burned a purer light than illumined the course of benevolence of the design, and realize under the his immediate predecessor? or how distinguish sanctity of your assurance, the entire honor and between that and the splendor of Mr. Jefferson's respectability of the society, which indeed may be career? Indeed we live in a most interesting fairly inferred from the nobleness of its views, I am period. We behold the setting radiance of three highly gratified at the opportunity which your re magnificent suns-A first, tho' gone down, quest furnishes, to distribute, through the agencies "charms by the loveliness of its streaks which yet connected with this office, to the several Indian linger in our horizon." We behold this-and at tribes having intercourse with them, the "glad the same moment feel the irradiating influence of tidings" contained m the circular. another, now in the meridian of its glory-the whole producing a mingling light and heat which attract universal admiration. It is known to you, that my duties are applicable to the prosecution of the trade established by the United States' government with the Indian tribes. But does it not seem strange, that these sages A branch of policy originating in humanity, and should fail to accomplish, though they all recom sanctioned by justice, and which has, through its mend it, the adoption of some LIBERAL PLAN, by benevolent interference, and by means of the conwhich the Aborigines should be raised from their ciliatory influence of the agents and factors, gone depression, and possessed of those enjoyments far towards producing the change which has al which God never designed should be thus with-ready taken place in several of the tribes, as it held?-It is true, they have been able to procure respects both their habits and manner of living. the adoption of partial measures, which have served humanity; they have snatched the Indians, in part, from the furnace of a devouring avarice. But much remains to be done. An appeal must be made to the intellectual man—but this cannot be, without the elements are first prepared. THEY MUST BE TAUGHT -But how shall they learn with out teachers? The period, I trust, is at hand, when the light of executive influence will penetrate the deserts and solitudes of our country-mean while, my dear sir, you will have enjoyed the enviable reflections that grow out of labors for the relief of human misery. May success attend you; and happiness in this world and the next! THOS. L. M'KENNEY. COPY OF A LETTER Although it has been my duty to superintend this trade, unconnected with any power by which means might be applied on other points for promoting civilization, yet, like yourself, sir, I feel great solicitude for the sufferings which yet exist in our forests; and which the trade, however beneficial it certainly is, and to a certain extent can never un associated with other means, effectually relieve. In the management of this branch of governmental policy a thousand appeals are made to my sympathy. The intercourse I have with the Indian tribes, carried on by means of agencies, has familiarized me, in some degree, to their condition; and it is indeed pitiable. Who can contemplate the darkness that broods over the aboriginal mind, in the creation of which he had no agency, and not feel willing to contribute his spark towards its From Thomas L. M’Kenney, esq. superintendant of illumination? I have beheld its most dismal gloom! Indian affairs, to col. R. M. Johnson. I have seen the Indian roll the pallor of his eye in quest of light, but in vain; and I have seen (as in the case of Skenandon, the Oneida chief) the darkGeorgetown, D. C. June 27. ness retire; the light of intelligence beam from DEAR SIR-I have had the pleasure of receiving his countenance, and, passing the grossness of our your letter of the 15th inst. enclosing a circular region, settle with his hopes on a future and blessed from the corresponding secretary of the "Kentucky state! But how few, comparatively speaking, have Baptist society for promoting the gospel among been favored like Skenandon! It was his destiny the Heathen;" copies of which it is desired may to share the benefits resulting from the labors of be transmitted to the several agencies connected the good Mr. Kirkland; and it was by the side of with this office, accompanied with such remarks his minister and friend, that the old chief, in his as may be most likely to induce an attention to the 110th year, desired to be buried, that (in his own contents of the circular. words) "he might go up with him at the great resurTEDtion." When I examine into the spirit of this undertaking, which proposes "to gain permission from I am aware of the prejudice of men, and good the Indians of the different tribes within the limits men too, on this subject, who, without any ill will of the United States, to have three, four, or more, towards these unfortunate people, doubt the practic. children from a tribe, (boys and girls) brought into ability of their civilization-their christianization. this country (Kentucky) for education-the child. But I differ with such. My researches have conren to be brought, fed, clothed, and educated at firmed my belief in the entire practicability of the the expense, and under the care and direction of unkertaking. I bottom my faith on the efforts that the society-to be taught reading, writing and have already been made, as well before our indearithmetic; and