West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-12-06
Our Civilized Indians

There are in the United States about
500, 600 Indians; 10000 in the Eve Civiliz-
cd thc ChcrokcoS, Creeks, Choctaws
ChichsSaws and ScminolcS 20, 600 more
belonging TO other tribes i'm the Indian
territory, and the rest arc scattered i'm the
western part Of tho United States, with A
lew remaining ln New York, North Caro-
lima and other States. The civilized tribes
have forms of government more or less
similar 10 that OF the States The Chcrokeos
have a constitution and code of laws. Tho
Greeks have n constitution. hut their laws
are not yet coditicd, although efforts have
been made in this direction and a code pre-
pared Tho Greeks have a chief. elected
10y the people every four years, house of
kings and supreme court. The chief
justice of the MusCogec nation is Baptist
preacher, and is now a missionary to the
Wild tribes two hundred and tifty miles
west OF his home. | met him the other day
ut the MusCogcc Baptist association, ON his
way from his missionary lHbors He came
back To preside over the Supreme Court at
It's next session, in about two weeks. The
keN John Mcintosh, is his name
grandson OF General William Mcintosh,
whom the Greeks killed IN 1870, ON account
OF The treaty OF Indian Springs. The pres
cnt Chief is Ward Goodman, born IN Ala
bana and who remained there until about
lSiS. lie was n delegate to the Baptist as
soCation at Ncwuka lie is a stout-huiIt
man, about % years old, black hair. black
eyes, thin whiskcrs, will weigh two hun
drcd pounds, and was dressed I'm "A citizens
dark gray suit. He is inun OC ability. and
has AN ailablc address | took tea with him
collcr, rather The prcsbytcrians and
Mcihodists have each IA mission school on
the manual labor system aud the Creek
nation pays the board and tuition of a Ger
tain number Of pupils The Buptists are
contemplating the cstahlish~cnt of a mission
school this fail.
There are twcnty.cght puhlic schools,
kept open ten months in the year, and under
the supervision Of II superintendent ofpublic
introduction who ia also superintendent of
blacksmith shops The nation paws for
sharpening both mental and agricultural
Tools They pay $40 per month TO teachers
and pay for school books. The Indians
enjoy religion. | attended an all night
prayer meeting ON Sunday. They say
they used TO worship God all night too.
The meeting began at dark, and ended
about, sun-up, or little later. Imagine a
savage crowd of Indians singing in Creek
at the top of their voices just before day
hight, and suddenly buglc blast sounds ON
the air wouldn't YOU think of Gabriel?
The Greeks have no marriage laws. but
the Baptist association adopted memorial
ON the subject urging the next council 10
pass a proper marriage law The writer
had the honor Of drafting the
memorial Their custom allowed several
wives, but the churches have so altered
public opinion that it ls rare to find man
with two wives
"llow did you punish violation of
of marriage vows? asked the Indian
lawyer
"You sec that man thcrci'
"Ycsn
"Wcll, his wife was taken by another
man. and one night he went with some
other men, arrested the bctraycr, beat him
scnsclcss, aud then cut his cars of with
dull knifcf"
''lIow did they treat the woman 2"
The same way. Sometimes they let
her oil easier than the man.
What became Of the man and woman7n
They are living together as man and
wife, and the injured husband got him an
other wife"
Was that your custom Z"
Yes the chief made the law. and
everybody followed it,
Sometimes they cut the womans nose off
by way Of variety.
II the criminal could hide out until after
"Busk,' the annual festival, he went free.
Some Of the tribes had cities Of refuge, as
the lsraclItes had