had been conhdcd into their
hands as o sacred trust, and that their serious
attention should be given to all those eiucailonal
| agricultural and general industrial measures when
tend 70 Tue elevation and permanent Improvement
OF the nations and tribes which they represent He
furthermore said mat AS We are dependent for all
good upon tue DIVINE blessing duty rests upon us
all IL ask thai blessing ana tina, as ihey had need 81
special assistance III dlscharging their important
dute5 therefore q pause Tor devotional purposes
would be observed ut the opening OF every inofnng
/ session, aud he desired every member, whether a
minister OF the Gospel or not 10 feel full liberty 10
Good spirit
ine Committee on Agriculture have made deeply
| interesting renort and atlOnan LleY nnYc mol mad