in some cases, where genius war-pendence as since, however apparently they may rants it, the higher branches of literature; to make have failed in their general result. the boys acquainted with husbandry, and the girls So long ago as the year 1645, John Elliot, by his with domestic employment; to teach such as possess indefatigable zeal, produced almost an entire remechanical genius the most useful of the mechanical form in the natives in and about Roxbury, Massaarts; and when those children pass through the chusetts. Influenced by the agency of that good course of education, send them back, accompanied man, they abandoned their vagrant habits: built a with teachers of such of the tribes as will receive town; enacted laws for their government; erected them, who will proceed, with the assistance of a building for divine worship, 50 feet by 25, and their children, to instruct their other children at proved, by their exemplary conduct, that they were their respective towns-and in some instances, not wanting in capacity for the higher attainments when the way opens, to furnish teachers to open of the Christian character. schools among them without waiting for the child- In 1694, there resided at Martha's Vineyard 180 ren to be educated;" I say, when I examine into Indian families, who, under the teaching of this the spirit of this undertaking, recognize in it the game Mr. Elliot, demolished their fales Gods and their altars; abandoned their drunkenness, their, Had Elliot and his generous successors adopted thieving, and became, in a body, with the exception this plan, we should have practicable advocates of two Indians, zealous and faithful Christians among the Indian tribes to this day. But conveyIndeed the history of these times bears abundant ing their doctrines to the Indians in the native testimony to the capacity and aptness of the languages of these people, they become dependent aborigines for the higher orders of improvement. That relating to Roxbury, Martha's Vineyard, Elizabeth Isle, Nantucket, &c. &c. will satisfy the scruples of any man on this subject, who will take the pains to consult it. But the fruits of the labors of Elliot, and Mayhew, and Brainard, and Kirkland, and others, are well nigh perished! and hence it is inferred they never ripened. This is incorrect: many hundreds, besides SKENANDON, retained their purity till they dropped into the grave; and he remained and braved the frosts of sixty winters, after his change, before be was gathered. Have you not heard of this great man? I will insert an anecdote of him, which may be relied upon as genuine; and which will speak for itself, and the testimony will not fail to convince the most sceptical, that Indians can be both eloquent and pious. Just before he died, a friend calling to see the old man, (who from extreme old age had become blind) he spoke thus: I am an aged hemlock. The winds of an hund red winters have whistled through my branches. I am dead at the top. Why I am yet alive, the great good spirit only knows. Pray to my Jesus that I may wait with patience my appointed time to die." it is not difficult to ascertain the causes of the almost total extinction of the lights which burned so bright in those days. The teachers first learned, and then taught their lessons in the Indian tongue, so that when the teachers died, the means of instruction ceased. Other causes are to be found in the pestilence which swept off thousands; in the French war, (the war I mean of '56,) in which many were slain, whilst others returned home, fallen from their attainments, contaminated and diseased and in the war of the revolution. Those were the causes that swept away the monuments that had been erected in support of the practicability of aboriginal reform, leaving only the history of those times to furnish the evidence of their once baving existed-and this is not generally consulted. Those noble and generous efforts are known to have been made-and some have informed them selves of the success that a attended them-but these labors, and their results, are well nigh passed away; and it is inferred, that Indians are incapable of reformation, though it is notorious that but few efforts of a similar character have been since attempted, and these being solitary, and unaided by the support which is essential to their success, the Indians yet linger under the pressure of their wrongs and their sufferings. upon their instructors for light-who, like suns in The plan adopted by the "Kentucky Baptist society," and the arrangements it has made to secure its execution, appear to me to promise much towards the removal of the desolation in which the aborigines are involved. I have conversed with the principal men of the Upper Creeks: they manifest a deep solicitude on the subject of having their children educated. These people have but few if any advantages of this sort. I have recently seen and conversed with major Walker, a leading man in the Cherokee nation. This tribe begin to know the benefits resulting from instruction; and schools are sought after and encouraged. This man was anxious, by the sale of lands, or by the concentration of several years annuities, or by any other means that might be devised, to raise funds for the support of public schools. His heart is set upon the work—and a few days ago I received a letter from the Rev. Moses Crume, on the subject of Indian reform. This gentleman was appointed