The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-12-16

ailteeu them by the constitution and
the laws. After the passage of this
law, information was received from
time to time that combinations Of the
character referred to in this law exist
ed. and We're powerful in many parts
of the Southern states. particularly In
several counties Of South Carolina.
Careful inve stigatiOas were made, and
it was aScertailied that in nine counties
oftllat State such combinations We're
active aud powerful, embracing suf-
iicient portion of the citizens TO COIL
troll the local authorities. and having
| among other things the object of de-
priying the enaiicipated class OF the
| substantial benefits Of freedom, and OF
| the privileges of free political action
those citizens who did not sympathize
with their own views. Among their
operations were frequent scorrgings
and occasional assassinations, general
~ perpetrated at night by disguised
| persons, their victims i'll almost all
cases being citizens OF different politi-
cal sentiments from their own. or free
| persons lOf colorl, who had shown Il
disposition to claim their usual rights
with other citizens. Thousands of i'll
offensive and wel,-tlisposed citizens
were the sufferers by this laMless vio-
| ience. IhereupOn, Oh the 18th OF Oc-
tOber, 1871. a proclamation was issued
/ IN the terms OF the law, calling upon
the members of the combinations to
diSperse within five days, aud to deliv-
| or to the Marshal or to the military
officers of the United States all arms,
ammunition, uniforms, disgIises and
| other means and implements used by
them for carrying out their unlawful
| purposes. This warning not having
been needed, on the 18th of October
another prOcl4 Nation was issued sl,s-
| pending the writ of labc:Is corpus in
| nine counties in that State, and direc-
| tions We're given that within the col,ii-
ties SO designated persons supposed,
upon credible information, to be menl-
bcrs of such unlawful combinations,
should be arrested by the military for
ces of the United States and delivered
to the Marshal, to tie dealt with accord
| ing to law. In two OF said counties
| many arrests have been made. AT the
.ast accounts the number Of persons
| thus arrested was one hundred and
| sixty-eight. Several hundred. whose
crininafity was ascertlineu to be Ofan
inferior degree. were released for the
! present. These have generally made
| confessions of their guilt. Great eau
| ton has been exercised in making
these arrests, and Notwithstanding the
large number, it is believed that no
Innocent person is now i'm custody.
| The prisoners will be held for regular
trial in the judicial tribunals of the
United States. As soon as it appeared
that the authorities of the United
| States were about to take rigorous
measures to enforce the law, many per-
SONS absconded, and there is good
grounds for supposing that all of such
persons have been living i'll violation
of the law. A full report of what has
been done under this law will be sub
United to Congress by the Attorney
| General.
AFFAIRS IN UTAH.
In Utah there still remains q rem
nant of barbarisIn, repugnant to ciyili-
zation, decency and the laws OF the
| United States Territorial officers,
however, have been found who are
willing to perform their duty in a spirit
of equity aud with due sense of sls-
tanning the majesty oft law. Neither
polygamy nor any other violation of
existing statutes will be permitted
| within any Territory of the United
States. 1t is not with the religion of
the self-styled Saints that we are now
dealing but their practices. They will
be protected i'll the worship OF God ac
cording to the dictates oftheir conscien-
ces, but they will not be permitted to
violate the laws under the cloak of re-
ligion. 1t may be advisable for Con-
gress TO consider what, i'll the execu-
ton of the laws against polygamy, is
the status OF the several wives and
their offspring. The propriety ofCon-
gress passing an enabling act author
izing the Territorial Legislature Of
Utah to legitimatize all born prior to q
time fixed in the act might be sustain-
ed by considerations OF humanity to
these innocent children. This is n
suggestion only, and not a recommen-
iatIOn.
INDIAN RELATIONS.
The policy pursued toward the In
dians has resulted f;lvorably, SO far as
can be judged from the limited time
during which it has been in operation
through the tribes under the various
societies of Christians to whom has
been entrusted the execution of the
policy, and the Board Of Commits
sioners authorized by the law of April
10, 1869. Many tribes of Indians
have been induced to settle upon re-
servations, to cultivate the soil and
perform labor of various kinds, and
partially to accept civilization. They
are being care for in such a way. it is
| hoped, as to induce tnOSe StllI plrStl-
ing their old habits Of life to embrace
the only opportunity which is left
them to avoid determination. Irecom-
mend liberal appropriations to carry
out the Indian peace policy, not only
because it is humane, Christian-like
and economical, but because lis right.
recommend to your favorable CON
sideration, also, the policy of granting
territorial government to Indians on
the Indian Territory west of Arkansas
and Missouri, and south of Kansas,
In doing so every right guaranteed to
the Indians by treaty should be secur-
ed. Such course might in time be
the means of collecting most of the
Indians now between the Missouri anC
Pacific and south of the British Pos
sessions, into one Territory or State
The Secretary of the Interior has &
afrxI