National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-06-06
TIE cuRoNIcLE AND THE Mopocs

TIE tfhUNItLE AND TIE mODOCS.
Our nelghbor, tho Chronicle, bewails In yes
lcrday's Issue the unfortunate state Of bewil-
dermcut Of the newspapers generally In re-
gard to the legal status Of Captain Jack and
his fellow-prisoners. In attempting to en-
tighten the world on the law Of the case he
seems to have wrlggled himself into a more
complicated snare than any Of his cotempo-
rarles, which Is very apt to happen to any
one who undertakes to settle, by his own ipse
dirt, q difficult and doubtful question OF
craftsmanship or government. He draws u
parallel between Captain Jack and Jeff. Da-
Wis, on which he evidently prides himself, and
he makes Il suggestion In favor OF the former
which we think Ia insulting to the intelligence
Of the American people, both North and
South. lie says;
ave suggest the query whether, under the
nsages OF civilized nations, Captain Jack Ia not
entitled TO about the same treatment from the
Government OF the United States received BY
Jefferson nayls7 The two cases seem to be
about parallel In their essential features.
Captain Jack was the chief OF an organized
body Ot people residing within the Jurisdiction
of the United states, who made war on our clti
Sens: Jefferson DAVIS was also TIM recognized
chief OF another organized body OF people resld
Ing within our Jurisdiction, who made war OIL
our people. Captain jacks army was overcome
and his braves were captured or scattered by ouI
forces, and the chief and his family put TO night
and finally forced TO surrender as prisOuers O
war, Jefferson Davis army was conquered bI
ours, many o. his braves laid down their arm
and surrendered, some of them scattered, and
The chief, with his family, on their night, weTt
captured by our troops"
This parallel" fails in its essential fca-
turcs." The people Of Captain Jack were
not an organized people" except during the
time they remained on their reservations In
obedience to their treaty obligations. They
were In no wise nation which could declare
war against us according to the rules Of In.
tcrnational law. They were simply the wardl
nf the American nation. Their condition OI
harbarsm was acknowledged, and their help
lcsnCss was the only cause Of their being pro.
tected, fed and clothed for the sake OF
humanity. When they broke their treaty OBJ.
legations and invaded the territory not sci
apart for them, but reserved for the purposes
OF an intelligent and progressive civilization,
they were simply maraudeTs, robbers and
murderers. II they had carried on such
operations on the sea they would have been
called pirates and doomed to the death which
should, under international law have over
taken all pirates Of whatever nation or char
a,ter, whether Cinnamon or Turks. They
c cluld not and did not declare war. They
e lyc no opportunity for preparation by the
Government. The only obstacle they had to
meet was the private resources and combInR-
tlous OF the frontier settlers, which were no
match for their treaeherous strategy. On
the contrary, they deliberately murdered, in
cold blood, come Of our best officers and
men who came to talk with them under o
lag Of ,rAca. II Captain Jack was civil
Ised and intelligent man, or even q generous
Iavage, be could not behave more APpTo'