Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-05-07
Number 25.
The Black Hills Expedition.
Inter Ocean, March 2O.l

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Inter Ocean, March col
We want to make suggestion to Gen.
eral Sheridan. In his instructions to
General Ord, regarding the Black Hills
! fil;bustels, he says: Burn the wagon
trains, destroy the outfit, and arrest the
leaders, confining them At the nearest mil
itary post in the Indian country" Now
the poorest possible use TO which property
can be put Is to destroy it. Strictly speak
ing. "wagon-traln" wouldn't he much of
train without the animals necessary to
draw it, but We hardly suppose General
Sheridan means to order the mules and
horses burned. The latter, no doubt, are
to be brought into camp. But why not
bring the trains in rs welle Why is it any
more necessary to burn the wagon than it
is TO burn the horses? Indeed, the Inter-
Ocean inquiries for information where the
authority exists for burning or otherwise
destroying any property in this manner,
or further, for taking the "leaders to the
nearest military post and there con6ning
eACA1s uS NlCCtCu al tIlC OANCAs
Section 2l50 of the Revised Statutes of
the United States says:
"The military forces of the United
States may be employed in such manner
and under such regulations as the Presi
dent may direct:
II. In the apprehension of every person
who may be in the Indian country in vic.
lation of law; and in conveying him im-
mcdia,ely from the Indian country by the
nearest convenient and safe route to the
civil authority, or judicial district in which
such person shall be found, to bc proceed
ed against IN due course Of law.
''2. In the examination and seizure Of
stores, packages, and boats authorized by
law.
''3. In preventing the lntloauetinn of
persons and property into the Indian
country contrary to law. which property
shall be proceeded against according to
law.
II. And also in destroying and breaking
up any distillery for manufacturing ardent
spirits set up or continued within the
Indian country"
Section 2151 says:
mo person apprehendcd by military
force under the preceding section shall
be detained longer than i've days after
arrest and before removal. All officers
and soldiers who may have any such per-
son in custody shall treat him with all the
humanity which The circumstances will
permit"
It will be seen that the provisions of the
law are positive and mandatory, and That.
the only property which the military have
authority to destroy is that used in manu.
featuring ardent spirits. The authority
to confine persons arrested in the forts of
the Indian country does not seem TO exist
ut all.
Another section Of the statutes provides.
the manner of proceeding against persons
and property, and says:
when goods or other property shall le,
seized for any violation of this title. it
shall be lawful for the person prosecuting
on behalf Of the United States to proceed
against such goods or other property in
the manner directed to be observed in the
case Of goods, wares, or merchandise
brought into tie Uni'el States in violation.
of the revenue laws"
With the greatest confidence in General
Shelidan's wisdom and prudence, and
admiring the determination
which he exhibits to rigidly execute the
agreement which the Government has.
made with the Indians-a class of people
by the way. that the General is not dcspe
rately enamored of, as is well known-we
yet call his attention to these provisionsof
The statute, and suggest modification OF
his order to General Ord. The treaty, a..
we have repeatedly said, should be enforc-
ed while it exists, but it must be enforced
in tie way pointed out by the laws Of Con.
,ress.