In 1819 the whole Cherokee population had been estimated at 15,000, one-third of them being west of the Mississippi. In 1825 a census of the eastern Nation showed: native Cherokee, 13,563; white men married into the Nation, 147; white women married into the Nation, 73; negro slaves, 1,277. There were large herds of cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep, with large crops of every staple, including cotton, tobacco, and wheat, and some cotton was exported by boats as far as New Orleans. Apple and peach orchards were numerous, butter and cheese were in use to some extent, and both cotton and woolen cloths, especially blankets, were manufactured. Nearly all the merchants were native Cherokee. Mechanical industries flourished, the Nation was out of debt, and the population was increasing.[278] Estimating one-third beyond the Mississippi, the total number of Cherokee, exclusive of adopted white citizens and negro slaves, must then have been about 20,000.

Simultaneously with the decrees establishing a national press, the Cherokee Nation, in general convention of delegates held for the purpose at New Echota on July 26, 1827, adopted a national constitution, based on the assumption of distinct and independent nationality. John Ross, so celebrated in connection with the history of his tribe, was president of the convention which framed the instrument. Charles R. Hicks, a Moravian convert of mixed blood, and at that time the most influential man in the Nation, was elected principal chief, with John Ross as assistant chief.[279] With a constitution and national press, a well-developed system of industries and home education, and a government administered by educated Christian men, the Cherokee were now justly entitled to be considered a civilized people.

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. V

THE CHEROKEE ALPHABET

Ꭰ aᎡ eᎢ iᎣ oᎤ uᎥ v
Ꭶ ga Ꭷ kaᎨ geᎩ giᎪ goᎫ guᎬ gv
Ꭽ haᎮ heᎯ hiᎰ hoᎱ huᎲ hv
Ꮃ laᎴ leᎵ liᎶ loᎷ luᎸ lv
Ꮉ maᎺ meᎻ miᎼ moᎽ mu
Ꮎ na Ꮏ hna Ꮐ nahᏁ neᏂ niᏃ noᏄ nuᏅ nv
Ꮖ quaᏇ queᏈ quiᏉ quoᏊ quuᏋ quv
Ꮜ sa Ꮝ sᏎ seᏏ siᏐ soᏑ suᏒ sv
Ꮣ da Ꮤ taᏕ de Ꮦ teᏗ di Ꮨ tiᏙ doᏚ duᏛ dv
Ꮬ dla Ꮭ tlaᏞ tleᏟ tliᏠ tloᏡ tluᏢ tlv
Ꮳ tsaᏤ tseᏥ tsiᏦ tsoᏧ tsuᏨ tsv
Ꮹ waᏪ weᏫ wiᏬ woᏭ wuᏮ wv
Ꮿ yaᏰ yeᏱ yiᏲ yoᏳ yuᏴ yv

Sounds represented by Vowels.

Consonant Sounds.

g nearly as in English, but approaching to k. d nearly as in English but approaching to t h, k, l, m, n, q, s, t, w, y, as in English. Syllables beginning with g, except Ꭶ have sometimes the power of k. Ꮩ, Ꮪ, Ꮫ are sometimes sounded to, tu, tv; and Syllables written with d except Ꮭ sometimes vary to dl.