The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-15
TILE PNERLO INDIfNS.
How their Civiuzation Anects their Relations
to the General Government.

WASHINGTON Sept. 14.-The Supreme
Court has decided that the Pueblo Indians OF
New Mexico are not tribe, within the meaning
of the net which furbids tho settlement on any
lands secured or granted by treaty with the
United States 10 any Indian tribe. and that they
do not hold the land they claim by tenure
which brings them within the terms OF that act.
The court say that II they Il lrcr from the other
inhabitants of New Mexico in holding lands in
common, and in certain pntriarchal form OF
domestic life. they only resemble in this regard
the Shakers and other communists societies in
this country. and cannot. for that reason. be-
clasScd with the nomadic Indian tribes. Tho
character and history OF these Indians occupy
n wcll known page in the story Of Mexico. from
the conquest Oft the country by Cortcz to the ccs-
sion OF New Mexico to the United States by the
treaty Of Guadnloupc- IIidago For centuries
they have lived in villages. in fixed commune
ties each having its own municipal or local
government. Az far MS their history can
be- traced, they have been pastoral
and agricultural people. raising Hooks and .cul-
tiVuting the soil. Since the Introduction OF the
SPANS Catholic missionary into the country,
they have adopted mainly not only the Spanish
language, hut the religion Of n Christian
church. They manufacture nearly all their
blankets. clothing. agricuiturnl aud culinary
indictments. &c. Integrity an virtue among
them Is iustercd and encouraged lhcy are ny
intelligent ~ most nations or people dcrrvrd
of means or facilities for education. Their
names their customs. their habits, are similar
t. those of the pDuiic ia whose midst they re-
side. or in the mds, of whom their pucblus are
situated. They are Indians only m feature
lrNiou. and few Of their hults; in all
nther r., su,. r. superior to nll tut Il few of the
civilized Indian tribes pf the country and tho
equal Of the most civilized thereof
When thcact OF 1884 was passed there were
no such Indians 49, th' Sc in tI" United States
unless II hr one or two rrs"rNAt .uns or tribes
such a- the Scnoca- or OncidHs 81 New York. To
whom, it X acHr. the eleventh ton ui the
st.tui" could hay" no Hppliration. When II be-
came necessary 10 extend th" laws rr,ulut ny
inter .Our~r with the Indians over our new ac-
QUESTIONS from McNito there WIS ample room
for the exercise of those laws among the no.
made Aul hos. Cnmanchcs, NtVaIoo-. and
other tribes Who's" lnupa'uy Tor sell govern
rout repaired both for then selves and for the
c4tI1eu. of the country this guardian care OF the
general Government.
The puehlo Indians. II indeed they can he
called Indians had nothing in common with
this class The degree ~ civilization which
they had attained centuries before; their will
ing suhm ~-iun to all the laws of the Mexican
Government. the iull r. ,nsnltion 10y that Gov
eminent ol all their civil rights including that
of voting and holding OH 80. and their ahsorp-
tiun into the gen raj mass OF the population
toNrrr that they held their lands IN commonl,
all forbid the idea that they should he claSscl
with the Indian tribes for whom the Int rroursc
acts were made. or that in the intent OF the act
Of lSJl IL. provisions were applicable TO Them.