ry, would amount to more than is given to the Treasury of the Lord for all the objects which have been presented to the churches. Nay, it has been demonstrated, that if all would contribute a small sum weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually, there would be no need of any self-denial to obtain the object desired. The pious females, if they would set about the work in earnest, could raise the requisite funds to maintain the missionaries of your Board. Much has been said about the propriety, and effi. ciency of our regular church organizations in collecting funds; but no organization will, or can, accomplish anything without an active power to put it in motion. The best machine will not work if there is no steam, wind, nor water. What is needed is action, regular, energetic action. The miserable apathy which prevails, is the dead weight that hangs upon our Missionary institutions; and if we do not wake up, and put forth more exertion, there is danger that our benevolent systems may have to be relinquished, and the Presbyterian Church disgraced, when brought into comparison with other churches.

"A. A."

and inexcusable. They roll the responsibility on their Secretary, and he is under the painful necessity of appearing to the mis. sionaries, and feeble churches, to whom aid is promised, as a delinquent, who fails to meet his engagements; but the blame does not rest on the Secretary, nor on the Board for as you have repeatedly declared to the churches, you are merely their agent, and can disburse no more than they are pleased to put into your hands. The question may here naturally arisc, Have you entered into too many engage. ments to aid missionaries, and supply desti. tute congregations with the preaching of the Gospel? No complaints of this kind have been made by the General Assembly, before which you annually spread out a full view of all your appointments and engage. ments. Indeed, so far is it from being a fact, that we undertake to furnish too large a supply to the destitute, it is, to the disgrace of our Church, that almost every other denomination runs before her, and occupies the ground in the new settlements to which she has fully as fair a claim. If the wants of our rapidly increasing population be considered, and the wealth, and extent of our Church, I think it must be evident to every one who will judge of the matter on Christian principles, that our efforts and contributions to supply the destitute parts of our country, are not half equal to what they should be. There are a few congregations, and a few noble-minded individuals, who come up to the work with a liberality and punctuality which ought to be an example to the rest of the churches; but alas! neither rebuke nor example seems to have any effect upon the majority of the people. Can it be supposed that the Presbyterian congregations in our connexion are unable to contribute more than they do? During the season of pecuniary embarrassment, which recently existed, there might be some pretence of inability plausibly set up; but now all such pretence is taken away, and The Rev. Rees Happersett, of the Pres yet we see no increase of contributions to bytery of Baltimore, has been appointed to this, and other benevolent objects. The the Pittsburgh agency, in the place of Rev. truth is, the importance of the object is not G. Marshall, who resigned his agency in the felt. The painful truth is-this world has spring. Mr. Happersett has entered on the gained an undue preponderance in the af. duties of his agency. We commend the fections of Christians. It has been shown, agent, and his object, to the confidence again and again, that self-denial in regard and kind regards of the ministers and to any one common, but unnecessary luxu-churches in that important field.

We will only add to the foregoing, that the Board are considerably in debt to missionaries: that the missionaries greatly need what is due them; that funds come in very slowly; and until the churches do more, the missionaries cannot be paid. We do hope the friends of this cause will act in this matter without delay.-Ed.

NOTICES.

Messrs. Bailey & Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., having retired from business, have resigned their office as Treasurers of the Board of Missions, and Mr. J. D. Williams, of the same place, has been appointed their successor. Money for the Board in that agency will hereafter be paid to Mr. Williams.

RECEIPTS IN THE TREASURY AT PITTSBURG, PA., IN JULY, 1844.

RECEIPTS IN THE TREASURY AT LOUISVILLE, KY., IN JULY, 1844.

THE

FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

OCTOBER, 1844.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

STATE OF THE INDIAN TRIBES

NOW OCCUPYING THE

"INDIAN TERRITORY."

Committee of the Board of Missions of the

Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Spring of 1844, by their Secretary and General Agent," the Rev. N. S. Harris. Much valuable information is presented in this paper, which many of our readers will be glad to possess for reference, and which, we trust, will awaken a deeper interest amongst all on behalf of those interesting tribes.

We shall now devote a few moments to the present condition and prospects of the more prominent tribes.

