The New York herald., 1878-12-03

in fas. as well name. its title indicates,
Universal Union, regulating. upon uniform basis OF
cheap postage rates. tho postal interourse between
| all civilized nations.
Some EN- lbarrassmen has arisen out of the conflict
between the customs laws OF this country and the
provisions OF the Postal Convention III regard To the
transmission Of foreign books ana newspapefs -, 10
this country by mail 1t is hoped that Congress NH
be able 10 devise some means of reconcnS the Diff
culies which have thus been created so as to do JUS
tice to all parties involved.
THE SUPREME COURT
The business OF the Supreme Court and of the
courts in many the circuits has increased to such
an extent during the past years that additional leeis
st:on Imperative to relieve and prevent the delay
OF justice and possible oppression to sutors which
is thus occasioned The encumbcred condition or
these dockets is presented anew in the report OF the
Attorney General. and tine remedy suggested Is earn
esty urged for Congressional action. The creation OF
additional circuit Judges proposed, would afford
a complete remedy, and world involve an expense
at the present rate OF salaries, of not more than
The annual reports OF the secretary of the In
terror and of the Commissioned OF Indian Affairs
present ciaboSate account of the present con-
dion of Indian tribes and OF that branch of the
public service which ministers to their interests
While the conduct the Indians generally has been
orderly, and their relations with their neighbors
friendly and peaceful two local disturbances have
occurred which deplorabe in their charac ter,
but remained. happily, confined 10 comparatively
small number OF Indians. The discontent among
the Bannocks which led hrst to SOME acts OF vio-
lcilce the part OF members of the tribe and
finally to the outbreak, appears to have been caused
by an lnSlfnccncy or fOot on the reScrNtOil, anu
this insufhcency 70 have been owing 70 the in
adequacy of the appropriations made by Congress to
the wants of the Indians at time when the Indians
prevented from supplying the deficiency by
hunting. After arduous pursuit by the troops OF
the United States. and several engagements, the
hostile Indians reduced To subjcction and the
larger part of them s,rrcndercd themselves pris-
oners. In this connection desire 70 call
attention to the recommendation made by
the Secretary of the Interior. that sufficient
fund be placed at the disposal of the Execu-
tive. to be used with proper accountability. at
discretion, in sudden emergencies OF the Indian ser
vice. The other case OF disturbance was that of
band OF Northern Cheyenncs who suddenly left their
reservation in the Indian Territory and marched rap
idly through the states OF Kansas and Nebraska IN
the direction of their old hunting grounds commit
ting murders and other crimes on their way From
documents accompanying the report OF tho Secretary
OF the Interior IL appears that this dsordcry band
fully supplied with the necessaries OF life
the 400 osher indians who remained quietly on the
reservation. and that the disturbance caused by
meE OF restless and nschievous disposition among
the Indians themselves Almost the whole Of this
band have surrendered to the military authorities.
and il is gratifying fact that when some of them
had taken refuge in the camp OF the Red gloud Sioux.
with whom they had been in friendly relations, the
Sioux held them prisoners and readily gave them up
the officers Of the United States. thus giving
proof the loyal spirit which, alarming rumors to
the contrary notwithstanding. they have uniformly
shown ever since the wishes they expressed ut the
council of September. 1877 had been complied with.
