is encouraging, however, to note the interest displayed by them on the subject of education, the increased care bestowed on their herds and flocks, and the improvement among them in agriculture. The common or neighborhood school system is rapidly obtaining favor among the Choctaws. At the same time the academies and boarding schools continue to be fostered. The two, properly combined, will give them a very complete school system, which will afford instruction to all the children in the rudiments, and, at the same time, elevate the standard of education at the academies. From information furnished by a very intelligent native Choctaw missionary, it appears that at the eight boarding schools among the Choctaws, about 195 male and 167 female pupils (total 362) are taught; among the Chickasaws, at boarding schools, about 160 male and 145 female pupils, (total 305.) Among the Choctaws are a large number of neighborhood schools, affording instruction to over 500 pupils. The Choctaw academies, it seems, cost annually $23,500, affording instruction to 362 pupils; the neighborhood schools cost $8,300 for 500 pupils. These facts encourage them to increase the number of common schools, while there is a growing desire to have a better class of teachers at the academies, so as to preclude the necessity of sending off young. men and women to be educated. These academies should be made high schools, capable of giving a finished education; native teachers, for the common schools, should be taught at them, who will be able to instruct the children at the common schools in both the English and the Indian languages, spoken by Choctaws and Chickasaws. The past summer has been a very disastrous one for the corn crop. In many counties of the Choctaw and Chickasaw country, I am informed, there has not been corn enough made to supply seed for the next crop. This is owing to the unprecedented drought and great heat of the past summer. A large supply of corn, for distribution among the Choctaws and Chickasaws, will be absolutely necessary, in order to avert the horrors of famine among them. The general council of the Choctaws, to assemble first Monday in October, and the Chickasaw Legislature, which will meet soon after, doubtless, will take this subject into consideration, and make the necessary provisions for the destitute among the people. Great excitement has prevailed along the Texas border, in consequence of the incendiary course pursued in that State by horse thieves and religious fanatics; but, I am glad to say, as yet, so far as I am informed, no necessity has existed in this agency for the organization of "vigilance committees" or other unlawful combinations for self-protection; the laws are sufficient, and so far as the means within my reach extend, I shall endeavor to preserve peace and repress all unlawful acts, no matter under what pretext they may be attempted. No doubt we have among us free-soilers; perhaps abolitionists in sentiment; but, so far as I am informed, persons from the North, residing among the Choctaws and Chickasaws, who entertain opinions unfriendly to our system of domes 9 I tic slavery, carefully keep their opinions to themselves and attend to their legitimate business. Referring to accompanying papers for details, I am, very respectfully, DOUGLAS H. COOPER, ELIAS RECTOR, Esq., Superintendent Indian Affairs, Fort Smith, Ark. Indian Agent. No. 53. GOODLAND, CHOCTAW NATION, August 6, 1860. DEAR SIR: I herewith transmit you a report of the mission station at Goodland. It has been on the whole a year of less encouragement than any previous one. Several reasons may be assigned for this. First. There has been for sometime past a growing disregard of law and order which at times manifested itself in open resistance to the constituted authorities. Within eighteen months, three light-horse men and as many private citizens have come to violent deaths from this cause. The effect of these things upon the minds of some of our people has been bad. They despair of seeing the laws faithfully executed, and those whose duty it is to execute them, sustained; and hence a manifest lack of interest in efforts for the public good. Second. You are aware from previous reports that our people are peculiarly exposed to influences of the very worst kind. They live on the line of Red river, where every enticement to drunkenness is held out to them. This will always be, as it has always been, a great obstacle to effort on their own part, or the part of others, for their improvement. The church is as prosperous as we could expect, all things considered. We do not report as large a membership, owing to the fact that quite a number have been dismissed to join and to organize other churches. The whole number of church members now is about 225. As formerly, it embraces three preaching places, at all of which meetings on the Sabbath are regularly maintained. The attendance is always good, and more orderly and attentive audiences are rarely to be seen in this part of the country. The amount contributed during the year for various objects has been something over $100. The day school at this place is still continued. The whole number of children in attendance the past year has been 55. The largest number present at any one time was 47. During the spring months, many of the larger children are kept at home to help their parents in planting their fields; so that the average attendance for the session is a little over 30. We have nearly completed a good, substantial schoolhouse at a cost of about $250. We are sorry to say that, notwithstanding the facilities which the school affords our people for having their children instructed, some of them do not avail themselves of them. The school at Bok Chito was commenced again sometime in the winter under a native teacher; but from some cause has not prospered as we could wish. The dry weather has almost entirely ruined the crops here as it has elsewhere, and we have before us another year of great scarcity. Somefields that were planted early will yield about half a crop; many will yield nothing. There is marked improvement in agriculture, and the raising of stock; as evidence of this is the fact that, in April last, some sixty head of surplus work steers were collected and sold at a few days' notice; and that within the period of eight years I have ordered, at different times, from S. D. McCaleb, of Louisville, for this people, twenty ox wagons; the most of these are owned by persons living near me. Very respectfully, yours, O. P. STARK, Missionary to the Choctaws. BENNINGTON, CHOCTAW NATION, August 18, 1860. DEAR SIR: Your circular of the 6th instant is received, and I hasten to comply with your request, as far as I am able. We have a neighborhood or common school at this place, supported by the Choctaw nation, at an