*

that of England. 19,200,000 acres of soil suitable for immediate settlement, and a third as much more to the westward that We take the following article from the Appendix would produce the black locust in ten to the "Journal of a Tour in the 'Indian Terri- | years after planting, of sufficient size for tory,' performed by order of the Domestic fencing the very considerable part of it which is rich enough for agricultural purposes, will doubtless sustain any increased population of this tribe that can reasonably be looked for during the next 500 years. They have suffered much from sickness incident to settlers in a new country; but there appear to be no natural causes existing, which in the known order of things will render their location permanently unhealthy. On the other hand, since they have become somewhat inured to the change of climate, they are quite as healthy as the whites near them, and are improv ing in civilization and comfort; have many large farms; much live stock, such as horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and swine; three flour-mills, two cotton-gins, eightyeight looms, and two hundred and twenty spinning wheels, carts, wagons, and other farming utensils. Three or four thousand Choctaws have not yet settled on the lands assigned to them. A part of these are in Texas between the rivers Brazos and Trinity, 300 in number, who located themselves there in the time of the gene

1. The Choctaws, beginning at the ex'treme south of the territory, are the first in position. They occupy the country above the state of Arkansas, extending from the Arkansas to the Red River, following up the Canadian branch of the former, comprising an area of about 150 miles in breadth, by 200 in length. They are bounded by Texas south-west. The country is well adapted for grain and the raising of stock, in its middle and northern parts, and for cotton in the south. Many of the natives have large fields, where but a few years since the forest was untouched. Salt is manufactured by an in-ral emigration; and others in divers places telligent Choctaw. Iron ore has been found, and specimens of gold have been picked up in various places. The western portion of it is poorly supplied with timber, but all the distance from the Arkansas frontier westward, 200 miles, and extend

ing 120 miles from its northern to its southern boundary, the country is capable of supporting a population as dense as VOL. XII.-20

in Texas, who emigrated thither at various times, twenty, thirty, and forty years ago. Still another band continues to reside east of the Mississippi. The "Choctaw Nation," as the tribe denominates itself, has

"Travels in the Great Western Prairies,"

by Mr. Farnham, to whom, as well as to Mr Schoolcraft, we are chiefly indebted in the fol lowing pages.

adopted a written constitution of government similar to the constitution of the United States. Their territory is divided into three districts, each of which elects, once in four years, a ruling chief and ten representatives. The General Council thus constituted, and consisting of thirty councillors, meets annually on the first Monday in October. Voters must be Choctaws of age, and residents of the districts. The three chiefs have a joint veto power on all laws passed; but twothirds of the council may re-pass them after such rejection.

by the report of the Secretary of War, appropriated $18,000 of their annuities. in 1843, to educational purposes.

The Choctaws have several schools. Under the control of A. B. C. F. M. arethe following: Wheelock, Rev. A. Wright, Mrs. W.; Mr. H. K. Copeland, Mrs. C., Miss Kerr. Stockbridge, Rev. C. Byington, Mrs. B. Pine Ridge, C. Kingsbury, Mrs. K., Miss Arms, Miss Dickinson. Norwalk, Mr. C. Copeland, Miss Burnham. Goodwater, Rev. E. Hodgkin, Mrs. H. Mount Pleasant, J. Potter, Mrs. P. Baptists-Providence, Rev. R. D. Potts, Mrs. P. MethodistsFort Coffee Academy, Rev. W. H. Good, Mr. Benson. Nunnawaya Academy, Rev. Mr. Browning, and also several local preachers. Government Schools, Puckshenubbee District, Mr. H. G. Rind, May

The Council of thirty appoint their own speaker and clerk, and keep a journal. They meet in a large and commodious council-house, fitted up with seats for members and spectators, and committeerooms. Their sessions are usually ten days in duration. They are paid two dol-hew; on Boggy, J. P. Kingsbury. Spenlars per diem for their services, out of public funds.

cer Academy, Rev. Mr. McKenny, (Presbyterian,) Messrs. Wilson and Wright— Mr. Dwight, interpreter.

2. The Chickasaws have become merged in the Choctaws. When they sold to the Government their lands, east of the Mississippi, they agreed to furnish themselves with a home. This they have done in the western part of the Choctaw country, for the sum of $530,000. It is

In addition to this evidence of capacity for self-government, there are judicial districts established, the right of trial by jury is secured, and there is an appeal to the highest tribunal. The Council has passed many good and wholesome laws; among them one against intemperance and the sale of ardent spirits. The collection of debt is at present not compulso-called the Chickasaw District, and constiry, being regulated by questions of credit, punctuality, and honour, which are to be adjusted between the buyer and seller. The country is too thinly settled, and the popular odium against incarceration too strong, to permit a resort to it. Thus, it will be seen, this tribe exhibit in their frame of government the elements of a representative republic, not a pure democ-ing 40 Chickasaw youths at school, under racy, with perhaps sufficient power to guard against sudden popular effervescence.

tutes an integral part of the Choctaw body politic in every respect, except that the Chickasaws, like the Choctaws, receive and invest for their own sole use, the annuities and other moneys proceeding from the sale of their lands east of the Mississippi.