INDIAN AUXlLIARfEs
Both the Secretary OF the Interior and the Secretary
of War unite in the recommendation that provision
be made by Congress for the organization or corps
Of mounted "Indian auxiliares, to be under the
control of the army. and to BE- ased for the purpose
of keeping the Indians on their reservations and pre-
venting or repressing disturbance on their part
earnestly concur in this recommendation. 1t is be-
Heved that the organization OF such body Of Indian
cavalry, receiving moderate pay from the govern
ment would considerably weaken the restless ele-
ment among the indians by Withdrawing from it :
number OF young men and giving them conycnial
employment under the government, it being matter
of experience that Indians in service, almost
without exception arc faithful IN the performance OF
the duties assigned to them. such an organization
would materially aid the army in the accomplishment
of task for which its numerical strength is sonie
times found insufficient Bpt. while the employ yment
of force for the prevention repression Of indian
troubles is OF occasional necessity, and prepa
ration should be made to that end, greater
reliance must be placed on humane and civilizing
agencies for the ultimate solution OF what is called the
Indian problem 1t may be very difficult and require
much patient effort to curb the unruly spirit or the
savage Indian to the restraints of civilized life, but
experience shows that it is not impossible Many OF
the tribes which now quiet and orderly and self
supporting savage any that ut present
roam the plains or in the mountains OF the Far
West and were then considered inaccessible to civil
izing influences It may be impossible to raise them
fuly up to the level of the white popustion of the
United States but should not forget that they
aborignes of the country, and called the soil their
own on which people have grown rich powerful
and happy. We il to them a moral duty
help them in attaining least that degree OF civil
ization which they may be able roach. II is not
only our duty. 1t II also our interest to do so.
Indians who have become asricultursts herdsmen.
and feel an interest in property. will thenceforth
cease to be warlike and disturbing element. 1t
is also we'll authenticated fact that Indians apt
y
school. and gratifed to know, from the express
sions of Indians themselves and from many concur
ring reports that there is steadily increasing desire
even among Indians belonging to comparatively Wild
tribes, to have their children educated invite at
tcnton TO the reports of the Secretary Of The Interior
and Commissioner uf Indian Affairs touching the
pertinent recently inaugurated III taking ftty Indian
children boys and girls from different tribes to the
Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute in Virginia,
where they 10 receive elementary English edn
cation and training in agriculture aud other usetul
work. to be returned TO their tribes, after the COM
peted course Interpreters. instructors and
amples II Ii reported that the officer charged with
the selection OF those children might have had thou
sands Of young Indians sent with him had il been pos
sible to make provision for them agrce with che
Secretary Of the Interior in saying that the result of
this interesting experiment il favorable may be des-
tined to become important factor in the advance
mcnt OF civilization among the Indians.
The question whether change in the control Of
the Indian service should he made was. at the last
session OF Congress, referred to a committee
quiry aud report without desiring to anticipate that
report venture TO express the hope that In the deci
sion OF so important question the views ex-
pressed above may not be lost sight Of, and
that the decision, whatever IT may be- will ar
rest further agitation OF this subject, such agitS
ton being apt to produce disturbing effect upon
the service well the Indians themselves.
In the enrolment OF the bill making appropriations
for sundry civil expenses at the last session Of Con-
gross, that portion which provided tor the continua-
fion Of the Hot Springs Commission omitted. A.
the Commission had completed the work of taking
testimony on the many conflicting claims. the suspen-
sion Of their labors before determining the rights
claimants, threatened. Tor time, to embarrass the
interest not only OF the government. but also
OF large number of the citizens of Hot
springs who were waiting for anal action on their
claims before beginning contemplated improvements
In order b. prevent serious diHBculti~s which were
apprehended. and 1T the solicitation of leading
citizens of hot springs aud others interested ia the
welfare Of the town the Secretary .. the Interior
authorized to request the late Commissioners TO
take charge Of the records of their proceedings and
TO perform such work could properly bc done by
them under sucl circumstances, to facilitate the f
ture adjudication OF tho claims ~ carly day, and
TO preserve the status OF the claimants until their
rights should be finally determined. The late Com
niissiorers complied with that request ana report
that the testimony in oil the las ben written
out examined brief.d and arranged to facilitate
early settlement when authorized by law. IL is
recommended that the requisite authority ba given at
early aday in the scsron possible. aud that fair
compensation be allowed the late Commissioners for
the expense incurred and the labor performed by
them since the 18th OF June last.
LASDs
l invite the attention of Congress 10 the recon-
mcndations MADE by the secretary of the Interior