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owy IcfiFOA CHEROKEE PH(EMX, AND INDIANS’ ADVOCATE* ' * » ■ >. PRINTED UNDER THE PATRONAGE, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, AND DEVOTED TO TIIE CAUSE OF INDIANS—.*:. BGTJDISiOTT, EDIT Git. fOl, n. NEW ECHOTA, WEDNESDAY AVGUST 6,1829. NO. 18. PRINTED WEEKLY BY JOHN F. WHEELER, . At 82 50 if paid in advance, $3 in six months, or 83 50 if paid at the end of the year. . To subscribers who can read only the Cherokee language the price will be 82,00 'irt advance, or 82,50 to be paid within the 'year. Every subscription will be considered as cotitm n J unless so > v.ribers give notice to the contrary b°fore the commencement of a new year,and all arrearages paid. Vay person 1 procuring stx subscribers, e nd becoming responsible for the payment, shall receive a seventh gratis. Advertisements will be inserted at seven ty-!!'.^ cents per square for the first inser tion, and thirty-seven and a half cents for each ‘onunuancc; longer ones in -propor tion. 5C3*’VII letters addressed to the Editor, post paid, will r^fceive due attention. owy J <f A U 0“A A D IiSi JEC.« J. f 0AT.XS51 TUP V*V» Jh<f3Avl bme .ir,uri.ic?y kt/l d^p o’&.JBa J-4mU( TGTZ TrCJUtHT’ DO.I^otiP-oSa. Tcrz ftp Tc30-A TB D0 KT (P0JB.I D?.I/S.«)F.Z TB VW D0,I-S>»I-<*'.I,' 0-y/lT D(?P 0»ejBJ[ 1-4rtJ. GWyz (PCcR .TIiWhAoty, WP*V I)?S1 o-eiBa r-4<*Ji T<rz'Ti\Mo-<r 5 Do - kt.iz d^p osty^y* o^saif" U.1R DO.IAoSif.'yPA. AGENTS FOR THE CHEROKEE PHOENIX. The following persons are authorized to receive subscriptions and payments for the Cherokee Phoenix. Messrs. Peirce &. Williams, No. 20 Market St. Boston, Mass. George M. Tracy, Agent of the A. B. €. F. M. N^v York. Rev. A. D. I’.ddy, Canandaigua, N. Y. Thomas Hastings, Utica, N. Y. Pollard & Converse, Richmond, Va. R-’v. James Campbell, Beaufort, S. C. William Moultrie Reid, Charleston, S. C. C.ol. George .Smith, Statesville, W. T. William M. Combs,'Nashville, Ten. Rev. Bennet Roberts, Powal, Me. Mr. 'Piros. R.. Gold, (an itinerant Gen tleman.) Jeremiah Ai/stil, Mobile, Ala. Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, Mayhew, Choc taw Nation. Capt. William Roeertson, Augusta, Georgia. Col. Jamf.s Turk, Bellefonte, Ala. RJSlilGlOlJS, INTERVIEW at SHIRAZ. From the Asiatic Journal. The day after the entertainment, I paid a visit to the person at. whose house it had been given, and spoke to him of Mahomed Unbent. lie said he ivas a much esteemed friend of his, and offered, without waiting for my solicitation, to take me to visit him. I suppressed my joy at the offer, and 4he ensuing ramming was fixed for the interview. Wo reached the house of Mahomed Rahem, who received us with groat cordiality, and spoke to me in a man ner quite free from that reserve which appeared on the former occasion. I was spon charmed with his agreeable manners and even vivacity; for no ap pearance of frigidity remained. He was a remarkably cheerful and well- informed main. Our interview was short; u r e seem ed both to /.eel that the presence of Meerza Reeza was a restraint upon us. I therefore took mv leave, after obtaining permission to repeat my vis it. A few days after this, I called alone upon Mahomed Rahem. I found him reading a volume of Cowper’s Poems! The circuinstance.led to an immedi ate discussion of the merits of English poetry and European literature in gen eral. I was perfectly astonished at tho clear and accurate conceptions he liatl formed upon .these subjects, and at the precision with which lie ex pressed himself ijif English. Surpris ed that a man with such refined taste and just reflection as he seemed to be, could stHI be enthralled in the bondage oflsl jmism, or could even r,elish the met ^physical mysticism of the Soolees, I ventured to sound his opinions upon the subject of religion. “You are a moollah, I am inform ed.” “ No,” said he; “I was educated at a Madrussia, but I have never felt an inclination to be one of the priest hood.” “The exposition of your religious volume,” I rejoined, “demands a pret ty close application to study; before a person can be qualified to teach the doctrines of the Koran, I understand that he must thoroughly examine and digest volumes of comments, ascer tain the sense of the text and the ap plications of its injunctions. This is a laborious preparation, if a man be dis posed conscientiously to fulfil his im portant functions.” As lie made no remark, I continued: “our Scriptures are their own expositors; we are soli- j citous only that they should be read: / and although some particular passages