to preside in the Miami district, by the last annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church; and it became part of his duty, by the directions of that body, to make arrangements with the friendly tribes of Indians within the agency of John Johnson, esq. of Piqua town, for opening schools of instruction among them, and also to establish a mission. The teacher to be both a preacher and missionary, under the superintendancy of the Ohio conference, and the presiding elder of that district. In conformity with his instructions, Mr. Crume proceeded to open his mission to the principal men of Mr. Johnson's agency, and was received in a manner highly flattering to his hopes. They answered him with their thanks for the talk he has made them; believed it was every word very good; assured him of their love, and of their belief that he was a man of God. Some of the tribes have already determined to send their children generally; whilst others, the Shawanese for example, will avail themselves of the offer without dissention. In the first place I am decidedly of opinion, as I cannot withhold my recommendation to the well from the experience which has been had, as "Kentucky Baptist society" of the efforts of this from the nature of the case that there can be no minister; nor deny myself on this occasion the radical and general renovation in the condition of pleasure of pronouncing upon his merits. It is the Indian tribes, without the aid of schools of in- due to him, to the work in which he is engaged, struction. It is by this means they will be qualified and to the conference who, with a design so laudto receive and distribute the principles by which able, assigned to him an undertaking so arduous. civilized man is influenced, whether they relate to At Spring Place, in the Cherokee country, the society, government or religion; and without which Rev. John Gambold is aiding in this generous they can never attain to any adequate knowledge work. This excellent man, who is a member of of either. the Moravian society, has been for some time engaged in teaching the Cherokee children. His institutions are conducted upon a new plan, and os labors have been but partially rewarded, owing to a more liberal scale than any which have ever be the narrowness of his resources, which alone pre- fore been made. Their success is likely to provents him from a more extensive and successful duce a complete revolution in the public sentiment prosecution of the work. Still he has been measur- relative to the practicability of Indian improve. ably rewarded. His toils have not been expended ment. Yours, A. SUBSCRIBER. in vain, nor are his hopes withered. There are other establishments of which you will be informed, no doubt, by the agents, in compliance with so much of the "circular" as relates to this branch of information. No. 1. CHEROKEE NATION, July 20, 1818 Sketch of the progress of the aboriginal Cherokees. The great and good Washington said to the I contemplate with much pleasure these signs of Cherokees, as you now find the game growing the times; and surely when the subject is viewed scarce, and when you cannot meet a deer to kill, ia its true light-i s importance considered, whe- you will remain hungry and naked, and, without ther it relates to our border neighbors or ourselves other implements than the hoe to till the ground, and its advantages weighed, every American, you will continue to raise scanty crops of cornwho relishes the enjoyments which result from hence you are exposed to suffer from hunger, and civilization, will be anxious to extend them to men as the game are lessening in numbers, more and having souls like ourselves, and who like us, are more, these sufferings will increase and how are destined to run the circle of the same eternity; but you to provide against them; and said, listen to my who, to this hour (as a body) look upon the future words: Some of you already experience the adamidst "clouds and darkness;" and whose felicity, vantage of keeping cattle and hogs; let all keep even in this life, is constituted of ingredients of them, and increase their numbers, &c. which want, and sorrow, and despair, form the prin cipal parts. Such was the language held out to the Cherokees, which object had directed the steps of our My most cordial wishes for success accompany former agent, Silas Dinsmore, who seated himself the efforts of the "Kentucky Baptist society," and in the centre of the nation, and held out to the all others who may direct their attention to the Cherokee warriors the plough, the axe, and the accomplishment of the generous work in which mattock, with the pledge of the olive-branch over that society is about to engage; and I beg the favor the land; encouraging them to cultivate and raise of you, sir, to assure the members of my co-operat-corn, cotton, and stock on the land; and stimulating ing disposition in all matters relating to the ameliora- the female, in the language of a brother, with tion of the condition of our aborigines; and that so far as I may be able, by a practical application of it, to make it useful, it is at their service. With great respect, your obedient servant, THO. L. M'KENNEY. FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER. wheels, cards, and the loom, to spin and weave their own clothing. Yet such sudden changes of habits and pursuits were productive of jealousies -which were indeed natural--but these