The Van Buren press., 1871-03-07

term at Van Buren,, Arkansas. At the
same time the Legislature OF the Chero-
kee nation was in session ut Tahlequah.
the capital of such nation. The grand
Jury Of the court, composed Of citizens
of Arkansas, indicted William L. Ross,
Houston Benge, ald other Chcrokecs for
alleged offenses against the intercourse
laws. Ross and Benge were Senators in
the Cherokee Legislature, and are gem
tlemen Of education and prominence
among their people. They were arrested
while discharging their official duties, and
taken to Van Buren, by young men from
Arkansas who were acting as deputy mar
shals. Upon hearing the case the court
discharged the prisoners. because it was
found no violation of law had been com
mitted. .ada lt
The records of this House for the last
session show that revenue officers and
United States deputy marshals have in
vaded this Indian territory, seized and
confscated tine property ofIndians there,
and arrested them as criminals Fol
what otlense? Why, sir, they were
charged with not conforming to the in
ternal revenue laws inside Of the Indian
country; and this, too, in the teeth of
written official promises and declarations
of Commissioners OF Internal Revenue,
and in fragrant and periidious violation
Of special provisions of late treaties
which we have made with these Indians
The Indians are at present the sport
and prey of irresponsible United States
officials, They are subject to the whias
and caprices of any Insignificant and ig-
norant revenue officer or deputy marshal
who may adju ige the law to be violated
in the Indian country, where he does not
live, where he has no interest, except it
be to plunder these unfortunate people
and make his fees by dragging the Ind.
ians from their own country to be tried
by juries in the State Of Arkansas.
Neither high and responsible position,
innocence OF crime, or the solemn pledge
of treaties, is any protection to these In
dians from the officials that roam over
their country, ! am assured on the best
Of authority that at least one half of the
arrests made in the Indian country BY
these deputy marshals are made without
warrant or process ofany kind whatever.
Common justice demands a change. Is
it necessary to say more to show the
gross injustice and lliberality to tile Ind
ians in the present administration of
justice " among them? Let us pass this
bill and give them courts in their own
country and juries Of their own people,
Does the bill reported by the Indian
Committee improve upon the present
" administration Of justice" in the In
dian territory? If it does it meets the
requirements Of the treaties already re-
ferred to, and should be passed unless a
better can be substituted. . n.
The bill certainly gives great advan.
tages and privileges 70 these Indians
over the present system, Section -four
q Legislative Assembly, to
consist Of u council and house of repre-
sentatiyes. The members of this Legis-
lature are required to be citizens Of the
different tribes represented, and are to be
elected by the qualified voters of the re
spective tribes. In this section the power
and authority heretofore exercised by
Congress over all questions Of trade and
intercourse among these tribes is surren-
dered to the control of the Indians q
just concession to their intelligence and
capability Of self government.
Section seven provides for the estab-
lishment Of courts in this Indian terrific
ry, which shall take the place the court
outside of that territory, and which now
exercises jurisdiction over it. II the
judges are appointed by the President,
and may be other than members Of these
nations, it can be no worse than the pres.
sent condition Of things, when We see
that the Judge now having the same jurs,
diction is citizen and resident OF the
State Of Arkansas. But the jurics and
clerks and bailitfs, and perhaps other Of
fcials ofthe courts organized by this bill.
will be members OF the Indian tribes and
thus these Indian will have the right de.
MED to no other people in all this broad
land, the right to be tried by a jury Of
their peers in their own country.
Section ten abolishes the Indian agen-
NitS lOi 'ut NHtiOhctS, AHOSldN - NlliNhu-
saws, Creeks, and Somnoles--a wise pro-
vision, saving to the Government of the
United States, as stated by the gentleman
from Missouri Mr.. Van Horn who has
charge Of this bin, about twenty thousand
dollars per annum, and dispensing with
n useless corps Of officers WHO, in nine
cases out Of tep, are inferior in point of
edrcation and ability to those whom
they are supposed to have under their
especial care and protection.
The questions were asked the other
day if the schools among these Indians
were not supported by the United States
AMI if their educated men
were not educated at the expense of the
United States. The answer is in the neg
atiye. The public schools in these ma
tions are supported by their own money,
and their educated men have never cost
this Government u dollar. 1t is mani
fest, then, that this bill does improve up.
on the present administration ofjustiec"
among these Indians, and therefore, un-
less bettcr plan can be suggested,
should receive the support Of this House.
The Indians have led the advance in
the consolidation of their tribes into n
q territorial form Of government. They
have recently adopted n consttution,an
have called their consolidated govern.
ment the 4" Indian territory" They have
sent such constitution TO this Congress