but was suddenly arrested by disease, which ended in death, before he could reach his destination. In one of his communications to the Department, he inforıned that the Choctaws had then receutly condemned to death, and actually executed, two of their tribe, on a charge of witchcraft. Such it seems, had been the practice among them in preceding times, showing the unhallowed influence of the superstition and its concomitant horrors. Immediately on being apprized of the shocking transaction, he convened the chiefs in council, and prevailed upon them to abolish the custom, under penalty of death for being instrumental thereaster in such execution, and of the lash on whoever should prefer a charge of witchcraft against any of their tribe. To his decision and firmness may be ascribed the termination of a superstitious custom that triumphs in the weakness of human nature, gives a sort of legalized sanction to the most barbarous acts, and calls for the immolation of innocent victims, as an acknowledgment of its paramount authority. There has been no intermission of exertion to induce the removal of the Cherokees to the west of the Mississippi, in conformity with the policy adopted by the Government in favor of the Indians, and to which they form almost the sole excep There can be little doubt that bad advisement, and the intolerant control of chiefs adverse to the measure, have conduced to the disinclination of a large portion of the nation to emigrate, and avail themselves of the obvious benefit in the contempla. ted change. Another portiou has viewed the measure in a more favorable light and enlisted in its advocacy with much warmth. Such a diversity of sentiment could not fail to create collisions and animosity, and the effect has been, so far, a prevention of the requisite unanimity to bring the questiou to a favorable issue. In this state of things, a provisional treaty has been made with John Ridge and other influential members of the nation, favorable to the cause of removal, and by them submitted to their brethren in May last. No accounts of their final decision have yet been received. The provisions of the treaty are so liberal, and the disadvantages of continuing among the white population, that has entrenched itself on their borders, and even interspersed itself among them, are so glaring, that its cordial and speedy adoption might reasonably be anticipated. All proper efforts have been made by the Government to insure this result, under the conviction that its acceptance would lead to their tranquility, prosperity, and happiness. The year has passed without any narked event of a general character to communicate. The period has been a pacific one, with little of violence or bloodshed to record ; and the Indian condition is decidedly on the improvement, so far as relates to their previous characteristic traits. The exclusion of ardent spirits, where it could be effected, bas done much good ; and on this exclusion, and the substitution of other pursuits for war und the chase, must depend their gradual growth and eventual proficiency in civilization--a cousummation earnestly desired by every philanthropic mind. All material information in relation to the Indian schools, participating in the benefit of the annual appropriation of $10,000 for the civilization of the Indians, is contained in the following statement, together with the particular disposition of the education funds set apart for that object in treaties with the Indian tribes. INDIAN SCHOOLS. Stalement showing the number of Indian Schools, where established, by whom, the number of Teachers and Pupils, and the amount allowed by the Government 2 Mohegan...... ...Connecticut. 22 $ 500 Senecas............ New York. Baptist Gen. Convent'n. 4. 140 Tuscaroras............. ...do.... ......do........do...... 2 71 Ottawas................do..........do........do...... 3 12 2000 Chippewas............... do... .........do.. ......do...... 3 48 Cherokees...............do..........do ........do...... 2 21 Mepomonies....... Green Bay. Protestant Ep. Church 5 66 500 Shawanees .. West Mississippi. Methodist Society...... 3 34 Delawares............... do.... ......do......do ..... 2 19 Peorias....... .... ..........do.... ......do......do..... 16 Kickapoos..............do.... ....do......do....., 2 6} 400 Wyandots..............do.... ....do......do..... 240 Ditto.. Little Rapids, Micb. ......do......do. 1 20 Ditto........ Ana Kwiwinau.......do......do.... 1 14 Ditto.........Lapointe. ......do ......do... 5 46 12 1690 1 43 1 21 1000 Ditto.......L'Arbre Croche. ...vv.do.......... 1 | 21 Penobscots... Quoddy, Maine.......do. 300 Sioux.............. St. Peter's. 300 Omahas....... Upper Missouri. 400 1 Student of Law, Buffalo. 1 50 1 ditto ..........Vermont. 100 2 ditto. Choctaw Acad'y. 2 nebagoes, dic: La Croix. ......do........ ............ .................... ........ 200 . Statement showing the amount and disposition of the Funds, provided by Treaties, for the purposes of Education. Tribes. Date of Treaty. Amount. Disposition of the Funds. Miamies....... Oct. 23, 1826 82000 00 Choctaw Academy. Do. Do. Winnebagoes Sep 24, 1829 3,000 00 School in the Nation, Chippewas.. Sep. 15, 1832 | 1,000 00 Bap. Gen. Convention. Chip’was, Menomo ? Aug. 12, 1827 | 1,500 00 Protestant Ep. Church. Do. Do. Do. Do. Ocir. 9, 1833 1,000 00 May 24, 1834 3,000 00 | Choctaw Academy. Creeks, West Feb. 14, 1833 1,000 00 Do. 42.000 00 .... ...... The preceding tables exhibit the disposition of the money appropriated for education, and the condition of those schools, from the teachers of which reports have been receiver. There are other schools among the Indian trib:s, from which no returns have been nade. The whole oumber of children to whom instruction is given may be stated at seventeen hundred. The communications transmitted by the teachers and Indian agents are generally satisfactory. That froin the intelligent agent at Michilimackinac is especially gratifying. There are eight establishnients within the limits of bis agency, stationed al different points between the above island and Ana Kwiwinau, on the shores of Lake Superior. In the school at Michilimackinac the higher branches, geography, philosophy, and history, are successfully taught. Two of the pupils “have gone nut among their relatives in the north as teachers. Another has been recently received as a catechist hy the American Board of Missions, A third now coinmands a vessel on the lakes. A fourth is studying medicine. Many of them read and write the English and Ojibwa lan. guages easily and correctly." The establishments among the Shawances and Delawares, and the other tribes west and north of the Missouri