Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-04-21

JudSe. he western district of Arkansas comprises the Indian country, and the pnnclpal business of that court is to take co9hizance of criminal olfenses committed Dy Indians. The Indians are enever able to give ball, and consequently, as soon as one Is arrested, he is kept in prison until he is tried. The extent of the district is such, that it is utterly impossible for the judge ot the eastern district to hold frequent courts in the western district The extent ot co:ntry is very great; it is an unsettled country; and hence the necessity of having judge residing in the western district, who shall be there always to take csgnizance of crimes occurring amongst the Indians, and have them speedily disposed of, making jail deliveries, instead of keeping those un- fortunate creatures in jail for six months before they can be tried The only addi- tional officer is onej judge. Already marshals and clerks exist. The judge in the eastern district cannot hold courts in the eastern district, by possibility, and also do the requisite business in relation to those h. dlans in the western district. If Senators would glance over the map, they would see that the district of country is enormous Ii he were to travel all the time he could not attend to it. The bill then provides for no additional. officer but a judge, who is to reside in the western district, and who IS to hold four terms year, instead of two; and the bill provides that the marshal and clerk shall also reside in the western district. We are told there is an abuse in that re- spect now-that they reside in the eastern district, and that they are with difficulty found in the western district The object IS to take care of the Indians, and do what IS just and humane towards them.
 Mir. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. It is pure ly an Indian district. It is no district that was ever made for Arkansas, in fact There were but few counties of Arkansas put in it to give them jurisdiction. There are over fifty counties in the State, and, as my colleague suggests, there are but seven counties in the western district, so as to enable them to have jurors and give a loca- ton to the court. The jurisdiction of the court extends to the one hundrcdth degree of west longitude. 1t embraces five nations of civilized Indians. The crimes that are committed there are increasing, and the business of that court is extending, and has extended immensely since its establishment. The necessity of this measure has been recognized 90 far that during two success sive Congresses under this administration there has been an express recommendation made that we should have a court there established, inside of that Indian country: but it cannot well be done, for reasons that will be palpable to every mans mind.
 The bill was reported to the Senate as amended, and the amendments were con cured in; and the bill was ordered to be engrossed, and was read the third time
 Mir. CRfTTENDEN. l understand from the gentleman that, although there are two courts now in Arkansas, there is but one judge there.
 Mr. BENJAMIN. Yes, sin
 The bill was passed.
 INDIAN SCHOOLS.
 Tho PRESIDING OFFICER. The next bill on the private calendar is the bill (S. No. 96) for the relief of Abner Merrill, of the State of Maine.
 Mir. SEBASTIAN There is bill on the public calendar, which should be prop crly on the private calendar, that has been passed over. lift had been properly chased Qn the private calendar, it would have been very early in the order of business, and would have been passed long since. 1t is matter of right and justice to that bill to take it Hp now. ] ask the chair, therefore to call up, as next in order, Senate bill No Fl, standing in the order of business No. 23 on the public calendar, for the relief of f foreign missions. It contains no appropri ation of money, and will lead to no discus sion.
 Mir. HAAlLIN. Instead ofthat, I would move that it take its place on tho private calendar. If it belongs at this point, call it up here; but if it belongs further on, let 1t take it's place.
 Mir. SEBASTIAN. By putting it on the private calendar now, 1t will not occupy the place it would have occupied if 1t had been placed there two weeks ago, when we passed so many private bills.
 Mr. IIAMLIN. Very well; let it be placed on the private calendar in the posi- ton where it would be if it had been put there when it was first reported.
 NIT. SEBASTIAN. That will attain my object as we'll; for then 1t will be first on the private calendar.
 Mir. HAMLIN. Very well.
 The bill (S. No. ID for the relief of the American Board of Commissioners for For eign Missions was read a second time, and considered as in the committee of the whole. It proposes to release the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions from the obligations imposed on it by the fourth article of the treaty made between the United States and the Cherokee h. dians, at New Echota, on the 29th of De- ccmler, 1885, which provides that the mo- ney allowed for the appraised value "i the Union and Harmony mission reservations should be expended in schools among the Osages and improving their condition, upon condition that the board shall eXpend the money for the same purposes, among other tribes not provided with schools, which may seem proper in the judgment of the board.
 Nlr. SEBASTIAN. I move some two or three formal amendments, in conformity with the suggestions of the agent oi that board, which carry out prccisey y the objects of the bill. l move to insert, in line thlr- teen, before the word provided" ," the word adeqtately," so as to read "not adequately provided with schools" and in line fourteen, after the word " schools" l" to insert the words GOT means of improving their condition" 1 move further, to add at the end of the bill, the words " with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior" !"
 The amendments were agreed to.
 TIre bill was reported to the Senate, as amended, and the amendments were coh cured in; and the bill was ordered to be engrosscd for the third reading. It was read the third time, and passed.
 ASSISTANT DOoRKEEPER.
 Mr. DAVIS. I offer the following re- solntion:
 Resolvea, That the assistant doorkecper of inc Senate be allowed the same rate of ami iual compensation as the permanent com mi:tee cerla . of the Senate, commencing with the present fiscal year.