The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-23
Our Civilized Indians.


800, 900 Indians; 65, 600 in the fvc civiliZ
ed tribcs--thc Cherokees, Greeks, Choctawt
Chckasaws and Scminolcs-- 90, 900 moro
belonging to other tribes in the Indian
Territory, and the rest are scattered in tho
western part OF the United States, with q
few remaining in New York, North Caro-.
lima and other States. The civilized tribes
have forms of government more or less
similar to that OF the States. The Chcrokccs
have constitution and code Of laws. The
creeks have constitution, but their laws
arc not yet codticd, although efforts have
been made in this direction and code pre-
pared The Greeks have chief, elected
ny tho people every four years, house of
kings and supreme court. The chief
Justice Of the Muscogec nation is Baptist
preacher, and is now missionary to the
wild tribes two hundred and fifty miles
west of his home. l met him the other day
mt the Muscogce Baptist association, on his
! way from his mssi onnry labors. lie came
| back to preside over the Supreme Court at
It's next session, in about two weeks. The
Rcv. John Mcintosh, Is his name
grandson of General William Mcintosh.
whom the Greeks killed III 1925, Oh account
OF the trcaty OF Indian Springs. The pres
ent chict is Ward Goodman, born IN Ala
bama. and who remained there until about
1878 lie was delegate to the Baptist as
socation at Ncwoka. He is u slout-built
man, about 80 years old, black hair black
eyes, thin whiskers, will weigh two hun
drcd pounds, and WAS dressed in q citizens
dark gray suit lie is Inan OF ability, and
has an alfablc address. | took tea with him
coffee, rather The Prcsbytcrians and
Mcthodists have each a mission school on
the manual labor system, and the Creek
nation pays tie board and tuition of II Ger
tain number of pupils. The Baptists are
contemplating the cstablish"l"nt of a mission
school this fall.
There arc twenty eight public schools
Kept open ten months in the year, and under
The supervision Of superintendent of public
introduction who is also superintendent of
blacksmith shops The nation pays 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.
lhe meeting began at dark, and ended
about, slln-up, or a little later. Imagine a
savage crowd of Indians singing in Creek
at the top of their voices just before day
light, and suddenly buglc blast sounds on
The alr-wouldn't you think of Gabriel?
Inc Greeks have no marriage laws, but
the Baptist association adopted memorial
on the subject, urging the next council to
pass l.roper marriage law. The writer
had the honor of drafting the
memorial. Their custom allowed several
wives but the churches have 80 altered
public opinion that it Is rare to find man
with two wives.
"llow did you punish violation of
OF marriage VOWS? l asked tho Indian
lawyer
"You sec that man thcre2"
"Yca."
"Well, his wife was taken by another
man, and one night he went with some
other men, arrested the bctraycr, beat him
scnscless, and then cut his cars off with q
dull knifc2"
GLOW did they treat the woman7"
'Ihc same way. Sometimes they let
her of easier than the man."
"What became of tho man and woman2"
''fhey are living together as man and
wife, and the injured husband got him an
other wife"
"Was that your customs"
eyes; the chief made tho law, and
everybody followed it.'
Sometimes they cut the woman's nose off
by way of variety.
If the criminal could hide out until after
'Busk, the annual festival, he went free.
Some of the tribes had cities of refuge, rs
the Israclltes had