expense of $350 annually. The whole number of scholars during the last session was 44, of whom 18 were boys, and the remainder girls. The average weekly attendance was 25 pupils. During the months of December and January there was no school, on account of the prevalence of both measles and whoopingcough. The studies pursued were reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic and geography. The last session was taught by Miss Mary J. Semple, from Steubenville, Ohio. The school is not under the care of any religious society, but is directed by a board of trustees appointed by the district trustee. The missionary force at this station is the same as reported heretofore. We have pursued our labors as usual, with the exception of a change from the direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, to the care of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, which is directed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, (Old School.) As you may have been informed, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in July, 1859, resolved to discontinue their mission among the Choctaws, and the missionaries of that board were, in the early part of the present year, received under the care of the Assembly's Board, In regard to my own labors, I have nothing unusual to report. Meetings have been well attended; congregations quiet and orderly. Additions have been made to both the churches under my care, sixteen have been added to the Six Town church, and eleven to Bennington. Connected with these churches are six preaching places, where worship is maintained on the Sabbath for most of the time. Sunday schools are taught at several of these places, but these are conducted principally by the natives. There has been no unusual interest on the subject of religion during the past year. There has been, however, an increasing interest in regard to education; fifteen or eighteen years ago common schools were not appreciated at all by the people generally, and it was with great difficulty that such a school could be respectably sustained during the session; but now there is a great anxiety by most parents to secure a place in some school for their children. These schools are now accomplishing much for the elevation and improvement of the rising generation, and are worthy of patronage and support. Still we need the boarding schools, into which may be gathered the most promising pupils from the common schools; and then, if the Choctaws had one or two schools of a still higher grade, where young men and women could be abundantly fitted for teachers, or young men fitted for college, I think the wants of this people in regard to education would be fully met. There is another thing that deserves the attention of the Choctaws, and that is an orphan school or asylum. There are many orphan children among this people, and a large portion of them are not fully cared for, and many that are comparatively destitute. It would seem that these might be gathered into an institution where they might be instructed and taught to labor, and cared for physically and morally. It cannot be denied that many orphans grow up without either mental or moral cultivation, and swell the list of the vicious and profligate in our midst. Respectfully submitted. Yours truly, D. H. COOPER, Esq., C. C. COPELAND, Missionary to the Choctaws. United States Agent Choctaws and Chickasaws. DEAR SIR: After having received your note on the 16th instant, I will endeavor to comply with the same, notwithstanding we are not fully prepared to report as desired. We have been laboring under the Domestic Board of Southern Baptist Missions. We have been devoting most of our time in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for seven years past, and now have seven organized churches, with 330 members, exclusive of children. We have two neighborhood schools, supported by the nation; regular scholars about thirty to each school. One teacher is an Englishman, a very excellent teacher, well qualified for teaching. Under his charge is a very fine school; his age is thirty-five years. The other is a native teacher, eighteen years of age. We have but one white missionary coöperating with us at this time, who arrived here twelve months ago, from Alabama, and who states he is about fifty years of age. We have worked hard during the summer, consequently had very fine prospects for good crops; but were sadly disappointed on account of the drought. So most of us will perish for the want of bread, unless something be done for our people. We now close, by respectfully submitting to you our short report. We are yours, &c., WILLIAM CASS. D. H. COOPER, Esq. No. 56. BOGGY DEPOT, August 29, 1860. DEAR SIR: In complying with your request, I herewith submit my report, as far as I am able to make it. Having no connection with any school in the nation, I am incompetent to furnish you with such information, in detail, as you desire. Since removing here, as my permanent place of residence, as being convenient to all my preaching places, by order of the Indian presbytery, I have the care of Mount Pleasant and Chickasaw churches, with the occasional assistance rendered me by the Rev. C. C. Copeland in conducting some of the meetings. No great manifestation of interest for the word of God is visible at any of the preaching places; yet the evidence of the efficacy of the truth has been sufficient to justify continued labor, and spending time for the temporal and spiritual good of our people; and in consequence of my time being almost entirely devoted to the preaching of the gospel, I know but very little of the nature of the subjects proposed in your circular; yet with much pleasure, I give what little I do know. 1. Schools. There are eight boarding schools and academies among the Choctaws; four among the Chickasaws, and another will go into operation at the ensuing term, which will make five; in all, thirteen schools and academies in both nations. 2. Scholars. In all the academies among the Choctaws there are an average number of one hundred and ninety-five male and one hundred and sixty-seven female pupils; total number, three hundred and sixty-two. In the Chickasaw schools there are an average number of one hundred and sixty male and one hundred and forty-five femalepupils; total number, three hundred and five. Besides the boarding schools and academies, the neighborhood schools, auspiciously commenced a few years since, are progressing to a good degree of success, and must ultimately become a source of great benefit to the greater number of children, with less amount of money. Imperfect calculations made in reference to this subject abundantly justify me to assert that the amount of $8,300, appropriated by the last. general council, has afforded instruction to no less than five hundred |