The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-12-11

cheap postage rates, the postal inter
course between all civilized nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen
out Of the conflict between the Gus
toms laws of this country and the
provisions of the Postal Convention,
in regard to the transmission of for
eign books and newspapers TO this
country by mail. IL is hoped that
Congress will be able to devise some
means of reconciIiating the difficult
ties which have thus been created, so
as to do justice to all parties involved.
COURTS oT JUSTICE.
The business ofthe Supreme Court,
and of the Courts in many of the cir
cults, has increased TO sucn an alarm
ing extent during the past year, that
additional legislation is Imperative to
relieve and prevent the delay of JUS
tice, and possible oppression to suit
ors, which is thus occasloned. The
encumbered condition of these dock
cts is presented anew 10 the report Of
the Attorney General, and the rene.
dy suggested is earnestly urged for
Congressional action. The creation
of additional Circuit Judges, as pro.
posed, would afford complete rene
dy, and would involve an expense
at the present rate of salaries of not
more than 100000 year.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The annual reports OF the SecTe-
tary of the Interior and Of the Com
missioner of lodian Affsirs, present
an elaborate account of the present
condition Of the Indian tribes, and OF
that branch Of the public service
which ministers 20 their interests.
While the conduct Of the Indians,
generally, has been orderly, and their
relations with their neighbors friendly
aud peaceful. Two local disturbances
have occurred, which were deplorable
in their character, bat remained, hap.
PLY, confined TO comparatively
small number Of Indians. TIE dis.
content among the Bannocks, which
led first to some acts of violence on
the part of some members OF the
tribe, and finally to the outbreak, ap-
pears to have been caused by an in
suiliciency Of food on the reservation,
and this insuflicieney to have been
owing to the inadequacy Ofthe appro-
priatious, made by Congress, 10 the
wants of the Indians at time when
the Indians were prevented from sup
plying the deficiency by hunting.
After an arduous pursuit by the
troops of the United States, and sew
eral engagements, the hostile Indians
were reduced to subjeetiOn, and the
larger part ofthem surrendered them
selves as prisoners. In this connec-
tion, ] desire TO call attention TO the
recommendation made By the Secre-
tary of the Interior, that a sufficient
fund be placed at the disposal Of the
Executive, TO be used, with proper
accountability, at discretion, in sud
den emergencies Of the Indian service.
The other case OF disturbance was
that of hand of Northern Cheyen-
mes who suddenly lefs theii reserya-
tion in the Indian Territory and
marched rapidly through the States
of Kansas and Nebraska in the direc-
tion Of their old hunting grounds,
committing murders and other crimes
on their way. From documents accom-
panying the report of the Secretary
OF the Interior, it appears that this
band was as fully supplied
with the necessaries of life as the
4,700 other Indians who remained
quietly in the reservation, and that
the disturbance was caused by men
of a restless and mischievcus dispo-
sition among the Indians themselves.
Almost the whole Of this band have
surrendered to the military anthori-
ties, and it is gratifying fact that
when some Of them had taken refuge
in the camp of the Red Cloud Sioux,
with whom they had been in friendly
relations, the Sioux held them as
prisoners and readily gave them up
to the officers Of the United States,
thus giving new proof of the loyal
spirit which. alarming rumors TO the
contrary notwithstanding, they have
uniformly shown ever since the wishes
they expressed at the council of Sep
tember, 1877, has been complied with.
Both the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary Of War unite in
the recommendation that provision
be made by Congress for the organi
zation of q corps of mounted "lndian
auxiliaries,r to be under the control
Of the army, and to be used for the
purpose of keeping the Indians on
their reservations and preventing OF
REFRESHING disturbance ON their part
| earnestly concur in this recon
mendation. II is believed that the
organization of such body of Indian
cavalry, receiving 3 moderate pay
from the Government, would consid-
erably weaken the restless element
among the Indians by Withdrawing
from it a number Of young men and
giving them copgenial employment
under the Government, it being
matter Of experience that Indians in
our service almost without exception,
are 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 sometimes fonnd insufficient.
CIvILIZING INFLUENCES.
But, while the employment OF force
for the prevention or repression Of
Indian troubles is of occasional ne
cessity, and wise preparation should
be made to that end, greater reliance
must be placed on humane and civil
izing agencies for the ultimate solu-
ton of what is called the Indian
problem. IL may be very difficult,
and require much patient effort, to
curb the unruly spirit of the savage
Indian to the restraints Of civilized
life, but experience shows that it is
not impossible. Many of the tribes
which are now quiet and orderly,
and selfsupporting, were once as
savage as any that at present roam
over the plains or in the mountains
Of the far West, and were then con-
sidered inaccessible to ciyilizing in
Auanaaa IL NAV no imr0ssible to