jealousies subsided, with the advantages to the individuals who had made first trial of the advices given them. Such was the inducement which was held out to Gentlemen:-The friends of humanity rejoice in the Cherokees, that made it necessary to mature the friendly interest which you take in the welfare its advantages, before it could be perceptible; and of our aborigines, and hail it as one of the propitious in the lapse of four or five years they began to use omens which distinguish the present period. The some more industry in families, of raising cotton, two following letters were written by two distin- for there was only two or three wheels and cards, guished Indian chiefs, and were received only a and no loom, in the nation, when these encourage. short time since. The first is from the well known ments were brought forward in our council, and to Christian chief of the Cherokees, whose rank is change to the habits and pursuits which had been second, and whose influence is justly regarded as recommended to them; they began to move, to first, in his nation. The sketch which he has given separate farms from the towns; still the towns of the improvement of the Cherokees will show the claimed jurisdiction over those persons who had so world in what manner the natives regard the bu-separated themselves from the community to which mane efforts of our government to civilize them, they belonged. Seventeen years have passed since and the result of those efforts: and is probably the Cherokees have begun to dispose themselves the first account which ever proceeded from an aboriginal hand. in separate families over the country which pertain to them, between the waters of Tennessee and Chattahouchee rivers, and in some instances have gone over these rivers. The second letter is from David Folsom, a half breed chief, of distinction, in the Choctaw nation. His name will be found at the close of the last Considerable advances have been made by the treaty entered into between our government and Cherokees, since they have settled on separate that tribe. This Indian the writer knows from farms, in agriculture, and their own clothing, and personal acquaintance to be an industrious, a civiliz raising stock, and these advances have been more ed, and successful farmer. All who have travelled or less beneficial in the circumscribing our limits through the Choctaw tribe, from Tennessee to by the sale of our lands, and the game less sought Natchez, will recollect hini as keeping one of the after now, than a few years back, as they begin to best houses of entertainment on their way--as a find that the products of the earth and labor are the kind, intelligent, and agreeable man. The school|sure pledges of independence, &c. he alludes to is that now commenced by the Ameri- Numbers of private schools are kept, in different can board of commissioners for foreign missions, parts of the nation, and charitable schools are estaband under the immediate superintendence of that lished to educate the Cherokee youths which will distinguished Indian missionary, the Rev. Cyrus promote their civilization and christianization in a Kingsbury, who has already made a most interest-high degree, &c. ing and successful establishment in the Cherokee Such are the habits of the Cherokees, and their nation, the same as that described by gen. Calvin pursuits, which are still inhabiting on the lands Jones, and patronized by the government. These of their forefathers, which abounded with plenty of all kinds of game twenty-seven years ago. But,ple of the nation, have still bunted for game, and it seems now to be getting dark here, and we are they have, in a manner, come to be in want. But, told that the Cherokees will find plenty of the old I know that your wish is pure and love, and good, light and game, by going seven hundred miles over for this nation: and, therefore, I have been talking into the Arkansas country. Besides numbers of to my people, and have advised them for the best, families (especially females) are alarmed, and turn their attention to industry, and farming, and thunderstruck at the thoughts of going over on the lay our hunting aside. And here is one point of west of the Mississippi; especially the alarm set up great work, is just come to hand, before us, which by the emigrant Cherokees and other emissaries, is the establishment of a school; and the Choctaws beating for general removal, or reserves to those appear to be well pleased. that stay-from these, and other accounts, received lately from the Arkansas country, of the deaths of four children out of one family, that left this country last fall, which indeed cannot be otherwise I am your true friend, till death, than from the badness of the water, in comparison DAVID FOLSOM. to which they had been used here. Besides these N. B. You will excuse my bad writing, as I did which have been mentioned last, it makes it still inform you, that I had only six months schooling. more alarming to the female who wishes to stay I thank you for the good, and love you have, and what you have already done for my nation. I wish you great happiness. here, as the emigrant Cherokees are trying to force In the year 1809, col. R. J. Meigs completed a their relative females from their husbands, who do statistical table for the Cherokee nation, exhibiting not wish to go over the Mississippi with them. a view of their population, and of their improveSuch proceedings as