Virginia Argus

FROM THE AUGUSTA HERALD

On Monday, the 7th October, colonel Benjamin Hawkins, the Indian agent for the United States, arrived here, with a deputation of Chiefs, from the Upper and Lower Creek Nations, Consisting of Alexander Cornelis and Tuskenehaw, from the upper towns; and William M'Intosh, Tuskeenee, hue Chayco-Enchau Thluc-co, and Che, cop, chelco Emantlau, from the lower towns. On Tuesday they left this place--in the stage on their way to the City of Washington--We understand that their visit to the seat of Government is to treat for an extension of the boundary line of this state to the Oakmulgee River --the Upper Creeks we are told are in favor of ceding the land as far as the Oak-mulgee, and the Lower Creeks opposed to it. We believe however that the agent is of opinion the land may be obtained.

It will afford pleasure to a benevolent mind to know that the efforts of Col. Hawkins to meliorate the condition of the savage tribes, and to bring them into something like a social state, have been greatly successful, and that they are almost daily, though slowly, making advances in civilization--There were in the Creek Nation when the agent left it twelve looms employed, eight of them if we recollect aright were made by Indian women, who also spin the cotton which they weave. The plough and the hoe are now also in very general use among them, and in becoming attached to property and being acquainted with the comforts and advantages of agricultural improvements, they are losing very considerably that predilection for the chase and the hunting life, which, almost universally characterises savage nations. The agent has introduced among them weights and measures, and made many of them acquainted with figures, so that they are enabled to weigh out their own articles of sale, and to calculate the amount of them with great accuracy, and the advantages they discover to arise from these glimmerings of science, is gradually exciting a desire to extend their knowledge, and will doubtless prepare the way for the establishment of schools among them, and will create an order for future improvement. From the advances already made in the arts of civil life, there can be little doubt that a foundation is laid, or an entire change in the disposition and habits of these tribes.