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Choctaw Deputation
A deputation of Choctaws, nine in number, arrived in this city a few days past, on business with the Government.
On their way, and when at Maysville, Kentucky, Puck-shee-nubbee, a principal Chief, and aged about 85 years, stepped from a precipice, in a fag which
hid the chasm from his view and fractured his skull, which killed him.
It is gratifying to witness, in these deputations of latter times, young men of education and virtue, with talents
to conduct the business of their nation, and manners suited, in all respects, to the polished improvements of their
white brothers. There are two of this description attached to this deputation, Col. Folsom, well known as the
friend of the school system among his people, and for the distinguished excellence of his character, and James
L. McDonald, who was educated in this District, chiefly by the Rev. Mr. Carnahan, now President of Princeton College,
at his classical school in Georgetown; and subsequently read law, in Ohio, with the present Postmaster General,
where he was admitted to its practice. Mr. M’Donald being on a visit to his mother, after many years separation,
was included by the Council of the nation, in the deputation.
We cannot but wish these people well. They have many claims upon our justice and humanity; and now that we see
them emerging from the ignorance of barbarism, and even adventuring upon our learned professions, every encouragement
ought to be held out, and every inducement offered, to animate and prosper their efforts.
The school system under the special patronage of the government is producing the happiest results, and if it be
well supported and its energies kept in vigor by such guards as experience may demonstrate to be essential, a generation
may not pass away before our nation may be honored in having rescued from the cheerless condition of the savage,
hundreds of thousands of fellow beings whose claims even upon the humanity of so many ages having been resisted
and themselves made the victims of every outrage which the keenest avarice has the ingenuity to invent.
Our national character is deeply interested in the issue of the present efforts to civilize and Christianize these
people, but when to this is super added the claims which arise out of their object condition, as a people, the
duty promises imperative, also the call becomes loud upon us to persevere. – Nat. Jour.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) November 10, 1824
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[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
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