The New York herald., 1874-12-18
THE INDIANS.
Life and Law in the Indian
Territory.
THE FIELD ARMY RATION.

cavalry and Sanderson's Eleventh infantry, Win
zen Indian scouts. mastering IN all about $50
rines, started, the morning OF the 7th inst,
rom this post under command OF Major G. W.
Scnoneld. This will be the last scout made by
Davldson's column tins winter, according to pres.
snt decision. General j. W. Davidson, with the
approval OF Major General Augur, commanding
department now nerel, remains, TO conduct
the management OF the intricate questions
which VIII ARISE on the approaching and decisive
adjudication OF the Indian matter. according
TO the directions OF Lieutenant General sheridan,
which are expected TO reach here by to-morrow's
mail. Everything done by General Davidson thus
iar meets the unaualhed approval OF his depart
ment ana division commanders, and General
Angur in his yearly report bestows large attention
ana approving consideration upon the Wichita
agency battle in August ast, which was conducted
0y General Davidson, and proved the initial de-
velopment OF the Indian Intention to take the
neld, and drew the line OF demarcation between
the hostile and friendly Indians which had been.
up 10 that, so cunningly concealed that all were
treated alike and the efforts or the government 70
punish the guilty rendered entirely aoortive.
GENERAL sCHoFIBLDs DESIGN
Major schoneld viii pursue the line OF march up
the wichita. as originally laid down in the delio-
erations held between Generals Angur and David
son, as anording that most likely on which lncom-
ing penitent Indians may be met, with purpose
to surrender, and small lurking bodies OF
hostlles as viii be found yet under the
banner OF revolt, but receiving supplies
from their friends at the agencies and
thus enabled to crafty their Indian doggedness
by staying oat' TO gain eclat among their So
called more inglorious brethren who have yielded
to a sound discretion. The era OF diplomacy and
countercurrents among the Indians who wish 10
stand well with the government still continues
N ipfar tipn frnrn 1av tp tav
Indeed, it Will be quite as well worthy OF notice
and study as their pusllanimous operations in
field in the reflection OF Indian character. The
tilt now going on in part first is between the
Kiowas ciceroned by that "Wiliam Il. Seward OF
the Plains,n the hon. John c. Kicking Bird, as
they are proposing to call him, in the strategic
movements for 'peace policy,' and the Co.
manches, who affect to despse the Kiowas.
THE OLD TINE INTERPRETERS
here, Mr. Horace P. Jones, himself almost In feel
ting Comanche, Acknowledges no less amlable
feeling to the latter tribe; but mean as they are
they have friends and watch the joust with
Infinite Interest; for Insignificant rs 1t Is
now o may ,css assume e,ra oroadeT o, signln d.
outdone while standing up for his people
even oy an interpreter with all the powerful
Klowa ca,ettain the ens eonscsus s0ss rectiS
and desire TO serve his people faithfully.
No later than thls morning he sent word to Gen
he had some information 10 convey 10 the Govern
ment concerning the movements OF the "hostle:
In the held,h but be wary ADDS that he desires to
give IL so that 1t viii not immediately be known
by the Comanches and suggests channel through
ference as he apprehends If it went through the
ordinary one. IN due time ! snail know the
is forbidden. As soon as the the MILITARY tar commso
siono lsr the trial OF the Indian prisoners, now
here, amounting to nifty odd, WIN have been con-
vened, the place VIII be rlIe with rumors and
no little excitement win prevail. In the
release Of the Twelve Indian prisoners last
the Comanche persuasion and two K,owas, was
informed by General Augur to-day that it was
only Tor the purpose of getting rid OF the least
criminal, or those who 1T Is contended in a meas
sure are innocent, and TO make room for the
me, none would be permitted 10 go until
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN
were received and that IL was the positive In
tentlon OF the government to severely punish.
them after lair trial and proof OF gunt, as an ad
pensiry 70 RAID and murder. General Augur.
while disposed naturally by his temperament and
large experience 70 .reat the Indian In iair and
temperate mannei, y still impressed with the
necessity al this time OF administering severe
punishment to the bad Indians who have year
after year persisted in their reckless feroclty and
apparent obstinacy against remaining quiet and
peaceaole under the laws OF the government.
made OF them under his directions and the man
agement Of General Davidson will be such as TO
in the daily routine OF the questions as they arise
that no two general officers could De had better
adapted tnan these gentlemen l0r tue handling OF
the difncult and delicate issues as they come up.
Their consideration and decision upon the least as
wen as the most important OF them is controlled
by a compre nensfve appreciation OF sne necessity
OF treating them In broad, Just and deliberate
manner, with regard for what is que in a civil as
well As military point OF view. 1t Is fortunate,
alike for the government and the people At large,
that at this time, when the contest between those
favoring civil jurisdiction on the one hand and
military the other is reaching the eliminating
point that the agencies through which II is TO be
decided as a reference are such as can oe regarded
"A
u rglt WILL oe done.
In addition to what your correspondent has al
ready said in regard To the advisaDty OF estab-
hsning near here or the Wacnita Agency United
the semblance of law or justice about 1t, with
paraphernana enough TO make 1t feared, ielt and
respected among the laWless and almost outlawed
classes which abound In tbs country white, In
dian, negro and mixed. permanent military
commission, II might honestly De said Should oe
try civilians as well as soldiers for the lnracton OF
military discipline and police regulations There
- no fear entertained OF the civil law, because IL
is remote and Its machinery Tor prompt action
perfectly Ineffective; therefore 1t IS IN measure
ignored BY the law breakers The military law
In most cases is poweress, except 10 act,
through its Officer as an intermediate agent
in handing over offenders for tue farce or
trial. which, in nine cases out OF ten Is not even
gone through with by the civil authorities, the
criminals being released from jail on nolle prose-
Qui ior want OF evidence. Besdes the United
States Marshal or his deputy should have power
10 call on the military as posse cODatatas, SO that
the reservation where q criminal strongly sus-
pected party has taken refuge. This he cannot
do At present. because he has not the force nor
authority behind him to execute ms warrant nor
the act Of arrest
TROUBLE OF SECURING WITNESSES.
This, with what has been said ABOUT the DIM
Guilty Of securing witnesses, because they are not
viii conclusively demonstrate that there should
be some PROVISIONS maze by Congress forthwith
~ TINS point Tor the execution OF the law, making
II so respected that this section would be rem
dered perfectly safe for travellers, and not
require the humiliation, as Lieutenant Cen
era sheridan said to me, "of having escort Tor
protection to 60 short distance from this post
shooting excursion.u An opinion entitled to
credit prevails with many who know the wants OF
the place that there should be, on the other hand
sone KIND OF territorial government with
proper officers and IN a working condition, with
Que regard 70 our treaty Obligations with the In
dlana, Wnich-en Dd-sSQnl II NAV he aad-have