is stated, is calculated to ments in the useful arts, and of their property ac afflict the mind whether of the white* or red peo-quired under the fostering hand of government, ple. which has principally been done since the year 1796. Having endeavored to give a sketch of the outlines of the first progress of the Cherokees towards civilization, and their habits and pursuits to the present period, although it is imperfectly done, yet the circumstances leading to them may be relied on, as facts. But the writer dare not meddle with the future, which belongs to the God of power and wisdom, to direct the destinies of nations. The following gives the result of that table. Cherokee males Negro slaves 6,116 Do. females 6.279 Total Cherokees 12,395 583 341 13,319 Horses "Although separated by far distant and distinct Swine family of the human race, yet, but one flesh. It Spinning-wheels will be the greatest comfort and joy of my life, to Looms hear of your welfare in the service of the all-atoning Ploughs master, who will prosper thy labors among the red men of America, that they may come to the tree of life, and drink the healing stream when thirsty, and that they may sing the song of redeeming love of God their Saviour." Extract of a letter written to the same person by Waggons 1,037 Saltpetre works 19 778 Powder mill And may be added the school at Brainerd, begun by the rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, containing sixty children. ACCOUNT OF THE CHEROKEE SCHOOLS. Communicated by gen. Calvin Jones, to the editor of the Raleigh Register. As the notice which you have published of the schools in the Cherokee nation, from the imperfect hints furnished in conversation, scems to have been I have no news to inform you at present, in the well received and to have excited interest, I very regard of my nation, as we have had no council readily comply with your request to give a more since you left here. But I know, and all I can say circumstantial account of those schools, and of the for my nation, they are a people much in need for prospect they afford of civilization to a nation that help and instruction; and we look up to the govern-has enlisted all my sympathies in its favor: and I ment of the United States for instruction, and am much gratified to learn that your views and which I do know, the establishment of this school sentiments on this subject are so entirely in ac will be the means of the greatest work ever been cordance with my own. done for this nation. Our hunting are done for this many years back; and for wanting good father and good council, that the general run of the pro I must premise, that when I visited the Cherokee nation lately I had no predilections in its favor. I had known something of two tribes of Indians, and that all attempts to civilize one of them had been *Alluding to such white persons as have married unavailing, and had every where seen the various into the tribe. The obligation to filial obedience tribes recede and melt away at the approach of the is considered, among the Cherokees, as paramount white people. I bad always believed the enthusiastic to every other. So, whenever the parents remove, zeal of good men led them to expect human means their children must follow, whether married or un would effect what had been denied by an interdict married. Of course, the difference of sentiment of nature; that there were physical as well as moral and feeling among the Cherokees, on the subject causes which would for ever prevent the civilizaof emigrating to the east of the Mississippi, must tion of these savages until the capabilities of their be attended with many distressing circumstances minds were improved, matured and perfected by of this kind. the long continued existence of their race and species. But I have seen the nation, and have Theschool is conducted on the Lancasterian plan witnessed the success of the attempts which are and consists of 53 scholars, of whom 49 are Indians making to instruct and humanize them, and am no I spent a day in the school, taught and heard every longer sceptical. I renounce my Darwinian error. one of the classes myself, and I declare that I never I firmly believe, if the efforts now making are duly saw a better regulated school, or scholars of more seconded, the little that remains of a brave and promising dispositions and talents. They were unfortunate nation will be rescued from barbarism, suffering, and utter annihilation. quick of apprehension, retentive in memory, docile and affectionate. The greater number of the Heretofore there seems to have been more zeal scholars were between 8 and 12 years of age: a few for Christianity than knowledge of the constitution were 16, and one, I think, was 18. This last was of the human mind, employed in missionary labors. a young woman of much merit; she read well, conLittle is to be expected from preaching abstruse versed sensibly, was grave, dignified and graceful doctrines to men who have never been taught the in her manners, handsome in her person, and would exercise of their thinking faculties. The Ameri be an ornament to almost any society. I was told can board of foreign missions have profited by past that at their female society meetings, when asked experience; they have anatomised the mind, and to pray, she always unhesitatingly did so, and in a know its properties and structure; they have learn-manner peculiarly fervid and eloquent; her