are not without some difficulties, a- rising from the' inherent obscurity of language, the faults of translation, or the errors of copyists; yet it is our boast that the authority of our Holy Scripture is confirmed by the perspi cuity and simplicity of their style as well as precepts.” I u r as surprized that he made no re ply to these observations. At the hazard of being deemed importunate, I proceed to panegyrize the leading principles of Christianity, more par ticularly in respect to their moral and practical character; and happened, amongst other reflections, to suggest that as no other concern was of so much importance to the human race as religion, and as only one faith could be the right, the subject admitted not of being regarded as indifferent, though too many did so regard it. “Do not you esteem it so?” he ask ed. “Certainly not,” I replied. “Then yo\jr indifference at the ta ble of our friend Meerza Reeza, w hen the topic of religion was under con sideration, was merely assumed, out of complaisance to Musulinans, I pre sume?” . I remembered the occasion to which lie alluded, and recognized in his countenance the same expression, compounded half of pity, half of sur prise, which it then exhibited. I owned that I had acted inconsistently, perhaps incautiously and imprudently; but I made the best defence I could, j and disavowed in the most solemn manner any premeditated design to contemn the religion I professed. “I am heartily glad I was deceiv ed,” said he; “for sincerity in religion is our paramount duty. What we are we should never be ashamed of appear ing to be,” “Are you a sincere Musulman, then?” 1 boldly asked. An internal struggle seemed, for an instant, to agitato his visage: at length he answered, mildly, “no.” “You are not a sceptic or free thinker?” “No; indeed I am not.” “What are you then?—Be you sin cere.—Are you a Christian?” “I ain,” he replied. I should vainly endeavor to describe my astonishment which seized me at this declaration. .1 surveyed Mahom ed Rahem, at first, with a look which, judging from its reflection from his benign countenance, must have betok ened suspicion, or even contempt.— The consideration that he could have no motive to deceive me in this dis closure, which was of infinitely great er seriousness to himself than to me, speedily restored me to recollection, and banished every sentiment hut joy; I could not refrain from pressing si lently his hand to my heart. He was not unmoved at this trans port; but he betrayed no unmanly c- motions. lie told me that 1 had pos sessed myself of a secret, which, in spite of his opinion that it was the du ty of every one to wear his religion openly, he had hitherto concealed, ex cept from a few who participated in his own sentiments. “And whence came this happy change?” I asked. “J will tell you that, likewise,” he replied. “In the year 1223 (of the Hegira) there came to this city, an Englishman, who taught the religion of Christ with a boldness hitherto un paralleled in Persia, in the midst of much scorn and ill-treatment from our moollahs, as well as the rabble. He was a beardless youth, and evidently enfeebled by disease. He dvfelt a- mongst us for more than a year. I was then a decided enemy to infidels, as the Christians are termed by the followers of Mahomed, and I visited this teacher of the despised sect with the declared object of treating him with scorn, and exposing his doctrines fo contempt. Although I persevered some time in this behavior towards him, I found that every interview not only increased my respect for the in dividual, but diminished my confidence in the faith in which I was educated. His .extreme forbearance towards the violence of his opponents, the calm and yet convincing manner in which he exposed the fallacies and sophis tries by which he was assailed, for lie spoke Persian excellently, gradually inclined me to listen to his arguments, inquire dispassionately into the sub ject of them, and finally to read a tract which he had written in roply to a de fence of Islnmisin by our chief inool- lahs. Need 1 detain you longer? The result of my examination was a con viction that the young disputant was right. Shame, or fear, withheld me from avowing this opinion; I even a- voided the society of the young teach er, though he remained in the city so long. Just before he quitted Shireuz, I could not refrain from paying him a farewell visit. Our conversation,— the memory of it will never fade from the tablet of iny mind,—sealed my conversion. He gave me a book—it lias ever been my constant companion —the study of it has formed my most delightful occupation—its contents have often consoled me.” Upon this lie put into my hands, a copy of the, New Testament, ip. Per sian; on one of the blank leaves was written: There is joy i>» Heaven over one sinner that repenttiu—Henry Mar- TYN. Upon looking into the memoir of Mr. Marty n, by Mr. Sargent, one of the most delightful pieces of biography in our language, I cannot perceive therein any allusion to Mahomed Ra hem, unless he be one of the young men (mentioned in p. 350) who came from the college, “full of zeal and logic,” to try him with hard questions. INTEMPERANCE^ BIOGRAPHIES OF PRISONERS. In our Review of the last Report on Auburn Prison, we mentioned the biographical sketches of convicts, giv en by themselves, on leaving prison, at the expiration of their term of con finement. We publish a few of them, as presenting some interesting facts, and shewing what are some of the steps by which an arrival is made at the Penitentiary. A judicious selec tion of such biographies from Prison Reports, would undoubtedly be useful for extensive circulation, as being a- dapted to show those who are entering upon vicious courses, whither their wayward path is likely to lead them. Jour, of Humanity. J. W.—An Oneida Indian; age 30; has always lived at Oneida Castle; says “every body love him till he be gun to get drunk and light, about five year ago; lie best fiddler in Oneida, and that make him bad man, ’cause bad company and drink.” His story is, that while absent at Green Bay, his wife went to live with another In dian, who took his oxen and exchang ed them for a horse; on his return, he claimed the horse, and took him off; his faithless wife complained of him, and he was convicted of grrnd larcen- cy, March 17, 1827, and sentenced 3 years: discharged by pardon, July 22, 1828. He lias been a very kind, inoffen sive, industrious convict; but lie could not endure confinement; his health is greatly impaired, and it was to save his life that application %as made for his pardon; he lias been taught to' read in the prison Sabbath school; and there is good ground to believe that he will bfi what lie says lie will, a “belter Indian.” S. fl.—Age 28; born in Herkimer county; parents have moved about a good deal; now lives in Lewis coun ty; was brought up very badly; work ed at farming; had only 3 months’ schooling before he came to prison; when fourteen was put out to a far mer, who used him very hard; lived with him three years, and then left hi in and worked here and there for himself; says he was a wild, and rude boy; never received any religious or moral instruction; used to spend bis Sabbaths in gambling and other sports; had very little sense of moral obliga tion; married when 19, and has two children, living in Lewis county; says that his father had a law suit, and for testifying falsely in this suit, through the influence of his father, lie was con victed of perjury, and sentenced to (his prison. Says he was guilty, and thinks lie lias been brought to see and feel the enormity of his guilt, and to repent in dust and ashes. Discharg ed by paidon, May 2, 1828. H. has been a good convict; has worked hard; and his constitution has become very much broken, lie lias been a member of the Sabbath School; where he has learned to read well; and strong hopes are entertained that he. will hereafter be a steady and use ful man. ' E. J.—(Female.)—Age 28; born in England; her father, a man of property in. Manchester, gave her a good opportunity for education; sajs she. was a very wild, disobedient child; when she was 14, parents moved to Canada; she soon after got married, before $he was 15; parents, disliking the country, soon returned to England: she remained, and moved to Montreal with her husband; be was intempe rate, and when in liquor abused her; left niin and her young child, and came out to Plattsburgh; took a dress, be longing to a woman with whom she lived, to wear to a ball, (her own not being gay enough) without asking leave; was accused of stealing them, and convicted; says she got very an gry at the trial, and abused the court, in consequence of which she got a long sentence, 10 years. Acknowl edges that she has been a wicked girl, and thinks she shall hereafter do bet ter. Discharged by pardon, May 31, 1828. A. W.