The treaty of 1830 provides for keep

the direction of the President of the U. S., for the term of 20 years. Also, the There are four blacksmith shops, two sum of $2500 is to be applied to the supof which are exclusively worked by na- port of three teachers of schools among tives. The strikers, or assistants of all them, for the same length of time. There the shops, are natives. Shops have also is also an unexpended balance of former been erected in various parts of the nation, annuities, amounting to about $25,000, which are occupied only in the spring and which is to be applied to the support of summer, in planting and crop time. The schools, at twelve different places. mechanics in these are natives, who are School-houses have been erected for this paid, not by the individuals requiring aid, purpose, and paid for out of this fund. but of public funds. This tribe, we learn" Also, by the treaty of 1825, they are en

titled to an annuity of $6000 for the support of schools within the Choctaw district.

The aggregate amount of the vested funds of this tribe in 1840, was $515,230 44, of which $146,000 is devoted to orphans. The annual interest paid by the Government is $2,706 83. They participate equally in the advantages of the Choctaw Academy in Kentucky, and have had many of their youth educated at that institution.

lage and his adherents, and the condition of things partakes of what we shall be understood by designating feudal traits. They have no written constitution; their laws are, however, now reduced in part to writing.

The Creeks had, for many years prior to their removal, been divided into upper · and lower towns-a distinction which has been transferred to the west. Opothleyoholo is the chief of the Upper, and Roly McIntosh of the Lower Creeks.3. Next in geographical position to the These two chieftainships embrace the les-united Choctaws and Chickasaws, are ser ones, and divide the nation into twothe Muskogees, more generally known parties. It was the lower towns, headed under the name of Creeks. They occupy by the father of the present chief, that a territory one hundred and fifty miles in ceded the Georgian territory, and thus length, by ninety in breadth, a rich tract, sided in the policy of that State. The well adapted to the growth of corn, vege- condition in which the tribe existed in tables and esculents, and the raising of portions of Georgia, Alabama, and Missis-stock. It is not as abundantly watered sippi, was in other respects peculiar. In by running streams as some of the tracts, emerging from the hunter to the agriculor rather it is a characteristic of some of tural state, the institution of slavery by its smaller streams, that they run dry or which they were surrounded, and in which stand in pools during the latter part of they participated, gave a peculiar develsummer. In place of these it has some opment to their industry. Chiefs who good springs. Of the latter Creek emi-were unable to work themselves, employgrants who reached Arkansas in the win-ed slaves, and thus the relation between ter and spring of 1837, about 200 died on planter and slave was established long the road, and before the first of October before the question of their removal ocsucceeding their arrival, about 3500 more curred. The effects of this were to exalt fell victims to bilious fevers. In the a portion of the nation above, and to desame year 300 of the earlier emigrants press others below, the average standing. died. They own salt springs, cultivate The disparity which took place in laboricorn, vegetables, &c., spin, weave and ous habits and in wealth, also impressed sew, and follow other pursuits of civilized itself on education, dress, manners, and people. Many of them have large stocks information generally. Although the idea of cattle. Before the crops of 1837 had of slavery was well known to the red race been gathered, they had sold corn to the from the earliest times, and they all have amount of $39,000, and vast quantities a word for it in their native vocabularies, still remain unsold. Even the emigrants and practised it on their prisoners, yet the who arrived in their country during the result we are considering was accelerated winter and spring previous to the cropping by an admixture of European blood in season of 1837, broke the turf, fenced their chieftains. Hence it is that this their fields, raised their crops for the first tribe, and one or two others in the south, time on the soil, and sold their surplus of have for years been able to put forth incorn for $10,000. The government of the telligent chiefs to transact their public Creeks is still essentially the same which business, who have astonished the circles they exercised on the banks of the Chatta- at Washington. Yet, if they were fulhoochee and the plains of Georgia. They lowed to the huts of the common people exist in chieftainships, each head of which at home, there was a degree of barbarity, has his own local jurisdiction, civil and even below the standard of our leading criminal. Each ruling chief has his vil-northern tribes. Two kinds of testimony,