aame ed, (to borrow the expression of the poet) that is Katharine Brown. Not four years ago she wore the twig must be bent to give fashion to the tree. the dress, spoke the language, and had the manThe first school in the Cherokee nation was ners of her nation. Lydia Lowry, Alice Wilson, founded by the Moravian society, of Salem, in and Peggy Wolf, three other Indian girls that I North Carolina, about twenty years ago, and has recollect, of less mature age, were good scholars been continued without interruption, but on and genteel and agreeable in their manners. Edlimited scale, ever since. The Rev. Mr. Gambold ward, a brother of Katharine Brown's, and too many is the present missionary. He is a plain, worthy other boys to be enumerated, would for their open, man, and supports his family chiefly by the labor manly countenances, correct manners, and decent of his own hands, while his wife instructs ten or school acquirements, obtain respect and consideratwelve Indian children-On the Sabbath Mr. G. tion in any community. preaches. Charles Hicks, the second man nominally The school is opened and closed by prayer, and in the nation, but in influence the first, is a member all the scholars join in singing hymns. Those who of his church, and is reputed an enlightened and merit them receive, as rewards, daily and twice a devout Christian, who does honor to his profession. day, for "Punctual attendance," "Behaviour," and But the most considerable school is at Chick-“Diligence” cards or tickets, with the initial letters amaugh under the superintendance of the Ameri of those words printed on them, which are valued can board of foreign missions. Its first instructor at half a cent. a cent, and three half cents. These was the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, who went into the are current money, and are received in payment nation three years ago, and left it last winter to for knives, books, or whatever else they wish to found a school among the Choctaws. It is due, purchase. For damaging slates, losing pencils however, to the distinguished merit of the Rev. negligencies, &c. &c. they are sometimes fined in Gideon Blackburn, of Tennessee, to state here, that tickets. The children value these tickets highly, he was the pioneer in this business, having, by his both for the honor which the number of them conindividual exertions, maintained a school taught fers, and the substantial profit they afford. by himself, in that part of the nation, many years All the scholars live at the mission house, where ago; which, however, the difficulty of subsisting, they are both clothed and fed gratuitously, unless and much unfounded obloquy thrown upon his con- their parents choose to pay the expense, which is duct and motives, made it expedient for him to not often the case. Besides the literary, religious, abandon. and moral instruction which they receive, they are The present head of the mission is the Rev. taught practical farming, and are initiated into Hard Hoyt, a venerable, pious, sensible, and discreet man, who with his wife and six interesting children, left the pleasant valley of Wyoming, in Pennsylvania, to encounter the difficulties and endure the privations of a wilderness, with the single view of extending the blessings of civiliza. tion and Christianity among the Cherokees. The teacher of the school is Mr. William Chamberlain, of Vermont. The steward and manager, Mr. Moody Hall, of New-York, and there are two young men learning the Cherokee language with a view to increase the utility of their labors, Daniel S. Beatrick and L Long. habits of industry, an art and virtue unknown among savages. They all eat in a spacious hall attached to the rear of the mansion house, the girls at one table and the boys at another, at which the pastor, teacher, and the ladies of the family preside. The order and decency observed at their meals equally surprised and pleased me. The boys occupy several detached cabins as lodging rooms, which form the right wing of the mission house. The girls a spacious one on the left, where they are accompanied by a daughter of Mr. Hoyt. They sit and work in the main building, where they form busy, interesting, and pleasing groups, around some of the ladies of the family. This institution is very creditably patronized by government. The expenses of the buildings for What is learned in the school room is not the the accommodation of the families attached to the most considerable, nor, considering the situation mission, of the Indian pupils and of the school, are of the nation, the most important part of their defrayed by col. Meigs, the Indian agent, who education. They are made practical farmers under furnishes, at the charge of the government, all the the direction of an excellent manager by which requisite implements of husbandry. A fertile tract means they give direct support to the institution, of land is loaned to the missionaries so long as and procure important advantages to themselves. their institution exists, which serves the double Every Monday morning the labors for the week purpose of lessening the burthen of expense upon are assigned to each, the boys being mustered bethe board of missions, and of initiating the Indian fore the house, and the girls assembled within it. youth into the principles and practice of agricul. The former, according to their employments, are denominated hoe boys, axe boys, plough boys, BC, ture. |