While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
In the first place, to
women, in every well regulated society, should be committed
the management of the families and the business connected
with the household concerns, and they should be qualified to
exercise a salutary influence within their appropriate
sphere.
Secondly, as mothers they are responsible for the nursing and
rearing of their children and for the proper sustenance of them
in early life. They are also responsible for the habits of their
children, including cleanliness and general propriety of
behavior.
A sensible, judicious mother can greatly control her children in
these matters; she can make them modest or impertinent,
ingenuous or
deceitful, fearful or intrepid. The germ of all these traits of
character exist in childhood, and a mother can repress or
strengthen them.
Thirdly, a mother is responsible for the principles her children
may entertain in early life, and it is for her to say whether
they shall be imbued with sentiments of honesty, industry and
morality, or with those of a contrary character fraud, idleness
and dishonesty.
She is, to a very considerable extent responsible for the temper
and disposition of her children. Constitutionally he may be
irritable or revengeful, but she may correct or repress these
passions and in their places instill better feelings.
Lastly, and above all, she is responsible for the religious
education of her children. The beginning of wisdom is a
reverence for our creator, and obedience to his requirings; and
this is within the power of every good mother to inculcate and
cherish in the hearts of her children; at the same time it is
the most important duty she owes them, and their usefulness and
character throughout life may depend upon her correct and
faithful discharge of it.
If these be the appropriate duties and obligations of a mother,
will it not be vain to expect that the Indian warrior will be
qualified for that station, or that they will be in a condition
to give a proper
education to their children, or train them up in habits or
principles that will render them intelligent and good citizens,
whilst they themselves are left in ignorance, and while, instead
of devoting their time and attention to his discharge of these
high moral duties, they are held in a state of servile
degradation and compelled to perform all the menial drudgeries
of life?
Women are created by Providence equal to men in everything
except mere physical strength. Generally, they have much more
discretion, and
certainly are far more virtuous. They were designed to exercise
a
conservative influence in society and should be placed in a
position which would enable them to fulfill this-most important
office; for history confirms the deeply interesting fact, that
no people ever yet were elevated to the rank of civilization,
while their females were held in a servile condition, and we are
also admonished by experience, that no community can be virtuous
and happy, which is not chastened by the controlling example of
female delicacy and refinement.
These views are submitted to the consideration of the Tuscarora,
in the hope that they will receive their serious attention, and
lead to the adoption of an improved and proper division of the
employments, both of the men and women of the nation; especially
to the extension of more care towards the suitable education of
their females, and the consequent elevation of the Tuscarora
women to their appropriate station and dignity, as the wives and
rational companions of intelligent and educated husbands.
In my communications, I have not felt it my duty to call your
attention to any particular forms or observances in relation to
your religious obligations. I believe that God is a spirit, and
true worship to Him can only be performed in spirit and in
truth. I also believe that however diversified the human family
may be in regard to the circumstances in which they may be
placed, all stand equally before their creator, as objects of
His care and personal regard; in His great mercy He visits us
with remorse and sadness, when we have willfully done what we
know to be wrong, and which, if persisted in, might lead us to
destruction; and it is He who fills our hearts with peace and
consolation when we do that which we believe to be right. His
goodness is not limited to any people or place nor, is that
adoration which is due to Him confined within temples built with
human hands, or restricted to any particular form; He is
everywhere present and in every place; the incense of a pious,
devoted heart, may acceptably be offered to Him in the rude
homes of the red man.
The plants of the earth are not more directly under the
influences of the natural light and warmth by which they are
nourished, than is the immortal soul or spirit of man under the
immediate care and sustaining support of the divine presence,
which is always near and round about us; for it is in Him we
live, and move, and have our existence.
Deeply impressed with the certainty of these truths, and fully
believing He will never fail to lead in the paths of safety and
peace, those who sincerely look to Him for instruction and
faithfully follow His counsel, I recommend you, with myself,
carefully to attend to His
manifestations of light and truth upon our minds, which will
never deceive nor mislead, but, if obeyed, wisely conduct us
through the dangers of this life, and finally will prepare us
for a happy admission into the realms of eternal rest.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations and History of the Tuscarora Indians
