New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-23
The Indian Question.


az A"usNh ~ucStsuh.
Views OF Hon. }. p. Z. Shanks, OF Indiana.
WAsHINGTON, Oct. 9.-Representatiye
Shanks, Chairman of the House Committee
on Indian Affairs in the late Congress. has
Just returned from an extensive tour in
Washington and other Territories, which he
undertook officially ut the instance of the
Department of the Interior, in order to OBJ
tam better understanding of the questions
concerning the relations of certain Indians
with the Government aud also with a design
to reforms. The following statement embo-
dies that gentleman's views The Indian
question has greatly changed, and must be
considered from its present standpoint. For
merly the Indians were practically outside of
the Government. but now the entire country
being under our political and practical con-
troll, it is "A question as to how soon the peo-
pie will compel bad and mischievous white
men to keep the peace with Indians, and bad
Indians to keep the peace with whites. The
people in nearly all the settlements are now
able to enforce this necessity and will insist
upon its contamination. Until the Indians
shall be made voters and citizens in fact, the
following are some of the things that should
be done by law and judicial enforcement to
secure Justice, the only true fnrerunner of
peace:
Allow Indians to testify in courts as whites
do. Protect Indians in their real and per-
sonal property from the encrOachments of
trespassers. Protect the persons of Indians
wives and daughters from the pollution of
bad white men the same as white mems
wives and daughters are protected. Make
the personal property of Indians liable for
their debts contracted for the necessaries of
life. Protect their real estate or homes from
liabilities for debt. Prevent, by severe law g,
polySainy among them. Compel by law, en-
forced by order of court, white men to pro-
vide tor the support of their illegitimate
Indian children. Legitimatize the children
Of white men by Indian women, and let them
take by descent from both father and mother
Prohibit voluntary divorces OF Indians or of
white men from Indian women, with whom
they have been cohabiting. Allow Indians
to procure divorce in court, after full hearing,
and then only for criminal causes, to be set
out in the law.
Require the same restrictions ia procuring
divorce BY white men who have cOhabited
with Indian women that shall be required Of
Indians. Declare the cOhabitation Of white
men with Indian women marriage to all
intents and purposes and enforce it by order
OF court, when its dutie3 are violated or
neglected. Ii either the white man or the
Indian woman Is married at the time of CO.
habtatOn, punish both for adultery or for
nication, and make the punishment of such
white man severe. Protect by law informcrs
OF violation OF these laws. tOmpci Indians
TO have fixed abOdes, and allow them the
same privileges Of trade and travel now pos
sessed by whites. Extend and enforce the
criminal law over Indians for oiienses against
one another, and also for Oienses against
whites. Extend aud enforce the criminal
law against white men for ohenses against
Indians. Compel every white emplOye on
reservations to have continually ia his ser
vice one or more Indian apprentices at the
work in charge on the reservation. Employ
only married men on the reservation az
agents, farmers, mlllers, &C, and make their
employment conditional upon their removing
their families to and remaining with them on
the reservation. The presence of white
women and white children among the Indians
Is necessary to the best interests Of whites
and Indians. Schools on the reservations to
be Kept open a. continuously as practicable.
There is now serious neglect in this important
matter.
Compel every agent to report, under oath
the respective violations Of law by Indians
under his charge against Indians or whites
and OF whites against Indians, CIV ing name-,
dates, and facts provide BY law for punish
ing agents and employees for violations Of
their duties such prevent BY Law the
trespassing Of cattle on Indian farms, a.
white men are protected in their farms pro-
vide by law against British Indians furnish
ing intoxicating liquors TO Indians in the
States and Territories.
These, Mr.. Shanks says, are some Of the
things To be done To secure justice TO the In
dams aud protection to the white people, and
that the honest, industrious settlers sustain
these views. II is probable that legislation
will be proposed at the next session Of Con-
gress in accordance with the above pro-
gramTne ~ J. Times.
H