—Age 43; born in Connecti cut; his parents, with whom lie lived till 21, did every thing they could for him; gave him a good chance to gfet learning, and much faithful religious instruction; but he treated every thing of the kind with neglect and contempt; did not, however, run into any very vicious habits before he left his pa rents, and went to lumbering on Hud son river; then gave himself up to al most every species of vice; knew no Sabbath; wa$ very intemperate; mar ried at about 22, and moved into Ca yuga county; lias throe children; has been in this prison before; the first time for stealing a horse, which he says lie hired to ride a short distance, but rode farther than he told of going; convicted in Ontario county, Novem ber 4, 1817, and sentenced 4 years; pardoned April 20, 1820; returned to his family, but did not live with them long; went off into Pennsylvania to work; was cheated out of his wages; returned into this State, and in Steu ben county, after a night of gambling, drinking and fighting, was committed to gaol on suspicion of having counter feit money; broke gaol, and for that, offence was again sentenced to tins prism, June 17, 1823, for five years; 6ays he lias been 2 years in solitary confinement. Discharged by expi ration of sentence, June 17, 1828. T. R.—Age'48; born and brought up on Long Island; education decent; left his parents at 15; has foilow'ed various kinds of business; has been to sea some; w orked some as a ship, join er; kept a grocery in New York; has been a carman there; used to drink rather too freely and to tight when he had occasion; was once fined for fight ing at a wedding; can whip any man, let it be who it will; has brought up a large family, and been a man of con siderable property; became reduced, and thought be would, try his luck at passing counterfeit money, got some of a grocer in New York, who had made a good deal by it; says he knows many of that character in the city.— Was convicted in Suffolk county, June 10, 1824, and sentenced 14 years.—4 Discharged by pardon, August 1.' i828. . . J R. lias b'eeh a hard convict, ahSf though lie acknowledges his guilt. ap» pears unsubdued and revengeful. • : , J. B.—Age 5J; born in Rhode Isl and; brought up by his parents; cm;, read a little, but not write; married before lie was 19, and moved into this slate, first into Otsego, and then into Oneida county; followed the carpen ter’s business, and kept a boarding house; was a steady man till about eight years ago, when he took to drink ing, and became very intemperate.— One night, ; f’tcr general training, as he and one of his boardeis lay drunk before the fire, be look bold of the man s log to prevent bis thrusting his foot iulo the lire; the mull, suddenly waking from sleep, seized him by, the throat; lie, to rescue himself from his grasp, struck him with the tongs; for which he was convicted of assault and battery with attempt to murder, and sentenced 3 years. Says rum brought him liefe, and is detei mined never again to touch it; lias been ser ial times in the county gaol for (Link ing and fighting; resolves to do better, audit is hoped be will. Discharged by expiration of sentence, October 8,' 1828. G. W.—Age 30; born in Washing ton county; education decent; family moved into Montgomery county about 18 years since; generally lived with his parents; for some time followed driving horses to the eastward, foi sale, with his father; got to racing horses, drinking, gambling. &c.; lat terly has been an idle profligate; con victed of petit larcency, 2d offence, in Montgomery county, May 23, 1828,' and sentenced 3^’e^rs and 1 day; fust stole a penknife m a frolic; al another time as he and some others were out riding, drunk and cold,'took a buffalo skin on the way to keep them warm, and when he got home sold it to “raise the wind.”—Discharged by pardon, November 30, 182S. lie has taken his imprisonment ve-, ry hard; and it is hoped that his dread of the prison, if nothing else, w ill be a check upon his vicious propensities. Extract from an address pronounced before the Medical Graduates of the University of Maryland, April 6th, 1520, hv Nathan K. Smith, M. D. Professor of Surgery and Dean of the faculty. How few there are who realize that whi[e the sword is sleeping in its scabbard, while plenty smiles upon our land, and pestilence withholds its arrows, there is still abroad among us a destroying demon “more fell than hunger, anguish, or the sea.” It is ascertained that more than thirty thousand lives are, in our own country alone, annually destroyed by this sui- cidinal excess. The poisoned chalice is filled at the expense of more than three times the revenue of the nation. What waste of treasure is here, with out even the poor recompense of ease and pleasure? What destruction of human life, without one wreath of that