river, appear to have been well conducted. Instruction has been given to a considerable extent in the languages of those tribes. There have been printed, at the Press at the Shawanee station, 312,350 pages—283,000 in the Creek and Choctaw, 16,200 in the Ottoe, 7,750 in the loway, 34,000 in the Paitawatamie, 16,000 in the Shawanee, and 15,000 in the Delaware languages. The schools among the Choctaws west of the Mississippi have been opened under the direction of competent teachers.' The recent completion of the buildings, and other causes, have prevenled their operation to the extent and with the advantages that may be confidently apti. cipated. In every instance, a knowledge of agriculture and of some mechanic art is imparted to the boys, and of household duties and economy to the girls. The agent for the Delawares and Shawanees states that he was shown cloth that was spun and wove, and shirts and other clothing made by the Indian girls. The agents for the several tribes for whose benefit schools are supported are required to visit and inspect them at least once in each year. At these visits a public examination of the pupils is made, and the attendance of the military officers and of other citizen, wherever convenience will permit, is requested. EMIGRATION OF INDIANS. In the summer of 1834, extensive arrangements were made for the removal of the Creeks from Alabama. A superintendent and two assistant agents were appointerl from among the citizens of that State, and a disbursing officer of great experience was associated with them. Thel representations received from various sources induced the expectation of a numerous emigration ; but, owing to causes not necessary to be detailed here, only a small body of those Indians could be induced to emigrate, and these were removed in December, under the direction alone of the disbursing officer, the other agents having been discharged to save expense. In pursuance of treaty stipulations with the Ottowas of Maumee, Ohio, an officer was despatched in July, 1834, to remove theny to the new country. After endeavoring favorably to inipress them with the project, and remaining some time among them, he discovered an unwillingness to remove west, unless they had first sent thither an exploring pariy, in whose report they might cónfide. The indulgence was granted them, and the officer took a party of five of the principal chiefs, properly Jequipped for the enterprise. They returned in November, and, as the country they traversed was reported by the officer to be in all respects a most desirable residence, it was thought the impressions created would have influenced the tribe to an immediate departure. But delay, under various pretences, ensued, and the season was suffered to pass inactively away. Since then no efforts have been made to remove that tribe. As soon as the appropriation was passed at the last session of Congress, preparations were made for the removal of the Seminoles. It was believed that there would be very little difficulty in getting off one-third of their whole number, it having been provided that they should remove in three years, one of which had already expired ; and, therefore, the agents of the United States were instructed to proceed immediately in the execution of the task. But it was soon seen that, notwithstanding the exhibition of a considerable military force in Florida, it would be out of the questiou peaceably to effect the object, and the department was willing, upon the recommendation of the agents, to defer the emigration until January, 1836, on the condition, as freely entered into by most of the chiefs, that the whole tribe would then remove without opposition. Notwithstanding this assurance, and the evidently growing popularity of emigration aniong them, the conduct of some of those op. posed to it led to the precaution of strengthening the armed force in Florida. No serious difficulty, is, however, apprehended. The agents have, under instructions, made arrangements by which the Indians will be collected together at various points, inarched to Tampa Bay, and there embarked for the Mississippi river. They will be put on board of steamboats at the Balize and thence taken up the Mississippi to a place on White river, not far from the mouth of the Arkansas, called Rock Row; thence they will be marched about two hundred and fifty miles to their new country west of Fort Gibson. Every precaution will be taken to secure the health and comfort of those people. A rigid police will be observed in the sea vessels and steamboats, and whilst on the rivers they will be landed at night and encamped. Good provisions will be regularly issuerl, and inevical attendance furuished.* At the last session of Congress appropriation was made for the removal of the united nation of the Chippewa, Oitowa, and Paltawatamie Indians from the country recently purchased from them, situated around the head of Lake Michigan. Those Indians are allowedl, by the treaty, to remain three years on the lands they have ceded; but it was believed, from the denionstrations made by then, that, if the exploring expedition stipulated for should report favorably, there would be no difficulty in effecting speedily a large removal. Accordingly, an officer was, at an early day, despatched to their country, with directions to procure an outfit for a party of briy persous. This party was conducted to the country assigned the tribe, situated north of the northwest corner of Missouri, by an intelligent gentleman, who reports that he had great difficulty in accomplishing the object in view, growing out of the dislike os the persuns composing his party to the duty they had undertaken to per form. He gives a very favorable account of the country, representing many portions of it as highly susceptible of cultivation, and all of it as well calculated for those for whom it is designed. The results produced by the return of the party were much relied upon, and the officer 10 whom is intrusted the duty of removal has been uniemitting in his exertions to push forward those Indians whose inclinations were supposed to be at all favorable to emigrating. At the last dates he was advancing towards the Mississippi, and had a considerable body of Indians with him, with prospect of large accessions. He may reinove this season from fifteen hundred to two thousand. A disbursing officer has been continued, together with the superintendent, in the Cherokee country east. The peculiar relations of the Cherokees with the General Goverament, and the obstructions to the • The war with the Seminoles, which has occurred since this report was made, will be Ipoticed with the affairs of 1836, in the next Volume. |