INTEMPERANCE. 269 
wild tribes, a commutation, though not honor- 
able to the perpetrator, was and still is 
mitted, except by the Cherokees and Choc- 
taws. Any recompense which would satisfy 
the bereft family, released the murderer from 
further penalty. 
There is scarcely any temptation which the 
Indian tribes have to encounter so frequently, 
and so seriously fatal to their social improve- 
ment, as intemperance. Of this they are con- 
scious themselves, and most of them have 
adopted measures for prohibiting the intro- 
duction of ardent spirits among them, and for 
checking the propensity to use them, with 
various degrees of success. Among the Choc- 
taws, a law was passed upon this subject, 
which, though not entirely, was measurably: 
successful; and the spirit which effected its 
passage was worthy of the most exalted state 
of civilization. 
It seems that the tribe had generally be- 
come sensible of the pernicious influences of 
strong drinks upon their prosperity and hap- 
piness, and had attempted various plans for 
its suppression, without success. At last, it 
was determined by the chiefs, captains, and 
head men, to strike a blow which should 
reach the very root of the evil at once. A 
council was called, and many and long were 
the speeches which were made, and much 
enthusiasm was created against the monster 
‘Whiskey,’ and all his brood of compound 
enormities. Still every one seemed loth to 
move his arrest and execution. Finally, a 
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