Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-04-22
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DALLAS, SATURDAY, APRIL p.
LIABILITIES FOR INTERFERING
WITH THE INDIANS.

There are many persons throughout
our State who are constantly dealing
with the Indians, andin many instances
are laying themselves liable to rrosecu.
tionAwithont being aware of the fact.
Sec. /, chap. 22d OF the Statutes of
Oregon declares: It shall be unlawful
for any person to entice, induce, or
persuade any Indian or half breed, who
habitually resides with Indians, to leave
the Indian Reservation or territory,
where such Indian or half breed be-
longs, or to harbor or conceal such In
dian or half breed, or to countenance
or encourage, or in any way assist such
Indian or half>breed to escape from,
einde or evade the Agent or Superin-
tendent having charge of the tribe, un-
less such Indian or half-breed is absent
by the written consent of the Superin-
tendent or Agent aforesaid"
This section covers more grouad than
a casual observer might at first glance
suppose. To encourage an Indian in
any way to leave, or having left to en-
tice him to stay away for the purpose of
performing labor, OF for any other pur-
pose, without written pass from the
Agent or Superintendent, renders the
person so doing liable to prosecution
We presume there are many instances
where parties have employed Indians
without ever knowing whether they
had any pass from the Agent or not, or
if they had one, whether or not the
time had expired. An act of this kind,
meagre though it may seem, comes
within the strict pale of the law, and
renders the parties liable to prosecution,
even though they may have employed
the Indian to do only an hours work,
or the squaw to do washing
The penalty as prescribed in Sec. I'd
of the same Act is that g Any person
who is guilty Of u violation of See lst
of this Act shall be liable to fine of
$25 for the first offence; and not less
than $50, nor more than 500 for each
subsequent offence. to be recovered in
an action for debt, before any Circuit
Court or County Judge, or Justice Of
the Peace in this State"
This is clear and concise, showing
plainly the law and the penalty. Th'.
Grand Round Agent, Capt. Lafollet,
tells us he knows of fifty persons within
the limits of Polk County who have
laid themselves liable by employing
Indians without passes, or employing
them after the time stated on their
pass had expired; and we presume
there are many others in the same con-
dition, having, either through ignorance
or carelessness, violated plain provi.
sion of the Statute. These persons may
or may not be prosecuted. Should
orders come from headquarters to en-
force the law, it will of course be done,
and many persons be compelled to-pay
for what was done unwittingly; for
there are no provisions made in the
Statute for ignorance or carelessuess
all are supposed to understand the law,
and, understanding it, to be guided
thereby. The Agent also informs US
that he may at any time receive orders
from head quarters to prosecute parties
who have violated this law, and if such
orders come, he of course viii! be com,
PEELED to obey them. We trust all per
sons who have been negligent in this
matter in the past win be guarded il
future, SO as to save themselves posi-
BILE trouble and expense. All papers
pnblished in the vicinity of Indian Re
servations, or whose circulation extend
among those who have dealings will
the Indians, would do well to notic'
this matter, as it is one in which man.
are interested.
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