The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-18
ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The Governor Ordered Not To Set
the Villains Free.
Petitions from the People Supporting tho
Legislators.
Attitude Of the Gagged
Chiefs.

requested by the President Is the topic here just
now Writing as do from personal knowledge Of
the data and the feelings Of the people OF the Statc
must claim credit for giving your readers facts.
rather than mere suppositions. can also safely
assert thatl have no prejudice in the matter what.
ever.
TIE MURDERoUs CHIEFS.
Satanic, the chief OF four or Ave Indian tribes
and Big Tree, sort Of lieutenant to him. have been
confined in the Penitentiary located ut this place
since November II, 1871 facts OF their capture,
their trial. sentence to be hanged and the action OF
Governor Davis in committing their sentences
to life In this prison. your readers are.
doubtless fully cOnvcrsant with already. Prompted
by what at that time was generally considered as
questionable charity, Governor Davis treated
these noted chiefs as any other class OF criminals
and chose to give them lease OF life. Doubtless
he was fully advised and did what, IN mature
Judgment, was considered right With his action,
at this time, we have nothing to do at this writing,
Since the arrival OF these chiefs at the prison, the
most strenuous efforts have been made by the
tribes to which they belong towards their release.
These efforts have been seconded by officers
and attaches Of the general government. but
ington of these two Chiefs VITA the principal men
Of their tribes, then gathered at ST. Louis.
CONFIDENT OF RELEASE.
Satanic came back to the prison feeling very
confident that the "Great Father" at Washin gtoa
would use his influence and have him and his lieu
tenant pardoned. He was 50 certain Of IL that he
fixed the moon, at which he and Big Tree would
ing. though the President has requested his pardon
aud that OF his suen brother, Big Tree.
These two Indians were caught IN one OF the
many murderous acts which have character lied
their lives, and the courts OF the Western dis trict
OF this State proceeded to deal with them alter the
manner usual in such cases. Out Of regard Tor tn
fact that the prisoners were Indians or something
equally as good as reason, their sentence was
committed by the Governor ut the request OF the
President.
BITTER FEELING OVER THE PRESIDENTS REQUEST.
The people OF this state did not take any particu-
and the subsequent act or Communication; but the
latter action OF the President In requesting q full
most unqualified, adverse action from the Legisa-
tnre, now In session, and the most bitter comments
from the people at large. What makes the matter
sion-is, that the request came at time when the
Legislature and the people at large were making
efforts to protect the long stretch OF frontier
from the ravages OF the Indian tribes to which
Satanta and BIC Tree belong. Having the necessary
forces and equipments, and in fair financial circu-
sought the privilege from the general government
to provide protection, and had been refused Close
such reasonable request comes the most unreal
sonable one-of pardons for these two noted VII
lains Of the same tribes, who have for years past
murdered men, women and children on the
frontiers OF this state. Is 1t at all strange that
THE LEGISLATIVE BODY SHOULD RISE UP
as man and instruct refusal OF the Presidents
request and that the people the State echo these
instructions and are covering the Executive table
with petitions asking him to keep these two
sayages where they are 1t makes all the diner-
ence in the world to know an Indian a5 he is as
him such and such from the "big talk" standpoint,
as the Quaker policy people know HIM. The first
OF these people have full realization OF him the
second, those who deal with him with the SUI
roundngs OF q peace commission, only see him
when he is full to the brm OF good things and par
ticuary anxious TO make peace-untu the COM
missioners get back to Washington.
John Bunyan once said, always talk to
Peace Commissioners have followed Johns
advice with the Indians and found them
people see the Indians between meals and have
found them exceedingly tiresome, or, as old
Weller would say OF the .'vddeIs'1" Monstronz
enough these Texas people don't have very add.
ing faith in the Indians promises TO reform, and
we cannot blame them when, IN the very face OF
all the promises made to the Quaker-policy people,
THESE RED MEN
have committed indescrlbable crimes upon tile
almost helpless people OF the frontier. Appeal after
appeal from these frontier iamiiies has reached
the Legislative body now In session. and the efforts
OF this body to provide all the protection possible
have been ably seconded 10y the Governors Under
the present circumstances this protection could
not be very thorough and for this reason aid was
sought at the hands OF the general government.
Instead OF granting 1t request comes for the re-
lease OF two OF the most desperate members Of
these murderous tribes, the very two who possess
the influence and tile disposition TO carry on
warfare throughout their lives. TO these people
this seems somewhat singular action on the part
OF the general government and tnink, when all
the facts are known, it VIII appear to the people
THE INDIANS AS THEY ARE.
These people, knowing the Indians as they DO,
caught raidng upon the state shall be dealt with
any OF the criminal classes. Murderers are
either hanged confined in tue State Penitentary
ior lie. This is but carrying out the law. These
Indian chiefs found guilty OF not one but many
murders, aud are but paying the penalty OF volat.
the State, and the Governor alone has the DISPOSE
ton OF them during his term OF Office, and mosu
sincerely believe That q majority Of the people vi
the State desire that Governor Davis shall
REFUSE TO SET THEN FREE;
not, however, as retaliatory measure for the re.
fusal OF frontier protection, but as measure OF
seli-deIence, for 1t is plainly manifest TO those
thoroughly conversant with the Indian character,
that these two chiefs will 20 rom this prison not
strength OF the State as VIII deter them rom acts
Of violence in the future, but, on the contrary,
with feeling OF hatred and vlndctyeness, sharp
ened to the keener edge by their long yet extremely
humane confinement
life will have good effect both on the chiefs aud
their people, develops only bald ignorance OF thd
Indian nature. If this confinement Is to accomplish
so much the tribes at home, 1t will increase
with It's length, and the rule should be to keep
them for life that the frontier will be safe. We
are reliably Informed that the confinement so far
has not made any marked reformatory change in
the Chiefs and there Is nothing on which to hinge
such hope. since coming here these chiefs have
shown nothing In demeanor or speech which could
be accepted as remorsc, pentence or shame, their
only thought being an escape from this bondage. y
sATANTA }
is about fifty years OF age, OF light copper coors
and quite cheerful when compared with his secondi
Big Tree, who Is younger and possesses suuea
disposition.
BIG TREE
talks but ittle ana when he does the burden OF DIS
speech Ia his freedom and his intentions Wneu
free. These are born of malice ana revenge. pa
tanta, older In crime and Indian tactics mdes MS
intentions mere, and makes promises, when OF
course are made under protest and viii not he
kept longer than they serve him to escape his
present late Messers. Ward, Davy Co., tho
lessees OF the Penltcntiary, grant these indians
many more privileges than are usually accorded 70
criminals OF this class, and hence they ara
being pleasantly situated-if such an expressions
NAV be used at all In connection with prison.
The people OF this state do not discover any marked
yindlctiveness toward these Indian chiefs, SIMPLY
desiring that they be punished as the law dreetss
EXECUTIVE INTERFERENCE OBJkCTED TO- A.
They do not like the interference OF the President
nor his desire to let loose upon an almost unpro,
tected frontier these two blo0ithrsty chies; ah1
am OF the opinion that 1t will require strong
force to protect them on their way TO their MONIES