Letter from P., before 15 August 1842
Letter from P., before 15 August 1842
Source Note
Source Note
P., Letter, to the editor of Times and Seasons [JS], [, Hancock Co., IL], before 15 Aug. 1842. Version published in “To the Editor of the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1842, 3:890–891. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
See Historical Introduction to Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1842.
port of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to the Executive Departments of the Government of the , many important facts are gleaned, relating to the Indians, both as to numbers and habits, and progress, and expenses. It is generally known, that our government has been engaged for some years, in removing and locating the remnant of the tribes of Indians, left among our citizens in the states and teritories, to, and upon a more congenial, and better adapted space for hunting, and husbandry, where, by degrees, these noble “relics of a once mighty people,” might gradually grow into civilization, arts, science, agriculture, manufactures, virtue, national importance, and religion. The appearance, however, of a very speedy advance, from Indian to English, or American habits, customs, manners, improvements, refinement and intelligence, is not, by far so prominantly perceptible, as their imitation of the pioneer vices. The improvement is hardly equal to the amount of money expended for removing, for agents, mechanics, teachers, preachers, &c. &c. As to numbers the reports will range about as follows:
| Tribes. | population |
| Cherokees, | 25,000 |
| Choctaws, | 15,000 |
| Creeks, | 20,000 |
| Senecas & Shawnees, | 500 |
| Quapaws, | 500 |
| Sacs & Foxes, | 7,000 |
| Sioux. | 23,000 |
| Osages, | 4,300 |
| Chippewas, | 4,000 |
| Pawnees, | 12,000 |
| Camanches, | 20,000 |
| Pagans, | 30,000 |
| Appaches, | 20,000 |
| Assinboins. | 15,000 |
| Grosventures, | 17,000 |
| Crows, | 7,000 |
| Eutaws, | 19,000 |
| Black feet, | 30,000 |
| Total, | 269,300 |
| Yet remaining East to be removed, | 25,000 |
| Making an aggregate of | 294,300 |
The commissioner’s report, however allows the Indian population in the and teritories, to be . . . 333,000.
This, I think does not include those now occupying the space west of the .
Thus you have a glimpse of the lights and shades of the aboriginees of the west, in their low estate, showing that the wilderness does not yet “blosom ast the rose,” although the signs of the times would indicate, that the time is near when the mountains will drop down new wine, and Jacob’s face will not wax pale.
P. [p. 891]
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Source Note
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